Gateways: Access to Jewish Education

10/26/2026

🏡 We’re so excited to officially share that Gateways has a new home!

We recently gathered for a small but meaningful celebration as we hung a mezuzah at the entrance to our new offices on the Schechter Boston campus. 💙 Thank you to Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, Gateways Board of Trustees, for leading the ceremony.

This move marks an exciting milestone: the completion of the first phase of Gateways’ New Home Campaign! Through this ambitious initiative, we’re creating a permanent home for Gateways that will strengthen our programs, deepen our partnerships, and open new possibilities for inclusive Jewish education across Greater Boston.

The next phase will transform five classrooms adjacent to our new offices into accessible, thoughtfully designed learning spaces.

Beginning in fall 2027, these classrooms will become the new home of our Accessible Hebrew School, offering children and teens with disabilities, diverse learning needs, and mental health challenges a welcoming space to learn, grow, and connect with Jewish life.
We’re so excited for what’s ahead and grateful to everyone helping make this vision a reality. 💙

Image Descriptions:
1. Tamar Davis and Rabbi Suzie Jacobson smile with the mezuzah after the ceremony. Tamar touches the mezuzah to keep it in place.
2. Attendees smile and watch the ceremony.
3. President of Gateways' Board of Trustees Lisa Hills gives a speech.
4. Attendees stand in a circle facing the mezuzah and recite a prayer. They hold pages with the blessing.
5. Attendees smile and sing at the ceremony.

10/22/2026

🩷 You don’t have to do this alone. 🩷

Raising a neurodivergent child can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also come with unique challenges. Having a supportive community where you feel understood, connected, and supported can make a difference.

Join Gateways for our FREE bimonthly caregiver support group—an affirming, judgment-free space to connect with fellow caregivers, share experiences, and learn from one another.

✨ Build meaningful connections
🤝 Share experiences and support
💬 Exchange resources and learn together
🫶 Find strength through community

Whether you join us once or come regularly, you are welcome here. We’re here to support you! Our first session is on November 5th and registration is now open!

Register: bit.ly/caregivers-group
Because caregivers deserve support, too. 💙

10/21/2026

Gateways’ Accessible Hebrew School is back in session! 💙

🎒 We were excited to welcome our students and volunteers back last weekend for another year of friendship, connection, and accessible Jewish learning. 📚

Image Descriptions:
1. A Gateways student helps lead a service by carrying the Torah around. Another student and Teen Volunteer reach out to touch the Toah and holds his prayer book.
2. Two teen volunteers practice teaching Hebrew Decoding. They are smiling while reading out the letter flashcards.
3. The Gateways B'nei Mitzvah class is having services led by a student. She reads the prayers as others follow along in prayer books.
4. A Teen Volunteer leads an exercise to spell out B'nei Mitzvah using art created by students. She sits at the front of the circle assembling the activity.

10/19/2026

🎶Meet our Honorees for Sweet Sounds 2026! 🎶

This year we’re proud to honor Myra Musicant and Howard Cohen, the visionary leaders behind Gateways’ New Home Campaign: Securing an Inclusive Future.

We are so grateful for their leadership and dedication to building a strong, inclusive future for Gateways. Join us as we celebrate our incredible honorees and the meaningful work of Gateways on November 8th at 4:30 PM! 🎉

🩷 Learn more about our honorees and register today:

Read about our five honorees for Sweet Sounds 2026, all visionary leaders who have been instrumental in sustaining Gateways' mission.

10/08/2026

Gateways presents Sweet Sounds 2026: Building Our Inclusive Future!
Registration is NOW OPEN 💙🎉

📅 November 8, 2026 at Temple Beth Shalom, Needham

Join us as we honor Myra Musicant and Howard Cohen, the visionary leaders behind Gateways’ New Home Campaign: Securing an Inclusive Future!

This year, we'll celebrate the extraordinary generosity that sustains Gateways each day and glimpse into the exciting future we are building together at our new home on the Schechter Boston campus.

Our celebration will also highlight the pillars of Gateways' core work:
📚 Our Accessible Hebrew School
✨ Our individualized services for Jewish day school students
🫶 Our mental health supports
🍎 Our robust professional development offerings

Join us for an afternoon of dessert and music as we celebrate Gateways' future as the preeminent center for inclusive Jewish education!

🎟 Tickets available NOW! Register at https://sweetsounds.jgateways.org/

09/25/2026

Getting ready to head out to the Sukkah? 🍋🌿✡️🌾

We're excited to share these Sukkot blessing graphics that use Picture Communication Symbols, English translations, and transliterations to make Sukkot more accessible and engaging for everyone in your family.

🛖 Slide 1 features the blessing for sitting in the sukkah
🌴 Slide 2 features the blessing for shaking the lulav

📥 Download at the link in our bio and print them out to make your Sukkot more inclusive and kid-friendly!

Chag Sukkot sameach from Gateways 💙

Developed by Rebecca Redner, Educational Specialist, Gateways
This item uses PCS® and Boardmaker®, trademarks of Tobii Dynavox®. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

09/23/2026

🤝 You don’t have to parent alone. Join a safe, supportive space to connect & grow.

📅 Join us Wednesday, October 21 | 7:30–9:00 p.m. EDT for a FREE virtual workshop with Dr. Hershberg.

You’ll discover practical strategies to:
✔️ Stay calm during tough moments by thinking through triggers for you and your child
✔️ Break stressful family cycles with the “Love & Limits” framework
✔️ Increase structures and routines that help your children feel secure
✔️ Navigate daily struggles like transitions
✔️ Be a part of a safe, supportive space to learn, connect, and feel empowered as caregiver

💌 It’s free, supportive, and made for caregivers like you. Tag a friend who’d love this too! Thank you to The Miriam Fund of CJP - Combined Jewish Philanthropies for sponsoring this series for its second year.

09/10/2026

2026-2027 Teen Volunteer applications are closing soon!

Hear from one of our fantastic, recent Teen Volunteer alumni, Barrie, on why this program was such an impactful part of her high school experience. 🥰💛

Know a Boston-area teen looking for a meaningful, hands-on community service opportunity? Share with them our Teen Volunteer program as a part of our Sunday Gateways' Accessible Hebrew School, where they’ll build real friendships, form meaningful connections, learn real-world skills, and make an impact in a warm, inclusive Jewish learning environment. 🫶📚

🗓️ Want to learn more? Join us for our final Zoom information session on September 15th at 7 PM!

08/27/2026

"Students do well with the skills that they have." 💙

This was one of the resounding themes of last week's "Foundations First" interactive workshop , where 60 K-8 educators from local Jewish day schools came together to gain strategies for building a successful school year from day one.

Co-led by Gateways’ mental health and behavioral specialists, the session explored ways to weave community-building, clear structures and routines, social-emotional learning, and proactive behavior support into the fabric of the classroom.🎒

Because when we create positive, structured environments where students feel supported, we give them the foundation they need to learn and thrive. 🌱

A special shoutout to The Rashi School for hosting us and for your thoughtful, active participation! 👏



Image Descriptions:
1) Three teachers sit at a table focused on a presentation. They are taking notes in their respective notebooks.
2) A Gateways presenter is standing and speaking next to a presentation reading "Daily SEL Strategies".
3) Two participants are at the front of the photo participating in an activity. A Gateways presenter and other participants are watching, smiling, and laughing.
4) Some teachers are sitting and two stand in the back. They all are smiling while looking at the workshop's activity.
5) A teacher sits at a table in front of a bookshelf. She smiles looking at the presenter.

07/21/2026

📣 We are excited to announce Sweet Sounds 2026: Building Our Inclusive Future! 📣

Join Gateways on Sunday, November 8, at 4:30 pm as we celebrate the generosity, vision, and community that make Gateways possible.

We are honored to recognize Myra Musicant and Howard Cohen, the visionary leaders behind Gateways' New Home Campaign: Securing an Inclusive Future.

Together, we'll celebrate the extraordinary generosity that sustains Gateways each day and glimpse into the exciting future we are building together at our new home on the Schechter Boston campus.

Our Sweet Sounds celebration will highlight the pillars of our core work:
📖 Accessible Hebrew School
🎒Individualized services for Jewish day school students
🫶Mental health supports
🍎Professional development for educators

📅Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!