COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes
financial and volunteer resources to address the
communities’ most critical priorities locally, in Israel and
around the world.

February is Jewish Disability
Awareness & Inclusion Month
Celebrate Disability Inclusion with
These Local (Virtual) Events
The national Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is back for
its 13 th year this February. On the local level, Jewish Learning Venture’s (JLV) Whole
Community Inclusion initiative and the Jewish Special Needs/Disability Awareness
Consortium of Greater Philadelphia, annually provide a month of programming and
resources to help bridge the gap in creating a more inclusive Jewish community.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is proud to be a part of this effort as a
member of the consortium and a funder of JLV.

While JDAIM’s programming will be virtual this February, the month is still jam
packed with opportunities to learn more about disability inclusion in our local
Jewish community. Check out jewishphilly.org/jdaim to see what this month of
empowerment has to offer and how to register.

JDAIM Shabbat: Tikvah Shabbat Service
Saturday, Feb. 13, 9:00 a.m.

Join Camp Ramah in the Poconos for a
Shabbat morning service led by and geared
for kids and young adults with special needs
and their families.

JDAIM Shabbat: Mental Health
and Our Community
Saturday, Feb. 13, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Everyone’s welcome! Join Mishkan Shalom
for an inclusive Shabbat morning service
that will feature a talk by Dr. Mark Salzer
of Temple University about his ground-
breaking research on mental health
and the importance of faith communities.

JDAIM Shabbat: A Disabled Artist’s
Journey Through Art & Activism
Sunday, Feb. 14, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Join Germantown Jewish Centre to hear
from Wendy Elliott-Vandivier, an artist and
long-time disability advocate, present
information on her experiences as an artist
and disability activist. As a member of the
Jewish community in Philadelphia, she will
also talk about some of the ways that
synagogues can be welcoming and inclusive
for people with disabilities.

Whole Community Inclusion: Purim Fun!
Sunday, Feb. 14, 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Purim fun for kids of all abilities! Join
jkidphilly for music, storytime and a fun craft
to get ready for Purim. An ASL interpreter will
be present.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Making the World More Accessible
in the Time of COVID
Monday, Feb. 15, 12:00 p.m.

Join the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community
Relations Council for a conversation with
Stacy Levitan, Executive Director JCHAI, and
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer, Acting Co-Executive
Director of Jewish Learning Venture. Stacy and
Gabrielle will describe their agencies, the people
they serve and what they are doing to ensure
that their communities are remaining engaged
during the time of COVID.

Did You Know?
Learn more about the Jewish disability communities
in the five-county, Greater Philadelphia region with
these facts and figures from the Jewish Federation’s
2019 Community Portrait:
Mental, Behavioral and
Developmental Health
Conditions 17%
of Jewish households
include someone with
a learning disability
or developmental
disability, such as ADHD,
dyslexia or an Autism
spectrum disorder.

33% of Jewish
households include someone
with a mental
health condition,
such as anxiety
or depression.

Physical Health
Conditions 55%
of Jewish households
include someone
diagnosed with
a physical
health condition.

16% of Jewish households
report someone
who has a physical
disability that impacts
daily activities.

Brunch and Belonging Series
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The Jewish Disability Consortium of Greater
Philadelphia invites you to take a break from
work – grab a coffee or nosh – and learn with us
from an expert in the field. In this presentation,
disability advocate Shelly Christensen defines
the concept of ‘belonging’ and how it relates to
the lives of people with disabilities, their family
members and all of us who are part of faith
communities. Disability Inclusion in Israel
Sunday, Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

How is disability inclusion happening in Israel
today? How do individuals with disabilities live
with purpose and possibility? Kalman Samuels
of SHALVA, an organization that supports and
empowers individuals with disabilities and
their families in Israel, explains these issues and
more. Sponsored by the Temple Beth Hillel-
Beth El Inclusion Committee and Adath Israel,
come learn about how one innovative Israeli
organization leads the way!
JEWISH EXPONENT
Caregiving 17%
of Jewish adults
are caregivers for
an older adult
who has a health
condition or disability.

7% of Jewish adults
are caregivers for
someone under the
age of 65 who has a
health condition
or disability.

The Jewish Federation commissions a population
study once every 10 years to most effectively evaluate
and support the needs of our local Jewish
communities. Explore the basic socio-economic,
demographic and public health trends across the
region’s Jewish populations here:
communityportrait.org FEBRUARY 11, 2021
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