Have We Come Far Enough?

In May of 2014, along with colleague Meredith Polsky, I offered the opening keynote at the Hebrew College GISHA Conference in Boston. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to teach among so many respected colleagues.

In finalizing my thoughts and remarks, I chose to reread the very first speech I gave in Jewish special education. (In 2007 Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, the Senior Adviser on Disabilities for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, invited me to speak with her at a session for clergy and educators in what was then the New Jersey West Hudson Valley Council.)

As I read, I was instantly and significantly struck by the way my own words still resonate. Quite honestly, with a few tweaks, I could give this same speech today. 

I’m not sure how I feel about that. 

I know that we have come a long way in advancing inclusion in the Jewish world, but have we come far enough? My words from more than seven years ago have left me wondering if I should feel proud that so much of my work has been well ahead of the curve, or disheartened that these are words that must still be said today. Maybe it’s a little of both…

Either way, I thought you might like to read some of the most salient parts of those remarks from 2007:

“The focus of my time with you will be to discuss providing a Jewish education for individuals with disabilities and how we can meet the needs of every student in our religious schools. There are many teachings that show us how Judaism values education and the inclusion of people with disabilities…However my favorite example is Moses, who says, “Please, Adonai…I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Here we see our people’s great prophet and teacher trying to convince God that he is not the right choice to lead the Jewish people to freedom because of his self-proclaimed disability. God disagrees with Moses and will not let him off the hook. Instead, he provides Moses with an assistant, an aide, in Aaron to help him through the mission. God’s decision reminds us that we all have challenges to overcome and that it’s ok to have help in reaching our goals.”

“The experience of receiving a Jewish education is not just about making it to bar or bat mitzvah as an end point. Just the opposite. We believe strongly in the vision of creating lifelong learners. We want our children to grow up to be productive members of society, committed Jews and strong assets in our Jewish communities. I can tell you, with the utmost certainty, that if our special needs programs at did not exist, these students and others each year would not have received a Jewish education, would not have become bar or bat mitzvah, and certainly would not have continued through to Confirmation.”

“This is a process. There is more to inclusion than just creating the right programs. Don’t get me wrong. Creating appropriate programs is valuable and necessary. But it is equally as important to change the climate of a congregation. Do not stop with the school. Once these families come through your doors, help them to feel welcome at services and at temple programs. Find meaningful ways to involve everyone in your community.”

“A child must not be penalized as a Jew simply because of a different pattern of learning and functioning. A child may have a learning disability, but we must not disable that student as a Jew as well.” ~ excerpt from A Question in Search of an Answer.

So, have we come far enough?

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