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 students and young adults with special needs to reach new heights in their Jewish education.

Meeting at the Merrick Jewish Centre on Sunday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm, SULAM-LI strives to strike the perfect balance between serving individual learning needs, and creating a warm, inclusive learning community for students, staff, volunteers, and family members. During a series of carefully structured learning activities, the students are exposed to prayer, Hebrew, holidays, and culture. Crafts, cooking, and music help to bring the curriculum to each student in a memorable way. Our goal is to help each Jewish student climb a bit higher on the ladder of Jewish learning year after year.

SULAM LI’s educational program does not stop with Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We also offer a class for young adults who wish to continue their Jewish education. The young adult class is structured to simultaneously recognize their growing maturity while providing the necessary support to assist them on their journey to Jewish adulthood.

A Jewish Education for Students with Special Needs

  • SULAM-LI has small class sizes.
  • SULAM-LI has highly trained special educators.
  • SULAM-LI participates in the PJ Library program.
  • SULAM-LI has a specialized multi-sensory curriculum.
  • SULAM-LI is open to students of all Jewish backgrounds.
  • SULAM-LI offers a class for post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and young adults.
  • SULAM-LI offers students an opportunity to connect to our Jewish tradition in an appropriate learning environment.

The program meets at Merrick Jewish Centre at 225 Fox Boulevard, Merrick, NY.

SULAM-LI is a collaboration of the following synagogues: Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, Congregation Sons of Israel, Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, Merrick Jewish Centre, Temple Am Echad-The South Shore Reform Congregation, Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst, Temple Hillel and Temple Israel, Lawrence; in cooperation with 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. The program does not discriminate on basis of race, color, nationality or ethnic origin and is open to the public.