Faith Inclusion

Matan Koch

It was probably 20 or more years ago that I first heard the words “please rise if you are able” while sitting in a service. While there are obvious flaws in this construction, not the least of which being the express exclusion of those, who, like me, might not be able to rise in the traditional sense of standing, the phrase was revolutionary to me. For the first time, I was sitting in a service, and I no longer had to feel awkward as the noncompliant one.

Now, I know, and knew even as a young man, that I did not have a halachic obligation to stand. And yet, the overt sense that there was no place for me in the choreography of the service created great discomfort. [continue reading…]

“Do not curse the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind” – Leviticus 19:14

Ariel Gold

This quote was the initial inspiration for Ariel Gold’s pursuit of the question, “What does the Hebrew Bible have to say about disabled people and disability?” In her essay, “Judaism and Disability: The Hebrew Bible as a Basis for Advancing Disability Rights, Justice, and Activism,” Gold examines the Torah and related commentary to make a case for Judaism’s potential to radically include disabled people.

Throughout her analysis, Gold emphasizes the more positive representations of disability in the Torah. Gold acknowledges that there also are disparaging portrayals of people with disabilities throughout the Torah, but she writes that the text “offers what can be described as a relatively––and perhaps even surprisingly––comprehensive approach to matters concerning the disability community.” She discusses examples, ranging from the prohibition against priests with “blemishes” in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to biblical hero Moses’ apparent speech impediment, to support her argument that the Torah provides a foundation for inclusion and accessibility within the Jewish community and elsewhere. [continue reading…]

Graciano Petersen

I am excited to introduce Graciano Petersen, RespectAbility’s new Senior Director for Training, Culture, and Leadership Development and my new boss! Graciano has over 13 years of adult education experience and is passionate about interweaving his background in education and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Graciano’s experience in developing and educating leaders ideally positions him to oversee RespectAbility’s Apprenticeship Program and National Disability Training & Speakers Bureau. A strong ally of the Jewish community, Graciano will bring his expertise to overseeing my work with the LA Jewish Speakers Bureau.

Thanks to a Cutting Edge grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, we are expanding the LA Jewish Speakers Bureau. We have the opportunity to recruit 10 Jews in Los Angeles with disabilities and train them to be speakers. We will book these speakers two speaking engagements each and pay them for their time.

These engagements will open the minds of the LA Jewish community to the potential of Jews with disabilities and show Jewish organizations the value of having people with disabilities in their membership, on their board and as part of their staff. The grant also allows RespectAbility to serve as a resource to the LA Jewish community in its efforts to increase capacity for disability inclusion through consulting and training.

If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a speaker on RespectAbility’s LA Jewish Speakers Bureau contact JakeS@RespectAbility.org.

Leah Ilana Craig

The first time I fainted in synagogue, no one was caught more by surprise than me.

It was 2017 and I was freshly discharged from treatment for anorexia and bulimia. I was already deep in relapse, and even deeper in denial. I’m not the type of person who likes to draw attention to myself, and the caring concern of the rabbi who offered me water and candy to get my blood sugar up felt like too much. I would rather not be perceived, thank you. Needless to say, I felt embarrassed as I stumbled between benches at an outdoor summer Kabbalat Shabbat service, the grass tilting towards me and my vision darkening.

Not long after, I found myself at a residential treatment center across the country, starting a new life, at a new shul. “No one at IKAR needs to know about my illness,” I thought. I would hide in the back and stay shy. But my new shul wasn’t having any of it. [continue reading…]

Israel Elwyn (IE), an award-winning nonprofit based in Israel, provides a wide range of supports for people with disabilities. In pursuit of a just and accessible society, IE serves approximately 5,200 individuals with disabilities of all ages. The organization “foresees a society in which individuals with disabilities will be citizens with equal rights; a society in which we all aspire to determine our own future and way of life.”

This article could only cover a sample of offerings from Israel Elwyn, so check out their website for additional information. [continue reading…]

Jewish Family Service & Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley: Disability & Inclusion in our Jewish Community

Jewish Family Service (JFS) of the Lehigh Valley hosted a virtual town hall entitled “Disability and Inclusion in our Jewish Community.” Led by Lily Coltoff, Internal Communications Associate at Hillel International, and Amanda Thomas, Disability Liaison at JFS Lehigh Valley, the program included Lily’s story, disability 101, a brief overview of RespectAbility’s national data on Jewish Disability Inclusion, community discussion, and the creation of an action plan. [continue reading…]

Jewish Disability Advocacy Day (JDAD) 2022 focused on breaking down barriers and making positive change. The two-day virtual event, hosted by the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), featured leaders of partner organizations on panel discussions, emphasized the collective power of the disability community to advance pertinent legislation, and highlighted disability advocacy champions.

The thought-provoking panels focused on barriers to inclusion, breaking down those barriers, and advocating for change. Barriers mentioned in the panel discussions included the lack of accessible transportation, employer misconceptions about employing individuals with disabilities, and the tendency to focus solely on people’s disabilities instead of recognizing their abilities. Panel members also shared tips for successful advocacy, including concentrating on local change, ensuring all resources are accessible, and placing individuals with disabilities in leadership positions. [continue reading…]

Matan Koch, Vice President for Workforce, Leadership, and Faith Programs at RespectAbility, hosted emerging Jewish talent and debuted RespectAbility’s Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit at the Rising Stars event. Award-winning poet Erika Abbott read a lovely poem, included below, that conveys the theme of JDAIM, and Aaron Seglin sang an original composition. Erika, Aaron, Justin Borses, and Ava Rigelhaupt engaged in a vibrant panel discussion about what Jewish disability inclusion means to them, how Judaism and disability influence their art, and their multifaceted identities. The new Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit, released at the event, is a free and valuable resource for all to employ.

(Note: A version of this recording with open captions will be posted by Monday.)

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, met with leaders at Tamir to discuss disability inclusion for Jewish community professionals. As explained by Jodi Green, Tamir’s Coordinator of Judaic Outreach and Inclusion, “for nearly 40 years, Tamir has supported people with developmental disabilities and people with autism to live their best life by promoting individuality, independence, dignity, and community inclusion, while embracing Jewish culture and values.” Jennifer shared ten tips to improve disability inclusion and a plethora of resources, including RespectAbility’s new Jewish Disability Inclusion Toolkit. In addition, the group discussed the difficult balance Jewish organizations face between solely serving the Jewish community and maximizing tikkun olam through intersectionality, and the challenges COVID posed to running vocational training programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

(Note: A version of this recording with open captions will be posted by Monday.)

United Jewish Federation of Utah and Utah Women’s Philanthropy hosted Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Founder of RespectAbility, for a conversation on Jewish disability inclusion. Mizrahi presented ten practical disability inclusion tips for Jewish organizations and shared valuable resources for further learning. During the dynamic Q&A session, the group discussed disability inclusion in religious schools, inclusion vs. integration, disability representation in the entertainment industry, and personal disability-related stories.

Erika Abbott’s JDAIM Poem

My
Jewish
Education
Started
At
3.5
Years
Old
With
Names
Like
Golde
Meir
My
Grandmother
Made
Sure
That
I
Was
“Woke”
To
Israel
And
Her
Enemies
My
Jewish
Education
Continued
To
Flourish
Through
Stories
Around
The
Dinner
Table
Is
Anyone
At
Temple
Shocked
At
Your
Disability
No
I
Am
Not
Your
Mitzvah
The
Object
Of
Your
Haskivenu
I
Am
My
Own
Moses

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is in full swing, and we have been partnering on some very exciting events. Keep reading for more information on three of them! [continue reading…]