Los Angeles, April 9, 2021 – Blair Webb, a former Jewish Inclusion Fellow at RespectAbility who lives with Cerebral Palsy, 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…]
Los Angeles, April 9, 2021 – Joshua Steinberg, the Program Associate for RespectAbility California and Jewish Leadership who lives with learning disabilities, including Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome and mild Bipolar Disorder, 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…]
Los Angeles, April 9, 2021 – Samantha Elisofon, a talented actress who lives with autism, 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…]
Los Angeles, April 9, 2021 – Lee Chernotsky, a talented CEO who lives with ADHD and has created innovative opportunities in Los Angeles and beyond for people with disabilities and their families, 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…]
On April 8 we observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and remember the 11 million people who perished throughout the Holocaust. When we think about the Holocaust, we generally think about the 6 million Jewish people that were killed. But there were other populations that were targeted in the Holocaust: Roma, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities. [continue reading…]
Carol Gould smiling in front of a painting of Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion
In my first essay for RespectAbility I mentioned the problems single, sick or disabled congregants of modest means have in this modern world because we as a people have excelled in so many pursuits. From the outset I must make it clear the second part of my essay is not a bitter mega-kvetch about poor cousins envying rich cousins. It is an overview of modern Jewry contrasted against the world my grandfather inhabited – a world of tzedakah. [continue reading…]
Passover is coming up soon, and depending on whether or not you and your family have been vaccinated, you might be able to safely celebrate in person this year. It’s important to remember that it’s easy to hold festivities where all guests — with and without disabilities — feel welcomed, respected and have fun. But it takes some extra thought. For example, children with learning disabilities generally do not want to be called on to read the part of the “Simple Child” at the Seder. If you are celebrating online, our Virtual Events toolkit is for you! If you are celebrating in person, here are some tips to ensure your gatherings are inclusive, thoughtful and welcoming to all. [continue reading…]
How do we create inclusive Jewish classrooms? At Jewish Learning Venture, our Whole Community Inclusion initiative approaches inclusion holistically, engaging all stakeholders including the educators, the families, clergy and synagogue leaders and of course, the students themselves. We’ve implemented a number of successful programs to support inclusion, including: [continue reading…]
Carol Gould
I am honoured that Jennifer Mizrahi has asked me to write from Great Britain, where I have lived as an expatriate American for forty-five years, about being Jewish and battling stage 4 breast and lymph node cancer during Covid. I am delighted to share some of my story with you. In a future installment, I will examine the ‘dynamic’ of being disabled, fighting cancer and secular Jewish generosity in the COVID-dominated world. [continue reading…]
Adam Bronstone, Director of Planning, Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee shares below about Nashville’s Webinar of Webinars. You can find the webinars to which Adam refers at www.respectability.org/jewish-events.
As the pandemic forced every community to pivot to online activities and meetings, the leadership of the Inclusion Committee of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee decided to pause its activities, believing that in-person meetings would be more beneficial that virtual meetings. Once everyone realized that the pandemic was going to be with us for a long time, the committee decided that it would be important to re-establish the inclusion committee and as a community. [continue reading…]
