Baruch Atah
Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, m’shaneh habriyot - Blessed are You,
Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, who makes creatures different.
Diversity. It’s
what makes life interesting. How boring it would be if we were all exactly the
same! Earlier this summer I used a metaphor of fireworks
as a successful model for inclusion, illustrating the significance of
diversity. There are many other examples out there and so much written about
the value of diversity.
We should be
celebrating diversity. And to do so requires actively teaching it. The
Egg Activity is one lesson that you might use. This Survival
Kit is another.
I’d love to hear
other ways that you actively teach diversity.
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This post is a part of
the month-long series #BlogElul. The Jewish month of Elul,
which precedes the High Holy Days, is traditionally a time of renewal and
reflection. We look to begin the year with a clean slate, starting anew,
refreshed. All month, along with others, I'll be blogging a thought or two for
each day to help with the month of preparation...
I have said often that inclusion is not a program.And inclusion is not something that we do for people with
disabilities. Rather, inclusion is a mindset, an attitude, a way of thinking
that opens doors to opportunities for meaningful engagement, contribution and
belonging.
But is that enough? Can we
just think good thoughts and have the right attitudes and POOF all will be
inclusive? It seems fairly obvious that we have to DO something to make
inclusion a reality. So, I have drafted my suggestions for an inclusion to-do list:
What
will you put on your to-do list in the year ahead to make your school, your organization, your
faith community more inclusive?
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A year ago I participated
in an effort created by a Reform rabbi named Phyllis Sommer called #BlogElul. I
found it to be both challenging and rewarding, and I am eager to participate
again this year. I relish this opportunity to think deeply and move into the
year ahead with greater intention. Writing is clearly a modality that works for me and it helps me to tune in and personally reflect. I regularly
encourage teachers and colleagues to find ways to reach their students by tapping
into their areas of strength, and so I appreciate that the #BlogElul project
has helped tap into mine.
Additionally, this is also
the project that inspired me to start #JDAMblogs
for Jewish Disability Awareness Month in February 2014. (Watch for #JDAMblogs
again in February 2015!)
So, I will once again
do my best to fully participate in #BlogElul. For those of you who wish to follow along or join me in the journey, here is an easily recognizable
image with the daily prompts. (Thank you, Phyllis!)
And, as always, I intend
to stay true to my content. Each of my posts will have a reflection, some
inspiration or a tip, technique or strategy related in some way to Jewish special
needs education or inclusion. As I use this opportunity to reflect on my own
inclusive practice, both professional and personal, I hope to inspire others to
think deeply and differently as we prepare for the New Year ahead.
Join me in the journey.
Last week I was invited to participate in a blog hop by Galit of Matir
Asurim. She writes an insightful blog focusing on the intersection
of Judaism, Jewish teaching, and adoption. Even more exciting, she is endeavoring
to start a coffee shop fully staffed by
individuals with disabilities as a social enterprise to create inclusion (http://thepowercafe.com).I
am deeply flattered that she wanted to highlight my blog.
The rules are simple: I answer the four questions, introduce
three bloggers, and next week they will (hopefully) do the same. I will also link back to
their posts.
What
am I writing or working on?
The opening of school is right
around the corner, as is the start of the New Jewish Year. Currently I am
preparing to participate in #BlogElul,
an effort to tune in, reflect and prepare for the Jewish high holy days. I am
also proud to share that I have taken a part-time role as the Manager of Social
Media and Alumni Networks for Matan, part of which
includes blog oversight. Hope
you might visit me there.
How
does my work differ from others of its genre?
There are some terrific blogs about inclusion, blogs about Jewish
education and a few significant blogs that focus on inclusion in the Jewish
world. I share thoughts and experiences that are the intersection of all three.
I have found many blogs written by parents, but my unique perspective as a
professional with experience in both secular and Jewish education adds a unique
voice.
Why
do I write what I write?
Above all else, I believe deeply in the notion that each one of us is
created b’tzelem elohim (in the image of God). I write to help others
view the world through this lens. I hope that I inspire others and give them
the tools to bring change to their own organizations and communities.
How
does my writing process work?
I write when I am moved to write. I try to post once every ten days to
two weeks, but don’t find myself limited by or beholden to a specific posting
schedule. Additionally, I spearheaded the #JDAMblogs
initiative (modeled after #BlogElul) where each year, in honor of Jewish
Disability Awareness Month (JDAM occurs every February), I share a daily post.
Maybe this year you will join me!
And now here are, in no particular order, the bloggers I’d like to
recognize. I hope that they will continue the hop.
The first is Rebecca Schorr, author of the blog This Messy Life. A Reform rabbi,
Rebecca uses her space to share thoughts on life, Judasim and raising a family
that includes a son with Autism. I admire her honest writing style. From her
bio: This former career-driven mother of three became a
reluctant stay-at-home-mom when her autistic son and his two adorable sidekicks
needed more from her. The transformation from a religious community leader to
what her kids call a “house-mother” has been nothing short of life-altering.
The second is Rabbi Ruth Adar, also known as The Coffee Shop Rabbi. My connection to Ruth
is mainly on Twitter and I appreciate her down-to-earth writing that shares
Judaism and guidance for those wishing to learn more about living a meaningful
Jewish life. From her website: I am not a replacement for a
synagogue membership. But not everyone is at a place in their life where
synagogue membership makes sense or is even possible. Perhaps you aren’t
Jewish, but you have some questions about Judaism. Perhaps you are Jew-ish, you
have relatives who are or were Jewish, but you aren’t sure of your status and
are nervous about approaching a synagogue. Perhaps you are a Jew who has
belonged to a synagogue in the past, but that didn’t work out. Whatever your
story, I am happy to meet with you, to talk with you, study with you. People of
all backgrounds, races, orientations, and genders are welcome.
Finally, I’d like to introduce blogger
Yair Robinson. Also a Reform rabbi (yes, I am now seeing the trend…) I got to
know Yair better this summer when we were on faculty together at URJ Camp Harlam. He describes his blog, A Good Question! as a place to
explore questions about Torah, Jewish tradition and how we interact with the
world meaningfully. I love his mix of Torah, Jewish education and personal
experience.
I have the pleasure of spending a few weeks each summer at Jewish summer camp. There
are a lot of reasons why, as a Jewish Educator, I do this. I go to support the students from my congregation. I love being in
this space with them, sharing in the joy and magic that can only happen at camp.
I also go so that when I promote our camps to our families, I can describe
the experience and answer questions in an authentic, “I saw it firsthand” way. I
also go because at camp we can find experiential learning at its best, and I seek
out innovation to bring back to our school and community. And I go so that I
can help to mentor the young adults serving on staff in what it means to be
Jewish role models as they strive to find their footing on their own Jewish
journeys.
Last week I had the good fortune of
serving as a part of the pioneer faculty for the URJ 6 Points Sci Tech Academy. I’m not
quite sure where to begin in describing all of the significant moments that I
observed and experienced.
At Sci Tech they have so seamlessly
blended science and technology with living Jewishly. Here, campers are deeply
exploring, creating and discovering while experiencing the true magic of Jewish
camp. It is a specialty camp like no other and I have no doubt that many of these
children would not have otherwise had a Jewish summer experience. Point in
case, on Shabbat morning I taught two of the youngest campers how we honor the
Torah during hakafah (Torah procession) as they had never participated in a
Torah service before.
And, as is my nature, I enter into
experiential learning spaces with an eye toward inclusion. From the moment that
I arrived at Sci Tech it was clear to me that it was an inclusive space,
attracting campers with a wide range of intellectual, emotional and social
abilities. The staff was prepared to welcome campers of all abilities, and the appropriate
support was in place to enable every camper to find success.
It is this support which impressed me
the most. It is a part of the fabric of Sci Tech. Inclusion is not an
after-thought or a band-aid stuck on problems after they arise. Rather, this is
a community built with intentionality and the foresight to anticipate the many
needs and complexities of a wonderfully diverse population.
When I had the honor of offering the
dvar Torah on Shabbat morning, it is this support that I chose to make the
focus of my teaching. Here is a part of what I shared with the Sci Tech
community:
"This Shabbat we
read from D’varim, the first chapter of the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy.
D'varim means words. In this
portion Moses begins his farewell address to the Israelites. In it he recounts
all of the struggles they have had over their forty years in the desert as a
reminder of what NOT to do in the future.
But here is what
is really interesting. When God addressed Moses for the very first time at the
Burning Bush, sending him on his life's mission to liberate the Israelite
slaves, Moses resisted, saying, Lo ish
d'varim anochi . . . , “I have never been a man of words…I am slow
of speech and slow of tongue.”
And yet now, at
the end of his life, we have a whole portion dedicated to a powerful and
memorable speech that Moses will give. He has become a man of words; he has
become a master storyteller.
How can that
happen? Moses’ speech impediment was so severe that it paralyzed him with fear.
It’s not just that he didn’t want to heed God’s call. It is that he genuinely
and wholeheartedly believed that he could not. And yet, we know that Moses goes
on to do exactly what God has asked of him. What made it possible for Moses to
overcome his insecurities and limitations and gain the confidence he needed to
face this challenge?
Quite simply, it
is because he had the right support. God wouldn’t take no for an answer and gave
Moses what he needed to be successful. Aaron, Moses’ brother, became his aide
and was designated to speak on Moses’ behalf when he could not. I believe that
the comfort of knowing that Aaron was there for support was enough to enable
Moses to rise to the challenge, discover his own gifts and shine.
Being here this
week has shown me that you have a camp full of Aarons. Your counselors and this
incredible staff support you and enable you to be the best you that each of you
can be. I will go further and say that you give this support to one another,
too. Truly, this camp, this amazing Sci Tech community is Aaron. It is a place
where you can be you; where you have the support you need to find the gifts
that were there all along while you discover some new ones along the way.
Thank you for
welcoming me in to this holy community and for letting me share this time with
you. May you continue to support one another as Aaron supported Moses while you
learn, grow and discover. Shabbat Shalom."
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