What It’s All About

The Hebrew word SULAM means “ladder”. Just as a ladder enables a person to reach heights that he or she could not reach alone, the SULAM-LI program enables school-age Jewish children with special needs to reach new heights in their Jewish education.

Meeting every Sunday morning from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon, SULAM-LI staff employ a wide range of techniques to impart the beauty of our Jewish heritage to special needs students.

With an emphasis on multi-sensory and experiential learning, the SULAM-LI program incorporates art, cooking and story telling to adapt the classic congregational school curriculum to the needs of our students.  A special music and movement program involves participants in joyful expression of Jewish song and prayer. Parent support groups enable SULAM-LI families to discuss important issues and share resources.  Chanukah and Purim parties, a Model Seder, and a Lag B’Omer family picnic round out the educational experience.

A Jewish Education for Children with Special Needs

  • SULAM-LI offers your child an opportunity to connect to our Jewish tradition in an appropriate learning environment which is designed to meet your child’s unique learning style.
  • SULAM-LI offers classes on Sunday mornings from 10:00 am until noon.
  • SULAM-LI has small class sizes.
  • SULAM-LI has highly trained special educators.
  • SULAM-LI has a specialized multi-sensory curriculum.
  • SULAM-LI offers socialization and parent support groups.
  • SULAM-LI is open to children of all Jewish backgrounds.

SULAM-LI is a collaboration of the following synagogues: Congregation Sons of Israel, Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth, Temple Am Echad-the South Shore Reform Congregation, Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst, Temple Hillel and Temple Israel of Lawrence in cooperation with the Board of Jewish Education, FEGS and the NCJW-Peninsula Section. The initial funding for SULAM-LI was provided by the Caring Commission of UJA Federation of New York.

SULAM-LI is a section 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and does not require synagogue affiliation.