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.

Get Involved: Jewish Disability Awareness
and Inclusion Month
D uring the month of February, Jewish commu-
nities around the world will observe Jewish
Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month.

Locally, there will be a number of programs and
learning opportunities hosted by Jewish Learning
Venture’s Whole Community Inclusion initiative and
the Jewish Special Needs/Disability Awareness
Consortium of Greater Philadelphia, which includes
the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

“There has never been a more important time
to shine a light on issues of disability inclusion,
access and advocacy in our Jewish community,” said
Chief Program Officer Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer of the
Jewish Learning Venture, supported by the Jewish
Federation. “As we look at inclusion from the broad-
est perspective, the rights of people with disabilities
need to be front and center. One in four people
have a physical, cognitive, developmental, learning,
mental health and/or multiple disabilities, and we
can and must take the necessary steps to create full
access in our Jewish communities.”
Check out the following ways to get involved both
in-person and virtually throughout the month to help
make a more inclusive and welcoming community for
all. See the full list at jewishphilly.org/jdaim.

Wednesday, Feb. 1 - Sunday, Feb. 12
JDAIM Shabbat: Featuring Author
Arielle Silverman
Friday, Feb. 10 | 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Main Line Reform Temple
Join Arielle Silverman for a presentation about her
book, “Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom,
Respect, and Inclusion.” The service will also include
music and readings that speak to the theme of
JDAIM. JDAIM Shabbat: The Mental Health Crisis Among
Our Youth - How to Talk to & Help Your Children
Friday, Feb. 10 | 7-9 p.m.

Congregation Kol Ami
Join Congregation Kol Ami for a discussion on
the youth mental health crisis and provide families
with tools to help deal with what their children are
experiencing. The speakers will engage in age-ap-
propriate discussion of mental health concerns and
enjoy a performance by the Student Choir. This will
be an open, important conversation without shame
or judgment. Children are welcome at this service.

jkidaccess: Sensory-Friendly Sunday at the
Museum! Sunday, Feb. 12 | 3-5 p.m.

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish
History Join jkidaccess for a fun, interactive afternoon at
the museum! To make the afternoon accessible for
children with sensory sensitivity, the audio media
at the museum will be turned to a low volume.

Participants will enjoy crafts, a story time and a
kid-friendly gallery walk.

Monday, Feb. 13 - Sunday, Feb. 19
The Torah of Disability
Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 3-4 p.m.

Virtual Join Rabbi Elliot Kukla for an impactful hour for
clergy to gather with their peers during Jewish
Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion
month. Participants will look at the writing of contem-
porary disabled activists like Mia Mingus and Leah
Lakshmi Piepezna-Samarsinha on the topic of disabil-
ity access. A passage of the Talmud will also be read
to uncover a Jewish spirituality of accessibility. This
event is for rabbis and clergy only.

JDAIM Community Forum: Judaism, Mental Health
& Gratitude
Sunday, Feb. 15 | 7-8:15 p.m.

Virtual Join the Jewish Disability Inclusion Consortium
of Greater Philadelphia for a meaningful evening
with the Blue Dove Foundation focusing on mental
health and the Jewish value of gratitude. Participants
will have the opportunity to meet representatives
from the consortium agencies and learn about how
the Jewish Learning Venture supports people with
disabilities and their loved ones.

Including All Students: Attention and Regulation
Strategies Thursday, Feb. 16 | 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Virtual Join Alanna Raffel, OTD, OTR/L, for an evening
of learning about ways to support students around
attention and regulation. Students with attention
and regulation issues often need extra support in
a classroom. This program seeks to turn attention
to the Jewish value of including and educating all
children. Monday, Feb. 20 - Tuesday, Feb. 28
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: A Discussion
with Inventor, Entrepreneur and Author Sanford
Greenberg Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 7-8 p.m.

Virtual Join JFCS and Jewish Learning Venture for an
intimate and engaging discussion with inventor,
author, public servant and philanthropist Sanford D.

Greenberg. At the age of 19, Sanford lost his sight.

Through the help of his close friend, the legendary
Art Garfunkel, he began to re-engage with the world
and find his way through the darkness. From there,
Greenberg went on to have a remarkable career,
including serving as an adviser to four different presi-
dents. Participants will hear a first-hand account of
how living with a disability has shaped Greenberg’s life
and dive into his deeply personal new memoir, “Hello
Darkness, My Old Friend: How Daring Dreams and
Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness
into an Extraordinary Vision for Life.”
JDAIM Shabbat: Featuring Sawah Sharma
Friday, Feb. 24 | 7-8:15 p.m.

Shir Ami
Join Shir Ami for a special Shabbat service with
Sarah Sharma to learn about their family’s journey to
see their son become a bar mitzvah.

**** To see the full JDAIM listing and registration
details, visit jewishphilly.org/jdaim.

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