For some families, being able to attend services would be an incredible Chanukah gift. And, while congregations attempt to be as inclusive as possible in addressing the needs of people who would like to worship, some families need extra accommodations.

This year, a program called Encompass (formerly Supported Community Living Initiative), administered by Jewish Child & Family Services, is partnering with five Conservative congregations through a program called HUGS: Healthy Understanding and Growing Space, to offer free synagogue worship services to families who have members with special needs. This year’s Chanukah event is being held on December 21 at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield.

HUGS was envisioned by Cantor Steven Stoehr, of Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, to provide a welcoming environment for Judaic observance, specifically for families who have a loved one with a disability. This year, HUGS has expanded its embrace to Moriah Congregation and Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Deerfield, Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation in Northfield, and North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park. Membership in these congregations is not required, and in some cases the HUGS service joins the rest of the congregation.

By working with Encompass, the HUGS program also embraces adults with disabilities. “We are thrilled about this partnership, and look forward to a great year of programming that will enrich Judaic experience for people with disabilities and their families,” said Jodi Newmark, director of Encompass.

Encompass also joins with Reform congregations to offer rotating Shabbat observances for families and adults with disabilities, including musical ones, throughout the year. Several participating congregations host HUGS observances for the High Holidays, Succot, Simchat Torah, Purim and Shavuot, and even a chocolate Seder for Passover. There also will be HUGS events at congregations during February, for Jewish Disability Awareness Month. While the worship services are free, for Shabbat dinners there may be a request for donations based on the family’s ability to contribute.

Encompass explores a sustainable, community-integrated future for people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. Encompass provides and facilitates Jewish community-based services and supports for adults across the spectrum of intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and across all socioeconomic levels and levels of observance.

Encompass is administered by Jewish Child & Family Services, a partner in serving our community, supported by the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. The full calendar for HUGS services is at: juf.org/pdf/shalom_baby/HUGS_Event_Schedule.pdf. For more information about HUGS or Encompass, contact Jodi Newmark at 773-467-3923 or [email protected].