Faith Inclusion

As I was reading Shelly’s introductory note, I couldn’t help but reflect on the deep significance of building a house of worship that draws everyone into belonging. I think many of us have probably noted the inherent dichotomy between the Torah’s exclamation that we were all designed in the image of God, with the observable range of difference of humanity. Growing up in a post-Enlightenment Reform household, we were taught that this referred to the best parts of our natures, our love, our altruism, our morality and nobility.

It wasn’t until I got to college that I studied a rabbinic discussion about the treatment of the body that had been executed in a judicial proceeding that I realized that for them the image was quite literal. It begs the question then: how can this be both literal and true? [continue reading…]

“For My House Shall Be a House of Prayer for All Peoples”
Isaiah 56:7

Many faith traditions highlight this text from the book of Isaiah as a longstanding declaration of welcome and inclusion. Perhaps your congregation or organization has a plaque near the main entrance to your building with this quotation, or maybe it’s part of your mission statement or website.

Several years ago, as I prepared to give a keynote talk at a conference on inclusion in faith communities, this line from Isaiah took up residence in my brain, practically begging me to frame my presentation around it. [continue reading…]

Shelly Christensen

Hello Members of the RespectAbility Faith Inclusion Family,

When was the last time you started something new? Was it a new job, a new relationship, or a new stage of your life? Did a new opportunity come into your life unexpectedly?

A month ago, I was happily running my consulting business, working on a new book, and collaborating with colleagues in my Jewish and interfaith work.

And then RespectAbility called me. Would I be interested in talking about the new Director of Faith Inclusion position? The small still voice inside of me called out, “yes!” My practical mind, however, suggested that I think about what a new job would mean for me and for my family, and for the work I have done for over 20 years. I never imagined I would work full time for another organization again.

That small still voice was insistent. “This is bashert,” it said. “Follow the process and get on with it!” I listened to myself, and, just a few weeks later, here I am! [continue reading…]

They viewed me in a cruel and envious way
I kept being myself

They said I brag about my success
I was honored to share my accomplishments

They triggered my attachments to sports and favorite athletes
I practiced everyday with coaches by myself and won championships

They bad-mouthed my world travels
I felt motivated to keep blazing new trails [continue reading…]

Jews are among 40 million Americans struggling with substance addiction. Since 1999, 25 million are in recovery, and nearly 1 million died of an overdose. Results from a research study published in the Journal of Addiction indicate that more than 20 percent of Jews with a substance use disorder have a family history of addictive behaviors. The study also indicates that the lifetime prevalence of addiction in Israel is around 13 percent, which is comparable to the rates of substance use in many other developed countries.

The consumption of alcohol is described in the book of Genesis (Gen 9: 20-27). Noah curses   Ham for the role he played in his father’s drunkenness. Jewish law mandates the use of wine (or the use of nonalcoholic grape juice) during Shabbat, Passover, britot milah, weddings, and other occasions. The issue at hand is not the consumption of alcohol, instead, it is the abuse of alcohol and the potential consequences on the individual, the family, and the community. [continue reading…]

Leah Ilana Craig

“You know, Ilana,” my friend Cat said to me in one of many long-distance conversations, “You’re so kind and loving to everyone but yourself.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. How many times have I heard similar remarks from therapists over the years, or the oft repeated reminder to practice self-compassion, advice I would heap onto on my friends with genuine care and the best of intentions, somehow thinking I’m immune to such advice? Everyone is worthy of lovingkindness, of chesed, of course. Except me. Maybe it’s the old anorexic voice in the back of my head rearing her ugly head, maybe a dozen other reasons I could come up with on the spot. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s an unwillingness to embrace the many sides of myself, to shed my own internalized ableism and give myself the care I deserve. [continue reading…]

On Sunday I was waiting to pick up my grandsons, Eli and Isaac, from Hebrew school at our synagogue. I listened as their classes were practicing the Four Questions in the sanctuary. Like their dad and their uncles before them, they would officially lead the Four Questions at our seders this year!

The passage of time and attention to inclusive Jewish practices have focused on the creation of accessible haggadot and Passover materials. These remarkable resources, developed by educators and inclusion practitioners, appeal to the diversity of knowledge acquisition, leading to participation and a sense of belonging for people with disabilities of all ages.

What is so important about inclusive materials and programs is that they are meant for all people to use. The resources listed below were developed to include everyone at our seder tables, and provide just a snapshot of what is available. Wishing you a joyful Passover! [continue reading…]

Every year, as spring comes and the boxes of matzah appear on grocery store shelves, my social media feed fills with reminders to start cleaning early. Memes about flourless treats abound, pictures of the perfect Seder plate crop up, and my stomach twists into knots.

Our cycle of holidays is a back and forth of feasts and fasts, giving rise to the old mantra, “they tried to destroy us, they failed, let’s eat!” While I deeply enjoy many of these holidays, I must admit that I feel less than thrilled about Pesach, especially when compared to the others.

This stems from the fact that there is no easy way for me to walk into a Seder, be it hosted by a friend or my community, and admit my uncomfortable truths. I have struggled with anorexia and other eating disorders since elementary school and, despite five plus years of recovery, the Seder table feels less like a symbol of liberation and more a personification of my neuroses around food. [continue reading…]

RespectAbility’s message testing shows us that, in general, people prefer a message that says that we are a stronger community when we are welcoming, diverse, and respect one another, and that everyone should have an equal opportunity to fully participate in our community. 87 percent of respondents in our 2021 survey of the Jewish community felt that this message was highly persuasive, while only 27 percent felt that a message that promoted inclusion because it was commanded by the Jewish tradition was most powerful.

However, one of the great things about Jewish law is that, with the possible exception of the Holiness code, our laws make sense. After almost 25 years of learning the Jewish teachings on disability, I can safely say that the Rabbinic approach is premised on the notion that everyone should have an equal opportunity to participate. Therefore, these are not actually 2 separate messages, but the same message.

For me, this highlights one of the challenges that I’ve noted throughout my decades of Jewish inclusion work. Because people don’t always know what Judaism has to say about disability, many think that disability inclusion is a topic separate from, if not foreign to, a Jewish worldview. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. [continue reading…]