The Moses – Aaron Cooperative Rabbi Jackie Redner A Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services & Vista Inspire Program
The Moses - Aaron Cooperative uses live presentations, Q & A, video, music, and storytelling to
illuminate a simple and profound truth - though their bodies often do not cooperate, and their nervous systems often produce seemingly strange and unpredictable behaviors, those on the Austism Spectrum who are non –Verbal are often not only fully present and aware, but capable of deep thought, spiritual insight, and humor as well. They are humanity’s gifts – and potentially, some of our greatest teachers. In the Torah, Moses had a difficult time with words – with speech – with speaking, and thus needed Aaron, his brother, to be his “voice.” Several Nes Gadol * students who are on the Autism Spectrum and are non-Verbal, identify strongly with Moses and his predicament. It is their journey to share what is inside of them which inspired the creation of The Moses - Aaron Cooperative - in particular, my work with a young man named Ido Kedar, whose fiery intelligence and spiritual depth begged for public expression and acknowledgement. The Moses - Aaron Cooperative seeks to ease the marginalization of this particular group (those with
Non-Verbal Autism) within the Jewish and larger community, by providing them with an “Aaron” to share their words, and a framework and forum within which to share them. The residents of Vista Del Mar are the “Aarons” for this program.
If you would like to bring The Moses - Aaron Cooperative to your community, please contact Rabbi Jackie Redner of Vista Del Mar at JackieRedner@vistadelmar.org or at (310) 836-1223 ext. 209. The Moses - Aaron Cooperative is currently the subject of a documentary filmmaker, Amy Duzinski Janes (As Seen Through These Eyes, Beyond the Chair, Kaziah the Goat Woman). http://www.linkedin.com/in/amyduzinskijanes Nes Gadol is a Jewish Learning program for children and young adults with special needs at Vista Del Mar. Please visit the website: www.vistainspireprogram.com for more information. This program is directed by Elaine Hall who is featured in the award winning documentary film, “Autism: The Musical,” and founder of The Miracle Project www.autismthemusical.com.