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Training: “Inclusion as a Jewish Value”

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If you are in the nonprofit sector, you live your values in your work every day. For many of us, those values spring deeply from our Jewish identity. We all know that the Torah calls upon us to be just, and to be charitable, but did you know that it also calls upon us to be inclusive? Join us for yet another connection between your work and your values, as you learn about how the inclusion that you already believe in as deeply Jewish roots.

Panelists Include

  • Moderator: Matan Koch – Director of RespectAbility California and Jewish Leadership
  • Rabbi Lauren Tuchman
  • Aaron Kaufman – Jewish Federations of North America

Speaker Bios

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman wearing a purple shirt inside a synagogue with the background blurred.Based in the Washington, D.C. area, Rabbi Lauren Tuchman is a sought after speaker, spiritual leader and educator. Ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary in 2018, she has taught at numerous synagogues and other Jewish venues throughout North America and was named to the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36 for her innovative leadership concerning inclusion of Jews with disabilities in all aspects of Jewish life. In 2017, she delivered an ELI Talk entitled We All Were At Sinai: The Transformative Power of Inclusive Torah. She has trained and continues to teach with Rabbi David Jaffe and the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project, which provides a space for Jewish spiritual and contemplative practice for social justice activists rooted in the spiritual discipline of Mussar and the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. She serves on the board of JOIN for Justice, which trains Jews in community organizing for social change.

Aaron Kaufman smiling in front of flowers on a table, holding onto his walking frameAaron Kaufman joined The Jewish Federations of North America’s Washington DC office in January 2016 as a Senior Legislative Associate. He focuses on disability and poverty issues.  Aaron came from the Arc Maryland where he lobbied members of the Maryland General Assembly and the Maryland Congressional delegation on issues affecting Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Having Cerebral Palsy, Aaron feels he brings a unique perspective to JFNA’s efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. Outside of advocacy, he was the instructor in Project SEARCH Montgomery, a job-training program for young adults with significant disabilities. Aaron graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in American Studies and with several honors. He is on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and is the former Vice Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.  He also served on the Board of the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Councils as well as the Board of Disability Rights Maryland.

Matan Koch headshotMatan A. Koch is the Director of RespectAbility California and Jewish Leadership at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. A longtime national leader in disability advocacy and a wheelchair user himself, he leads Project Moses, RespectAbility’s Los Angeles-based Jewish leadership project, and is also on the front lines in many other areas of RespectAbility’s work, including: disability inclusion in philanthropy and nonprofits, Jewish outreach and impact, leadership, legal affairs and our continuing Los Angeles expansion.

Partners/Co-Promoters

AvodahB’nai David-Judea CongregationBuilders of Jewish Education: JKidLACongregation B’nai AmoonaCongregation B’nai Emet, Congregation Kol AmiCongregation Or AmiEdlavitch DCJCCFoundation for Jewish CampGateways: Access to Jewish EducationHebrew Union CollegeIKARInstitute on Theology and DisabilityJewish Federations of North AmericaJewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ – Greater MetroWest ABLEJewish Los Angeles Special Needs Trust and ServicesJewish Residential ServicesJQ International, JVS SoCal, Jewish Women International (JWI)Keshet, Keshet Chicago, Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living TorahMarlene Meyerson JCC ManhattanMatan, Moment Magazine, National Ramah Tikvah Network, Ohr HaTorah Synagogue, OurSpace LA, Reconstructing JudaismReligious Action Center of Reform JudaismROSIES FoundationShalhevet, Shalom InstituteStephen Wise TempleTemple Adat Elohim, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human RightsThe Jewish JournalThe Miracle ProjectThe New NormalThe Women’s Rabbinic NetworkUnion for Reform Judaism, USCJWhole Community Inclusion at Jewish Learning VentureYachad Los AngelesYeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School

This series is made possible by support from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles through a Cutting Edge Grant, The Diane & Guilford Glazer Philanthropies, The David Berg Foundation, the Stanford and Joan Alexander Foundation, Stanley & Joyce Black Family Foundation, and The Beverly Foundation.

Meet the Author

Eric Ascher

Eric Ascher is the Communications Associate for RespectAbility. He is responsible for supporting RespectAbility’s Vice President, Communications in developing and implementing advocacy efforts and communications of various types. Ascher manages RespectAbility’s social media channels, website and emails; organizes and develops webinars; and supervises Communications Fellows.

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