FEBRUARY IS JEWISH DISABILITY ADVOCACY MONTH (JDAM)
JEWISH TOGETHER
Jewish Voices on B’Tselem Elohim
“As Jews we are taught that every human is created b’tselem Elohim, in God’s image. Every person is imbued with the divine spark, infinite in value and unique. Those words inspire us every day to respect and improve the lives of others….”
Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, Senior Advisor on Disability Issues, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
The Jewish Federations of North America has designated the month of February for education and empowerment in support of people with disabilities. They are offering programs and workshops throughout the month featuring a different theme each week: Empowerment, Breaking Barriers, Creating Opportunity, and Disability Rights are Civil Rights. We will hear from thought leaders and experts on what we can do to promote the best inclusion and supportive care practices.
JDAM has over 180 national and local partners this year. Working together to educate, build solidarity, and provide empowerment, this strong Jewish community will be able to advocate effectively in support of people with disabilities to achieve maximum independence!
To register for this online event, go to Jewish Together.
BELONGING FOR ALL
“My House shall be a House of Prayer for all people.” (Isaiah 56:7)
1 in 4 Americans live with a mental or physical disability. Some may be visible, and many are hidden. The work of ensuring belonging for all, irrespective of need, means making manifest the call of embrace. It means bringing both behavior and language into the center of congregational life that shows ours is a House of Prayer for all.
“Leaving many members of our community on the outside, looking in, is not an option. The full inclusion of people with disabilities ensures the continuity and future of Jewish communal life.”
Jay Ruderman, president, Ruderman Family Foundation that advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Jewish community
HOW DOES CRS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF BELONGING?
Here at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, we follow Rabbi Levine’s longtime directive to be an “extended family who care about each other.” To be inclusive. Not just words, it is our mission—to make everyone feel welcome and able to participate in services, festival celebrations, and life cycle events. Our differences can only strengthen and inspire us. Our hope is to welcome people of all needs and abilities.
Inclusion Shabbat Weekend February 26–27
Comedian Pam Schuller is our special guest speaker for the Erev Shabbat service on Friday, February 26 at 6:00 PM. Then on Saturday, February 27 at 6:30 PM, we will present Purim After Dark featuring Pam performing her disability inclusion comedy.
Pamela Rae Schuller is an internationally known disability and mental health advocate and professional stand-up comedian. Her observations on disability, mental illness, dating, family, and past misadventures have led to brutally honest confessions about what it is like being 4 foot 6 (and a half) and having a whole lot of Tourette Syndrome.
Shireinu
Shireinu (Our Voices) was founded in 2010 on the belief that all voices are necessary in holy community. The service is warm, inviting, musical, and interactive with a Sign Language interpreter. Accessible and sensitive to families with different needs, it is open to the entire community and all ages are welcome. We also have a Shireinu B’nai Mitzvah Program that provides personalized multi-year learning experiences for youth with disabilities and special needs.
Rabbi Ben Spratt who leads the Shireinu services: “More than any other obligation, our Torah commands us to own the narrative of the marginalized and abandoned. It raises our responsibility to bring embrace and belonging as fundamental to our identity. And it makes the work of belonging, irresepective of need, foundational to our community.”
Rabbi Ben Spratt
A thriving experiment in connection that has since turned into an influential model replicated by congregations around the world. Our Shireinu program was honored in 2016 with the URJ’s Exemplar Award, noting our services, instructional videos, and resources helpful to other congregations. Rabbi Ben Spratt who leads the Shireinu services: “More than any other obligation, our Torah commands us to own the narrative of the marginalized and abandoned. It raises our responsibility to bring embrace and belonging as fundamental to our identity. And it makes the work of belonging, irresepective of need, foundational to our community.” Previously honored in 2011 with URJ’s Incubator Grant and in 2012 with the UJA-Federation Caring Commission’s Synagogue Inclusion Award, the Shireinu program continues to grow and to find new ways to meet needs and build community.
The Shireinu Shabbat Morning Purim Service is on Saturday, February 27 at 11:00 AM.
Learn more about our Shireinu Services in this video and please visit the Shireinu website.
Mental Health
Many are currently finding it a challenge to maintain their own mental wellness in these uncertain times. COVID-19 has hit everyone hard and for those who have a disability or history of mental health conditions, it can be even more difficult. Those who are struggling may find a safe place among CRS’s clergy and within the congregation. Whatever mental health challenges congregants and their loved ones may face, Rodeph Sholom’s programs and healing services that enable dialogue on mental health issues try to help reduce stigma and offer support.
The Caring Community’s Mental Health Initiative offers various forms of support to caregivers and families that have a family member who is mentally ill. There are workshops, groups for caregivers, groups for family members with a mentally impaired member, and one-on-one counseling managed by our CRS senior social worker.
See a comprehensive list of resources and learn more about CRS’s Mental Health Initiative here.
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters
Each Friday evening the Rodeph Sholom community joins together to welcome Shabbat in a joyful service of prayer, music, song, and moments of quiet contemplation. These services are ASL interpreted. Some of our clergy, congregants, and students have learned ASL.
ASL Choir
Started by Dr. Nancy Crown and Cantor Shayna De Lowe, our Rodeph Sholom ASL Choir joins hands and voices together in song! One does not need to know ASL to join. There is a Song-in-Sign at select Shabbat services and events throughout the year. As well, the Choir is often invited to perform at special events presented by Jewish organizations including the JCC of Manhattan.
Mi Shebeirach
Shema
Prayer for Healing
Shema by Pik
Sanctuary Song
Our Building
We provide an accessible, interactive, and sensitive environment. This includes ramps, a large elevator to the street, and other accommodations. The main entrance and all of the floors are wheelchair accessible, including the bimah in the Main Sanctuary.
Closed Captioning on the CRS Website
We offer a link to Web Captioner, a web-based speech recognition tool that works with a microphone and Google Chrome to display a real-time transcription in your browser.
JEWISH DISABILITY RESOURCES
JDAM’S Curated Resources For the Self
The Reform Movement’s Position on Disability Rights
The Religious Action’s Center: Disability Rights Page
Learn about the Reform Jewish community’s advocacy efforts around disability issues.
RespectAbility works with employers, entertainment leaders, governors, policy makers, educators, self-advocates, non-profits, faith-based organizations, philanthropists and the media to fight stigmas and advance opportunities. Their Solution Center has a comprehensive list of free webinars on Jewish Inclusion.
JKidACCESS has inclusion resources and information for families raising Jewish children with disabilities.
The Gateways Haggadah: A Seder for the Whole Family
BOOKS:
Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love From His Extraordinary Son by Tom Fields-Meyer
Hope Will Find You: My Search for the Wisdom to Stop Waiting and Start Living by Rabbi Naomi Levy
9 Kids’ Books To Read During Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (PJ Library)
16 Books for Kids & Adults on Navigating Disabilities & Special Needs
Justin Callis (he/him), our Cantorial Intern, is a fourth-year student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. He is the recipient of the Reuben Peretz Abelson Prize for dedication to Yiddish Song, the Temple Israel of Boston Cantorial Prize, and the Lee Gura Memorial Prize for Aptitude in Synagogue Choral Music.
Known for his sweet and “sumptuous” (New York Times) tone, American-born Doori Na took up violin at the age of four and began his studies with Li Lin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He quickly made his first performance with orchestra at age seven with the Peninsula Youth Symphony as the first prize winner of the concerto competition. Thereafter Mr. Na went on to win top prizes in The Sound of Music Festival, The Korea Times Youth Music Competition, the Chinese Music Teacher’s Association, The Menuhin Dowling Young Artist Competition, The Junior Bach Festival, VOCE of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, and The Pacific Musical Society. Receiving full scholarships to private high school Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, he moved to Los Angeles to study with renown violin teacher, Robert Lipsett, at The Colburn Music School. There he appeared as soloist with the Palisades Symphony, Brentwood Symphony, and Torrance Symphony. During that time, the summer of 2004 was Mr. Na’s first time at the Perlman Music Program where his expression and musical identity were greatly influenced. He has been a part of the program ever since and participated in many of their special residencies in Florida, Vermont, New York, and Israel.
Violinist Michael Roth is a native of Scarsdale, NY and received his early musical training with Frances Magnes at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School. He attended Oberlin College and Conservatory, continuing his studies with Marilyn McDonald. At Oberlin, he won the Kaufman Prize for violin and First Prize in the Ohio String Teacher’s Association Competition. He completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Massachusetts where he worked with the distinguished American violinist and pedagogue Charles Treger and was a recipient of the Julian Olevsky Award. Mr. Roth is currently associate concertmaster of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and has appeared in chamber music and as a soloist with the company, most recently in the debut of “Slice Too Sharp”, a ballet of Biber and Vivaldi violin concerti, and “After the Rain”, violin music of Arvo Part. In addition he is a member of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Principal 2nd violin of the Westchester Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra and the New York Pops. He was concertmaster of the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra for many years and often appeared as soloist there, as well as at the Caramoor and Bard Music Festivals. He has played and toured internationally with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the New York Chamber Soloists.
Sarah Adams, viola, performs locally with the New York Chamber Ensemble, the Claring Chamber Players, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, the Friends of Mozart, and the Saratoga Chamber Players.
Praised by the New York Times as “irresistible in both music and performance.” flutist, 
Rabbi Mira Weller (she/her) received her ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in May 2022. She studied Culture and Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received her Master’s in Jewish Education at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR. She is the proud recipient of awards for her studies in rabbinic literature, her work in Jewish education, and she was granted the Myrtle Lorch Pfaelzer-Monroe Pfaelzer Award for an Outstanding Female Rabbinical School Student (2022). Rabbi Mira speaks Hebrew and Spanish (so please practice with her!). She has a passion for uncovering new possibilities in the great wealth of our tradition and for making music inspired by Judaism’s many cultures. Her guilty pleasures include cupcakes, classical music, and philosophy.
Based in New York since 2001, South African-born pianist, composer and producer has performed on four continents in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, had her original music performed in venues such as New York’s Lincoln Center, appeared on a host of recordings of classical, world music and multi-genre recordings and produced numerous recordings and inter-disciplinary programs from Cape Town to Los Angeles. She has created her own unique language at the piano, made up of techniques she developed and experimented with to expand the piano into a full electro – acoustic orchestra.
Alan Goodis is a touring Jewish musician playing over 150 events a year. Born and raised in Toronto, Alan is a proud product of URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan tours throughout the US to serve as an Artist-In-Residence and performer at Temples, Youth Conventions and Jewish summer camps.
Julie Silver is one of the most celebrated and beloved performers in the world of contemporary Jewish music today. She tours throughout the world, and has been engaging audiences with her gorgeous compositions and liturgical settings, her lyrical guitar playing, her dynamic stage presence, and her megawatt smile for over 25 years.
Dan is a product of the URJ Jewish camping movement. He has toured Jewish summer camps across North America for the last 15 years. A classically trained singer, Dan received his Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, realizing the potential of music to make powerful connections with Jewish youth, Dan established the Jewish rock band Eighteen. Since that time, Dan and Eighteen have released 13 albums. Songs like, L’takein, B’tzelem Elo-him, Kehillah Kedoshah, Chazak, Sweet As Honey, and Asher Yatzar have become Jewish communal anthems throughout North America.
Naomi Less is an internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist and educator. Beloved for her warm smile and inviting presence, communities celebrate her imagination and innovation, tenderness and pizzazz! Her original music is sung in worship communities worldwide. Naomi serves as Co-Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director of Lab/Shul and is a leader in amplifying women’s voices through her work at Songleader Boot Camp and her Jewish Women Rock show on Jewish Rock Radio. Naomiadvocates for people struggling with fertility journeys as a performance artist and speaker for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Challenges. Fun fact: Naomi and her husband wrote the song shine/Yivarech’cha, a Friday night blessing, specifically composed for URJ Crane Lake Camp, sung every Friday night in the dining hall.
Her destiny became obvious to Joanie Leeds’ parents when, at the tender age of 2, Joanie grabbed the performer’s mic at a party and belted out the entire song“Tomorrow” from Annie. Jaws dropped! No one could remember ever hearing a big voice like that coming from one so tiny and certainly no one would have thought she would one day earn a GRAMMY® Award for her original music.
A composer, multi-instrumentalist, and prayer leader, Elana Arian is one of the leading voices in contemporary Jewish music. Elana’s music is part of Jewish life across the globe, and her compositions are sung in spiritual communities, summer camps, and synagogues from Louisville to London, from Chicago to the CzechRepublic, and everywhere in between. Elana just released her fourth album of original music, The Other Side of Fear, and her compositions have been published in countless Transcontinental Music collections. Elana serves proudly on the faculty of Hava Nashira (Oconomowoc, WI), the Wexner Heritage Foundation (Aspen, CO), Shirei Chagiga (London, England), and as an instructor at the Hebrew Union College in New York, where she teaches in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Elana has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, and perhaps most memorably, five separate appearances at the (Obama) White House. She lives in New York with her wife, Julia, and their two daughters, Maya and Acadia.
Known for his unique, engaging, and deeply soulful approach, Noah Aronson is considered one of the most sought after Jewish musicians in North America, making over 65 community appearances each year.
There is a reason why Time Magazine has listed Michelle in their Top Ten list of Jewish rock stars.
Kol B’Seder has been composing and performing contemporary Jewish music since the early1970s. Rabbi Dan Freelander and Cantor Jeff Klepper met as college students; over the past 50years they have released numerous CDs and songbooks. With Debbie Friedman (z”l) and others, they forged a new musical sound for American Jewish camps, schools and synagogues. Their songs, such as “Shalom Rav,” “Modeh Ani,” and “Lo Alecha,” have become traditionalJewish melodies around the world. They are delighted to be inaugurating their fiftieth anniversary celebration by appearing in support of URJ camps, where they first composed and incubated many of their early songs.
New York bassist Roger Wagner enjoys a long and diverse career. As soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral bassist, Mr. Wagner has appeared on many of the world’s great concert stages.
Margaret Kampmeier, 
Leonard Bernstein described 
Sarah Adams 
Michael Roth
Our initiative for young children and their grown-ups provides a slate of offerings including Shabbat and holiday celebrations, music, classroom readiness programs, and new parent experiences. During the pandemic, we have leaned on $1m of seed funding for Sholom Sprouts established through this campaign as we offer age-appropriate virtual programs for our families with young children, who are the future of our community. We look forward to welcoming our littlest members and their grown-ups back to our new fifth floor, as well as hiring a Program Assistant to increase the capacity of Sholom Sprouts to grow. This program provides a crucial entry-point to the congregation and membership for young families.
