Tag Archives: inclusive

The Bigger Picture

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Written by Meredith Polsky, Matan co-founder

It has been a challenging week in the world of Jewish Special Education, as news of a blind camper asked to leave Camp Ramah in Canada spread at lightening speed over social media and other outlets.  Though Matan has been following these events from the first moment we learned of them, we hesitated to make a statement (or spread the story even more widely) until we could hear “another side”, or until some resolution was reached.  We will never know exactly what led to this unfortunate series of events, but as a Jewish Special Education organization that has seen families suffer time and time again, we would like to offer some thoughts.

What we have seen over the past four days is that this is not solely about one child.  The outrage that many people expressed online, while certainly out of support for one family and their child, has much more to do with the growing sentiment that the Jewish community has not yet reached its potential in how we include all individuals in our Jewish institutions.  That one father was able to garner so much support in such a short time is a testament to just how many in our extended Jewish community want to see change.  While addressing special needs in the Jewish world has long been the work of a relatively small number of people, we now see that even those not “directly” affected by disabilities are taking a stand towards ensuring every child his/her birthright – a Jewish education and fair access to the Jewish community. That in and of itself is a step in a very positive direction.

On a daily basis, Matan works to educate, empower and advocate on behalf of Jewish children with special needs and their families.  In the twelve years since Matan’s inception we have learned that it really does take all three.  By truly recognizing the responsibility we have to be partners with parents and families, much of what happened at Camp Ramah last week could have been prevented.  We do believe that staffs at Ramah camps across North America are well-intentioned and aim to accommodate and include.  We also know that it takes more than one person to succeed or fail in these arenas.  It takes an entire community – layleaders, professionals, funders and families with and without children with special needs – to support a mission that is grounded in a firm commitment to inclusion.  It cannot and should not be about who is at the helm at any particular moment, but about the dedication of an entire Jewish community that expects our leaders to educate, empower and advocate – and where leaders are supported in that work.

We cannot expect to get it right the first time, every time. We can expect open and honest dialogue that includes families and their children.  We must expect those in our broader community to care about inclusion whether or not a child’s parents have the wherewithal and the forum to generate support wide enough to reverse initial decisions.   And while we wish no family or child would ever have to experience exclusion from the Jewish community, it is our moral mandate to learn from those that have been scorned and continue to work towards a meaningfully inclusive Jewish community.

 

 

Check out these Jewish Community Heroes!

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For the third consecutive year, The Jewish Federations of North America have launched the Jewish Community Hero of the Year campaign. The Jewish Community Hero of the Year selected through the Jewish Community Heroes campaign receives a $25,000 grant from The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to be used as an investment in his/her community project or non-profit effort. Additionally, the four remaining finalists will each receive a $1,000 grant, and the Federation Hero of the Year will receive a $5,000 grant.

As we were reading about this years nominees, we were thrilled and inspired by the large number of nominees who are working towards a more inclusive community for individuals with special needs.  Please read more about them at Jewish Community Heroes and cast your vote!  Congratulations to these nominees:

Daniel Grossman, Lawrenceville, NJ
Sandy Keshen, Toronto, Ontario
Shana Erenberg, Chicago, IL
Jayne Medoff Smith, Staten Island, NY
Rabbi Reeve Brenner, Rockville, MD
Eliezer Goldstock, Brooklyn, NY
Brian Wasser, Hyannis, MA
Gary Moskowitz, New York, NY
Judy Love, Cherry Hill, NJ
Janice Patterson, Oak Park, IL
Jenine Shwekey, Long Branch, NJ
Sheri Blank, Encino, CA
Karen Gordon, Shreveport, LA
Helaine Dominguez, Brooklyn, NY

The Jewish Deaf Resource Center Press Release

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The Jewish Deaf Resource Center (JDRC) applauds the Conservative Movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards (CJLS) for unanimously passing a historic Teshuvah positively impacting the lives of Jews who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.  With this Teshuvah, the Conservative Jewish Movement now recognizes that individuals who communicate in sign language are equals and that the Conservative Jewish community must strive to be accessible and inclusive.

On May 24th, 2011, the CJLS passed a Teshuvah stating the following in part:

“The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards rules that the deaf who communicate via sign language and do not speak are no longer to be considered mentally incapacitated.  Jews who are deaf are responsible for observing mitzvot.  Our communities, synagogues, schools, and camps must strive to be welcoming and accessible, and inclusive.  Sign language may be used in matters of personal status and may be used in rituals.  A deaf person called to the Torah who does not speak may recite the berakhot via sign language.  A deaf person may serve as a shaliah tzibbur in sign language in a minyan whose medium of communication is sign language.”

Alexis Kashar, president of JDRC said, “This is a historic moment as we deaf and hard of hearing Jews are now able to stand along with the larger Conservative Jewish community as equals.  We truly appreciate Rabbi Pamela Barmash’s pioneering efforts as the author of this Teshuvah.”

The Jewish Deaf Resource Center is a national advocacy organization whose mission is to build bridges between Jews who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and the individuals and organizations which serve the Jewish community throughout North America.

Beth M. Mann, Associate Vice President of The Jewish Federations of North American (JFNA), said, “JDRC has been a magnificent partner in widening the tent of Jewish communal participation, a shared mission for both the JDRC and the JFNA.  The responsum from CJLS represents a pivotal Jewish moment in our history as a people and our ever-expanding quest to provide a dynamic and magnetic community in which our people wish to participate.”

As stated by Rabbi Barmash, “This is yet another example of how Jewish law and spirituality, guided by the innovative spirit of tradition, embraces the challenges of the present.”

A copy of the full Teshuvah can be found at:

http://rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/2011-2020/Status%20of%20the%20Heresh6.2011.pdf

Press Release Submitted By:
JDRC Co-Founder
Naomi Brunnlehrman, MA
www.jdrc.org

 


 

Shabbat Shalom, Grover!

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Matan’s first OPEN SESAME! program features the episode “Shabbat Shalom, Grover!” Everything you need for this screening can be found here!  If you would like to conduct your own inclusive screening of Shabbat Shalom, Grover, just let us know!

1.  open_sesame_flyer_template

2.  Open Sesame files (this zip file contains everything you will need for the program, including social stories, art activities, story boards and directions!)