Kulanu honors Sterbas and Star’s Joszef

Kulanu, the Five Towns-based organization that helps children with special needs and their families, will honor three of its founding members — Jewish Star Kitchen columnist Judy Joszef and Alyssa and Leslie Sterba — at its annual scholarship dinner on Dec. 21, motzei Shabbat, at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst.

Kulanu came together in 1999 as a peer-led support group for parents of children with physical and developmental disabilities who wanted their children to be able to be a part of the community’s Jewish cultural, social and educational opportunities. They brought their concerns to local rabbis, and awareness was raised through the Orthodox Caucus Torah Ethics Project.

Kulanu partners with local synagogues and schools to provide the children — from age two through adulthood — with Jewish cultural and value-based programming. In doing so, Kulanu has opened a broad range of educational, chesed and tzedaka opportunities to the community. They also help parents deal with the daily challenges they face and facilitate their getting medical, social or educational services.

Joszef has been active in Kulanu since its founding, volunteering on the dinner decorating committee and at Kulanu’s Camp Discovery. A pastry and personal chef, she is owner of Soiree, a party planning/catering business, and has been involved in many aspects of Five Towns life including Amit, HAFTR and the Young Israel of Woodmere.

Judy and her husband Jerry, a tax attorney, are proud parents of Yoni and Esther, Elana, Daniel, Jeremy, Yardena and Yitz, Elliot and Jordana. Her children informally launched Kulanu’s Sunday recreational program.

When Jordana was preparing for her bat mitzvah, Judy suggested it would nice to include the Kulanu kids she had been working with for many years. “Mom,” Jordana replied, “I already included them on my list, but not as Kulanu kids, but as my friends, because that’s what they are, my friends!”

Alyssa and Leslie Sterba are part of the original support group that formed Kulanu.