We honor Susan North Gilboa, an inspirational educator and visionary leader in the field of Informal Jewish Special Education/Inclusion.

Susan co-founded B’Yachad, a youth group for children with different abilities, which she and others brought to VBS in 1984. Soon after her arrival she was asked to coordinate B’Yachad, the existing Moreshet class and the Shaare Tikva program which VBS opened its doors to in 1986. While coordinating those programs, Susan created a space for Parents and Grandparents in a monthly Bagel n Chat, added programming for pre- and post-B'nai Mitzvah, and developed a Volunteer program for teens to adults. 

In 2007 Susan's vision to spread these programs further into the community ultimately led to OurSpaceLA, which is when she created The Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning adult arts program and co-founded the Kolot Tikva/Voices of Hope Choir. 

These programs have changed the lives of the participants and their families. In addition, many teenage volunteers have found that because of their experience with OSLA, they have pursued career paths in Special Education or in related fields. 

Susan has served and continues to serve as a lay leader, educator and consultant for many organizations, including the Jewish Federation, Builders of Jewish Education, Camp Ramah’s Tikva program, and AJU Summer Institute, Delet HUC-JIR and various synagogues in LA, Orange County, NY, Ohio, and Texas. In addition to Susan being a pioneer in creating inclusive spaces for all, she has been sharing her love and knowledge of Israel’s multicultural society, through her teaching Israeli Folk dance, to both children and adults for more than four decades.