Co-hosted by the Southern California Board of Rabbis, the event drew attention to Jewish children with special needs who are sometimes ostracized by their religious community.
Vista Del Mar’s President and CEO Dr. Elias Lefferman welcomed luncheon guests and provided an overview of his organization’s innovative Vista Inspire Program (VIP)which serves children with autism spectrum disorder and other special needs through several therapeutic, after-
school programs focusing on dance, drama, voice, music, and musical theatre, as well as Bar/Bat Mitzvah education and preparation.
VIP is directed by Elaine Hall, a nationally known autism advocate and creator of the Miracle Project—a theater- and film-arts program for children with special needs and the subject of the Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary Autism: The Musical. The Bar/Bat Mitzvah program, which is known as Nes Gadol, is directed by Rabbi Jackie Redner.
For more information about the program: call (310) 836-1223 ext.369 or visit www.vistadelmar.org.
