ESTABLISHING
A NETWORK FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS RELIGIOUS
COUPLES
H.
Kedem, G. Mondri
In today’s era of
developing self-fulfillment, more and more specialneeds
individuals want to
marry. During the last few years, Alei Siach
has been developing
a supportive network for such couples. Currently,
we are guiding two
couples, and many others await us. Concerns: 1.
How to determine
who is capable of marrying? Who decides – the
young man/woman,
parents, and/or professional staff? 2. Religious
couples date only
for marriage. How to determine compatibility? 3. For
religious couples,
intimacy begins only after marriage. How to develop
readiness? 4.
Childbearing? Goals: 1. Determining marriage ability
and providing
necessary training. 2. Developing groups of couples
based on
communities of origin. Each group will be housed and
integrated in its
native community. 3. Couples will live within a
reasonable distance
from each other, but not in the same building. 4.
Each couple will be
guided by a Rabbi accepted in their community. 5.
Establishing a
recreational center for married couples. 6. Employment
training. 7.
Providing each couple with marriage counselor,
housemother, and
counselors as needed. 8. Providing support for the
couple’s parents.
Training: 1. Apartments for marriage training,
cognitively-compatible
groups of same gender. 2. Studying
interpersonal and
daily living skills at Alei Siach’s special college. 3.
Training counselors
to teach Jewish marriage laws. Presentation
accompanied by
video of both couples, and backed by articles of
Arnon Leviatan and
Rabbi Shai Firon, and halachic responsa of Rabbi
Farbstein and Rabbi
Eichler.
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