Inclusion Awareness Month (IAM) is part of a national effort to inform and raise awareness about members of the Jewish community with a disability. IAM is a major community effort in 2012 led by the Jewish Federation in partnership with the BJE, Board of Rabbis, JFS/HaMercaz, and other community partners. Read more at our blog
I believe that every person has his hour and her place, as taught in Pirke Avot/ Ethics of Our Fathers 4:3, and therefore pledge to be welcoming of all people, regardless of ability or disability.
As a member of my community, I pledge to ensure that everyone is an equally accepted participant and contributing member.
My pledge is to empower, advocate, support, and above all to include each person in the Jewish community.
By Guest Blogger, Michael B. Held, PhD:In the received wisdom that gets passed from one special needs family to another, one favorite is: “What is the first thing that you say to a family when they have a newborn has a disability?” Pause for effect. Answer: “Mazal Tov!”But let me pose a variation on that theme: What does one family, with a special needs son or daughter, say to another when their child graduates high school? Pause for panic to set in. Answer: “What do we do now?”Inclusion implies being part of a community. With youngsters still cocooned in a loving family, we work on changing attitudes and teaching the surrounding community about disabilities. However, for adults to be included, it is necessary for them to be able to function as other young adults do – independently – and for that one cannot rely on the parents’ home other than as a launch pad.At the Etta Israel Center, our guiding philosophy is Inclusion in the community, independence in life. It…
Feb
24
Congregation Or Ami Friday 5:30 pm
Chaverim and Congregation Or Ami invite you to a Shabbat potluck dinner at 5:30 pm, followed by Shabbat services at 7:30 pm on Friday, February 24. Come celebrate Shabbat with us and learn about Chaverims social-friendship programs and our spiritual home, Or Ami in Calabasas. Please call ( Read More
Feb
24
Conejo Valley Friendship Circle Friday 7:00 pm
Join Conejo Valley Friendship Circle for a traditional Shabbat dinner for children with special needs and their families. Families will gather together for an evening of warmth, inspiration, and delicious food! For more information and to RSVP contact 818-865-2233. To learn more about Conejo Read More
Feb
24
Temple Adat Elohim Friday 7:30 pm
Celebrate the 4th annual Jewish Disability Awareness Month. Among both young and adult guest speakers will be eight-year-old congregant Joshua Goldenberg, who will chart his groundbreaking success in bringing Braille to grocery stores shelves locally and nationally. Temple Adat Elohim is Read More
Feb
24
Temple Akiba Friday 7:30 pm
Come to Temple Akiba in Culver City for a special Kabbalat Shabbat service for families with children with special needs. This program is joint effort of Temple Akiba and Vista Del Mar. For more informaiton contact Rabbi Zach Shapiro at rabbi@templeakiba.net. To learn about Temple Akiba visit www.te Read More
Feb
25
YULA Girls Auditorium Saturday 7:30 pm
Yachad Los Angeles invites you to a community-wide screening of "King Gimp: Maximizing Life with Cerebral Palsy." A question and answer session will take place immediately after the screening. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to Ian Lurie, Assistant Director of Yachad LA at (310) 948-8307 or ijluri Read More
Feb
26
Sinai Temple Sunday 11:30 am
A Sinai Temple - Vista Del Mar Collaboration Every Sunday 11:30am - 12:30pm For program information, please contact Sinai Temple's, Rabbi Nicole Guzik or Religious School Director, Danielle Kassin at (310) 474-1518 For more information about Vista Del Mar visit www.vistadelmar.org. For informa Read More
Feb
26
Shalom Institute: Camp and Conference Center Sunday 12:30 pm
Please join us at Shalom Institute: Camp and Conference Center for a day of fun for families and friends who have someone with special needs in their life. Bring along friends, family and a picnic lunch! Stroll through the Gardens, Plant a tree, Wander the beautiful grounds, Se Read More
Feb
28
BJE: Builders of Jewish Education Tuesday 12:00 pm
For professionals within the Jewish day school community, the Community of Practice Workshop will focus on Inclusion in a school setting. Workshop to be conducted by Shelly Christensen, founder of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month and CEO of Inclusion Innovations, LLC. This is a closed e Read More
Feb
28
Jewish Federation Tuesday 3:00 pm
A workshop for professionals within the JFS/HaMercaz network. Shelly Christensen, Founder of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month will speak with professionals about community outreach for people with special needs. This is a closed event. For questions contact hamercaz@jfsla.org. For more infor Read More
Feb
29
AJU Conference Center Familian Campus Wednesday 4:00 pm
In honor of Inclusion Awareness Month, the Jewish Federation wil convene representatives from synagogues, schools and camps from across LA to explore creative ways to make Jewish life more inclusive for everybody. Organizational teams are encouraged to attend, as inclusion Read More