Inclusion and Accommodations
PSJC seeks to be a home for all seeking a Jewish home in the slope. In 2015-2016, we were awarded a grant through UJA-Federation to participate in the Synagogue Inclusion Project. This exciting project was designed to help communities in the NYC area to foster the development of inclusive communities and to support the needs of individuals with disabilities of all ages, both within formal and informal educational frameworks and we continue to work to increase understanding and inclusiveness within our entire community, including meeting physical and emotional needs, as well as learning and social-skills differences.
Our Hebrew School strives to be inclusive to all those who seek innovative and content-rich Jewish education. In consultation with our inclusion committee, which includes community members with backgrounds in special education and social work, as well as our consultants at MATAN, we work with families to find the best model and schedule for you. From flexible seating options for some of our classrooms to using a variety of manipulatives to access Hebrew learning, our multi-access method for engaging with Judaism meets students where they are. We create learning profiles for many of our students in order to provide our teachers with a sheet of tips for how students with IEPs will best be able to learn and grow in our supplementary program.
If our program does not have the resources to meet your needs, whether as a part of our weekly, monthly, or holiday programming, we are happy to help find an tutor or outside program. We have had students work with private tutors on site and join for only pieces of Hebrew School programming and also developed individual JEMs (Jewish Education Maps) that combine learning outside our walls and connecting with the community on Shabbat.
Our family services on Shabbat and holidays are open to members and non-members. Family services are led by experienced leaders with guitar accompaniment and we encourage movement and participation by the children present. In past years we have provided special services and/or quiet spaces to access just the sound of services on Rosh Hashanah and Purim for people with sensory sensitivity. If you have specific questions about any of our programming and if it will work for your family, do not hesitate to reach out at inclusion@psjc.org
Allergy-Aware
While our building is not nut-free, our educational programming is peanut and tree-nut free. Families are asked to refrain from sending any snacks with nuts. All food provided during Hebrew School is nut-free, and we strive to provide allergy alternatives (gluten-free, non-dairy, vegan) for all special snacks and programs.
Accessibility
Park Slope Jewish Center is located at the corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. We have three entrances to our building: the front entrance using our stoop, a side entrance on 14th Street to be buzzed in during business hours, and an entrance through the yard door to use for access to chairlift or Hebrew School programming. Our building is almost 100 years old and a registered landmark building with the City of New York.
While we treasure the tradition and roots of our space, we recognize that it also limits the accessibility of our space to members of the community. We do not have an elevator, but we are happy to share with you the specifics of our chairlift and space to determine the best way to meet your needs. If you are joining us for Shabbat or a program and have questions about the accessibility of our building, require specific seating arrangements or a large-print resources, or if you have questions or concerns regarding the general accessibility of our programs for you or a family member, please email inclusion@psjc.org.
Large print siddurim (prayer books) and machzorim (High Holy Days prayer books) are available. Please ask an usher for assistance.
If you are attending a program at PSJC and would like an ASL interpreter made available, please email inclusion@psjc.org and we will do our best to accommodate your request.