Like many parents, Louis and Robin Zweig work to give their children a good education at home, at school and at their temple, Congregation Shearith . But this hasn’t always been easy. Their son, David, has Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of autism. By partnering with teachers, however, the Zweigs have been able to help him excel: He has a 4.0 grade point average and takes three honors classes. “Academically, he’s a parent’s dream come true,” Louis Zweig says. But when it came time to prepare for his bar mitzvah, David wasn’t as academically successful. That’s largely because his teachers, like many at worship centers, weren’t trained to work with children who have learning disabilities. The Zweigs hope to change that. They recently created the Gladys Golman/Faye Dallen Education Fund, which provides free education and training to religious and day school teachers so they can work with children who have learning disabilities. David recently completed his bar mitzvah with a lot of work and help from his parents. The Zweigs hope that their son’s struggle will pave the way for other kids in his boat. “This is about more than training for a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah,” says Louis Zweig, who serves on Congregation Shearith ’s board of education. “We’ve got to provide hope for the parents. We believe all students should have a quality education and develop a Jewish identity.”
The Dallas Jewish Charitable Foundation manages the Gladys Golman/Faye Dallen Education Fund. To make a donation or to find out more, visit djf.org or call 214.615.9351.
