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Jewish Disability Awareness Acceptance & Inclusion Month

This February, Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month is a reminder that wellness is not only personal. It is communal. In Jewish life, we talk a lot about showing up for one another. Meals. Rides. Check ins. Care. But inclusion asks something deeper. Not just “How do we support people?” but “Have we built a community where everyone can actually participate in the first place?”

Our tradition teaches that every person is created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. That means every body, every mind, every way of moving through the world carries inherent dignity.

Inclusion is not extra. It is not a favor. It is not something we do when we have time.

It is the baseline.

Community wellness looks like:

  • spaces people can physically access
  • programs that are flexible and responsive
  • noticing barriers and removing them before someone has to struggle

When someone cannot participate, it is often not about their limitations. It is about our design!

Today, take a moment to reflect: 

  • Who might feel left out without me realizing it? 
  • What is one small change that could make this space more welcoming or easier to navigate?

Small shifts matter. Clear information. Flexible options. A personal check in. Thoughtful planning.

When we widen the circle, everyone benefits.

May we continue building a community where no one has to prove they belong. They just do.

Learn More

If you want to go deeper, I recommend the Guide to Jewish Values and Disability Rights by the Jewish Funders Network.

The guide connects disability inclusion directly to core Jewish values like b’tzelem Elohim (human dignity), areyvut (communal responsibility), kavod (respect and agency), and tzedek (justice). It offers both text based grounding and practical steps, from adapting rituals to improving accessibility and shifting how communities think about belonging.

One of its central messages is simple and powerful: inclusion is not a program. It is a mindset and a shared responsibility.

You can read the full guide here: https://educator.jewishedproject.org/media/4666

If you would like to continue this conversation or share your own reflections, please reach out to the CUJF Jewish Family Service Coordinator at [email protected].