The Chabad of West Orange held a Shabbat Shalem, A Shabbat of Inclusion and Awareness, during Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month, on Fri., Feb. 5. The special guest speaker was Avi Golden, who spoke on the topic of Aphasia.

Golden suffered a stroke several years ago and as a result now has aphasia. Before that, he was a paramedic in North Shore – LIJ EMS and NY Presbyterian EMS in NYC and he was planning to go to medical school. He is slowly but surely getting his speech back, however, in the aftermath of this incident, he has become deeply involved in training people, especially first responders, about aphasia.

Leslie Starr, a lifetime resident of West Orange and longtime member of Chabad of West Orange, gave the Dvar Torah.

The evening also included a candle lighting ceremony, dinner and services

For more information on Chabad of West Orange go to www.chabadwestorange.com/fnd.