Faith and Spirituality

JQ International, a frequent cosponsor of RespectAbility webinars, celebrates the lives of LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies by transforming Jewish communities and ensuring inclusion through education, support, and identity-enriching events. From Shabbat dinners to holiday gatherings to educational panels to inclusion training for institutions, JQ’s community engagement, educational programs and support services promote the healthy integration of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities. JQ envisions a world where all LGBTQ+ Jews feel a strong sense of self, pride, and community – a place where LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies are supported by those that embrace their needs and celebrate their unique gifts.

What does resilience mean to you? Depending on where you are in life as well as your responsibilities and challenges, you might define resilience in different ways.

Maybe it’s about staying flexible in mind and spirit. Maybe it’s about working through whatever anger or frustrations you hold within so you can find that happiness that eludes you. Maybe it’s about that determination and creativity that will help you live the life you want and deserve to enjoy.

Resilience as well as flexibility, are ideas we keep close to our hearts and minds at Shutaf Inclusion Programs in Jerusalem. We’re a year-round program that offers inclusive informal education programs for children, teens and young adults of all abilities, regardless of labels, financial limitations, cultural and religious differences. [continue reading…]

Ramah is the camping arm of Conservative Judaism. The mission of the Ramah Camping Movement is to create and sustain excellent summer camps and Israel programs that inspire commitment to Jewish life, and develop the next generation of Jewish leaders. At Ramah, thousands of children, teens, and young adults come together each summer in communities that nurture social, educational, physical, and spiritual growth, creating lifelong friendships, a love for Israel, and a strong Jewish identity.

Since the first Ramah Tikvah program opened in 1970, the Ramah Camping Movement has been a pioneer in the inclusion of Jewish campers with disabilities. The Tikvah Program, now operating in all Ramah camps across North America, meaningfully and seamlessly includes Jewish children, teens, and young adults with a wide range of developmental, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional disabilities in all aspects of camp life—including prayer services, singing, dancing, swimming, arts, camping trips, electives and more.  Camps also offer vocational training and employment for young adults with disabilities.  Tikvah’s full participation in camp continues to lead to meaningful friendships, a sense of belonging and a greater appreciation for all of God’s creations.

Short film series explores the intersection of disability and prayer in the Jewish community

Los Angeles, May 17, 2021 – Matan Koch, the Vice President for Workforce, Leadership, and Faith Programs at RespectAbility who is a wheelchair user, stars in his own segment of “What Do You Pray For?” The film was made by Ben Rosloff, a talented emerging filmmaker on the Autism spectrum who serves as a Jewish Inclusion Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program. [continue reading…]

I was privileged to deliver the following in a “sermon slam” for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot a few years ago. The holiday of Shavuot, literally translated as weeks, is celebrated 7 weeks after Passover, to celebrate the Revelation at Mount Sinai. Tradition teaches that every Jew, past, present, and future, stood together at Sinai at that moment.  It’s depicted as a scary, loud moment with the mountain suspended over our heads. It is a foundational narrative of the Jewish people. As such, we slammers were asked to remark on the idea of “Standing at Sinai.” I chose to explore the experience of pervasive standing metaphors for the non-ambulatory, the unsatisfying resolutions by some, and my own empowering understanding. [continue reading…]

Short film series explores the intersection of disability and prayer in the Jewish community

Los Angeles, May 13, 2021 – Justin Borses, a journalist with cerebral palsy who works at Moorpark University, stars in his own segment of “What Do You Pray For?” The film was made by Ben Rosloff, a talented emerging filmmaker on the Autism spectrum who serves as a Jewish Inclusion Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program. [continue reading…]

Short film series explores the intersection of disability and prayer in the Jewish community

Los Angeles, May 13, 2021 – Ariella Barker, an attorney, policy advisor, and communication specialist who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, stars in her own segment of “What Do You Pray For?” The film was made by Ben Rosloff, a talented emerging filmmaker on the Autism spectrum who serves as a Jewish Inclusion Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program. [continue reading…]

This perspective is a little different than what we usually publish. One of our talented speakers, Aaron Seglin, has an amazing story to tell, but spoken word and music, more than the written word, are his chosen media. In order to share his story with you, he set down with one of our Fellows, Ben Rosloff, to talk about his life and his passion. Ben, along with Samantha Haas, another Jewish inclusion Fellow, wrote this article to share his perspective. Enjoy!

Aaron Seglin

Aaron Seglin is a blind Jewish musician, Growing up in West Orange, New Jersey, his story is not only one of overcoming stigma and barriers, but of a tremendous level of musical accomplishment, talent and skill.

Growing up, Seglin had parents who supported his interest of music. His father was an instrumentalist who had a big part in his talent. He provided instruments for Seglin to try out. However, he passed away when Seglin was young. Seglin’s mother taught fine art which helped expose Seglin to those art skills. Once his father passed away, his grandmother and brother played music with Seglin. His mother was amazed when she noticed that her son could harmonize while playing the piano at the same time. He also could take what he heard on the radio and play it on his own without knowing the notes. Seglin became familiar with three or four families of instruments but felt so passionate about the harmonica that he now teaches it to young people. [continue reading…]

The Edlavitch D.C. Jewish Community Center (EDCJCC) has a long history of inclusion and acceptance. Since its initial creation in 1911, the DCJCC welcomed members of the Jewish community from all backgrounds. The building had extensive renovations in 2019 and is now accessible to all who enter its doors. In 2016, the Center was renamed in honor of Ginny and Irwin Edlavitch, long time philanthropists and community leaders. EDCJCC’s values include Judaism, community, teamwork, diversity, personal development, responsibility, excellence and hospitality. Each of those values make the EDCJCC an inclusive, welcoming and accepting community. [continue reading…]