We are excited to share that Keshet has been selected to receive a small grant from our Federation’s Israel Education Fund—a meaningful recognition of Keshet’s commitment to inclusive and accessible Jewish learning. This opportunity is particularly noteworthy, as Keshet is not typically included in Israel education funding streams. The grant reflects growing efforts to make Israel education more inclusive and representative of the full diversity of our community.

The grant will support the development of a new Israeli cooking curriculum designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Keshet’s residential homes. The program will combine hands-on culinary learning with cultural exploration of Israel, enabling participants to engage with Israeli history and traditions through food—a medium they already know and love.

“This initiative is about more than just cooking,” said a Keshet program leader. “It’s about connection—connecting our residents to Israel, to each other, and to the broader Jewish community through something joyful and meaningful.”

A Recipe for Inclusion and Impact

The curriculum will feature kosher, nutritionally balanced Israeli recipes, tailored for accessibility and inclusion. In the end, Keshet plans to compile the recipes into a collection that can be shared with other residential homes and disability service providers, multiplying the project’s impact across communities.

Although this grant does not fund Keshet’s upcoming community Israel trip for people with disabilities, it aligns with the same goal: creating more inclusive pathways to Jewish life and Israel engagement.

We congratulate Keshet on this grant and look forward to seeing the creativity and connection this program will inspire.