Migdal Oaz: Filling a void in the Jewish community
By Wendy Margolin
Mark and Judy Weiner wanted an education for their son that every parent desires--a place where Joshua could gain knowledge, social skills and confidence. It was at Keshet day school that Joshua, who has special needs, was able to thrive. Upon his graduation from Keshet, he was accepted to a college program at National-Louis University, and today he admittedly could not be as successful as he is without Keshet.
The Keshet Program has provided countless young people like Joshua with multi-faceted opportunities, including a day school, integrated camp programs and vocational opportunities within a Jewish environment. And for those who require full-time care, the Jewish Children’s Bureau (JCB) has been there to provide group homes.
Though the needs of Jewish children with special needs in Chicago have been nurtured by their parents and the greater Jewish community, care of this population comes to a halt when individuals reach 21, the age when the government mandate for special-needs education services expires.
Milton Wakschlag, a founder of Keshet and all of its associated programs, has two children who have participated in Keshet’s range of opportunities. Now, as chairman of the Migdal Oaz lay committee, he says, "Migdal Oaz is the final frontier for Keshet. The one great need left is a permanent residential establishment."
According to Allison Trotter, director of special projects at the JCB, it is estimated that at least 500 adults with disabilities in the Chicago Jewish community will require residential services within the next 10 years. Because there is a significant shortage of residential programming for adults with disabilities in Illinois, parents of these individuals are left with few options, none of which are in a Jewish environment.
"As a parent of a child with special needs, my number one concern is, What will happen to Joshua when we are gone?" asks Weiner.
This fear, which nags at many parents, along with the great void in services for the adult Jewish population with special needs, is the impetus behind the founding of Migdal Oaz.
Migdal Oaz (meaning "tower of strength") is a residential program for Jewish adults with developmental disabilities, and its mission is to assist these individuals in being successful members of the community. Residents will gain Jewish life experiences, socialization, vocational training and independent living skills.
The first Migdal Oaz residence is positioned to open in September 2003 and is a partnership between the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and its Facilities Corporation and the Jewish Children’s Bureau, a Jewish Federation partner agency. In addition, Keshet and two other Federation agencies, the Jewish Community Centers, and Jewish Vocational Service, are involved in daily programming for the residents.
The beautifully renovated first residence is located in West Rogers Park and will house six men with mild to moderate cognitive disabilities. Staff members operating on a shift schedule will provide residents with 24-hour care, and a highly structured daily schedule will enable residents to develop necessary skills to live a normal life.
In addition to observing kashrut, Shabbat, and holidays, residents will have the opportunity to integrate into the rich Jewish life of West Rogers Park. Each individual will be encouraged to participate in the synagogue of his choice and in activities at the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center.
"Migdal Oaz will enable people with handicaps to have the same access to Jewish life that everyone else has," says Wakschlag. Members of the community will in turn have the opportunity to connect with the residents.
The ultimate goal of the Migdal Oaz lay committee is to build a successful first residence so that many more group homes can be established in the future. "We hope to establish enough homes to make a serious dent in the population requiring care," says Wakschlag.
Migdal Oaz is accepting residence applications. For more information, contact Allison Trotter at (847) 412-4362.