The Founding of Gateways

Gateways was formed in July 2006 by the merger of two community-based organizations which had grown in the Boston area to meet the needs of Jewish children and their parents, their schools, their synagogues and other community organizations. Their merger made sense: it streamlined resources, fundraising and gave the community a strong place in which to continue to build the continuum of services that are needed.

The Jewish Special Education Collaborative (JSEC), created in 1999, was one of the Gateways’ founding partners. JSEC was formed to enable children to be educated in Jewish day schools despite learning, physical, behavioral or emotional special needs, which traditionally made dual curriculum schools harder environments in which to succeed. These programs enable children to get the services they need to stay in the Jewish day school setting – on-track for their future success.

JSEC continues as Gateways Jewish Day School Programs.

Gateways’ other partner in formation was Etgar L’Noar. Founded in 1997 by parents who wished a Jewish education for their child with multiple disabilities, the program provided a Jewish education for children with moderate to severe disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, hearing and visual impairment, pervasive developmental disorders, and a wide spectrum of other challenges. Few schools in the area were prepared to offer a Jewish education for this very special population.

Etgar L'Noar is now the Gateways Jewish Education Programs.

Please click on Programs to read about our offerings.