By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — Have you ever had the frustrating experience of being in an environment where no one speaks your language? You know the feeling that there are too many people invading your personal space, but you’ve no way to communicate that to them? What about the times when you sincerely want to engage, but somehow, you’re just not able to connect? For many of us, these experiences are infrequent and only happen on the rarest of occasions. For others, especially those with unique vulnerabilities or disabilities, this is a typical occurrence. How can we, as Jews, address this issue with sensitivity and stewardship?
February has been chosen as Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month, and the ten-year old movement has made its way from the East coast to San Diego. Ohr Shalom Synagogue is excited to host the first JDAIM happening in the Finest City with a panel of guest speakers and events that will appeal to everyone.
I spoke with Ritual Chair, Shoshanah Feher-Sternlieb, this week, and was thrilled to learn about the programs planned for the month which are open to everyone in the community, regardless of affiliation with A synagogue. Ritual Committee members Feher-Sternlieb and Jeanne Argoff wanted to engage others in a “conversation about what it means to be disabled in a Jewish context and what we can do to make ritual accessible to all.” Specifically, how can we remove the stumbling blocks that keep the differently-abled in our community separated and fractured from the mainstream?
Ohr Shalom Synagogue has made some physical adaptations to be more universally-friendly, including a platform lift which allows for access to the bima, as well as mobility friendly social hall and restrooms. Each of these modifications impacted the physical aspects of participation. Additionally, Feher-Sternlieb saw room for expanding this access into the educational, social and spiritual aspects of what it means to live Jewishly.
Elana Naftali-Kelman is the Director of (Tikvah) Special Needs Programming at Camp Ramah . She brings with her a wealth of experience and will offer two talks. On Kabbalat Shabbat, February 8th at 6:15 pm, Naftali-Kelman will offer “Regards from Camp Ramah” followed by a community dinner, which guests are welcomed to attend and should RSVP. On Shabbat morning, Rabbi Scott Meltzer will share the bima with the Tikvah Director who will offer a dvar Torah, and, following lunch, will speak on “Loving All Jews.”
On Sunday morning, February 10th, congregants and the community will be invited to hear Dr. Suzanne Stolz, Assistant Professor of Special Education at University of San Diego. Her lecture will focus on “How We Think and Talk About Disabilities Within Our Schools.” This will take place at 12:15 pm.
On February 22nd Anastasia Baciagalupo, will address the shul following Friday night services. Baciagalupo has been involved with Disability Rights for over 15 years and has an interesting angle on the issues. The speaker holds that “all of us are either people with current disabilities or will be developing disabilities as we age.” So true– and something few of us want to accept. To this end her talk is titled, “Disability, Aging & Stigma: A Discussion.” Baciagalupo will also be involved in Shabbat services on February 23rd. “The Talmudic Rabbis and Disability” will be followed by lunch. That evening will feature a panel discussion on the Americans with Disabilities Act legislation, highlighting current issues and laws, “How the Americans with Disabilities Act Changed America: Disabilities, Legislation and Public Space.” The panel will include Jeanne Argoff, Ohr Shalom member, and elected officials.For both services this Shabbat, American Sign Language interpreters will be on hand.
To truly involve its members (and visitors!) Ohr Shalom has focused its monthly movie and Book Discussion around the topic of disability and inclusion. On Sunday, February 10th at 6:45 pm, Wonder will be shown. This film deals with a young man with facial deformities, and how he navigates the world with the love and support of his family and friends. The book selection for this month is This is Not a Love Story by Judy Brown. Both are open to the entire San Diego community at no charge.
For questions or to RSVP for the lunches (no cost) or Community dinner ($15 per adult, $8 per child) please call the Ohr Shalom office at 619.231.1456 or email office@ohrshalom.org
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Trieger is a freelance writer based in Solana Beach, California. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com