Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project

The Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project (RSIP) is a partnership between CJP and the Ruderman Family Foundation to support synagogues in creating communities where people of all abilities are valued equally and participate fully.

The RSIP offers:

• Access to local and national inclusion experts
• Events and opportunities for congregational communities to teach, network and share best practices
• Consultation and resources to develop innovative synagogue inclusion strategies

We are pleased to announce that Young Israel of Sharon has been chosen as one of this years congregational partners in the project.

As a Congregational Partner of the Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project, Young Israel of Sharon will receive:

·         A grant valued at $5000 in a combination of direct funding for projects and CJP funded consultants to provide ongoing assistance in realizing your congregation’s unique inclusion vision.

·         Invitations to events and workshops specifically for Partner and Affiliate Congregations.

·         The ability to share our congregation’s inclusion successes on JewishBoston.com and the RSIP Facebook page.

·         CJP and the Ruderman Family Foundation will announce and publicize our participation in the new Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Cohort through a variety of media platforms.

We look forward to this partnership and support as we continue to create a community where people of all abilities are valued and can participate fully in all communal activities.

Stay tuned for more news and information about this exciting partnership.

If you would like to get involved please contact Jodi Saltzman or Suellen Beiser.

The Young Israel of Sharon is joining with many other Shuls of the Greater Boston area in a Synagogue Inclusion Initiative sponsored by the CJP and the Ruderman Family Foundation intended to help Shuls enhance their accessibility, hospitality and support for those with disabilities.

If you are interested in joining our Inclusion Committee, email info@yisharon.org. As we approach Pesach, we are encouraged to reach out and welcome "all who are needy" to be integral and valued members of our community.

Hag Kasher ve-Sameah,
Rabbi Meir Sendor

Articles and Reference

This Non-Verbal Jewish Teen Wrote a Breathtaking Letter Explaining Autism by Joanna Valente 5/19/2016
Koren and OU Press to Partner With Yachad on Siddur for Special Needs Community By Pearl Markovitz 5/26/2016
Seeing The Person, Not The Disability from the Jewish Week by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer 5/23/2016
Defining Inclusion  From Zeh Lezeh (For One Another) by Lisa Friedman posted 3/10/15
Inclusion Initiative in Sharon - Shalom Magazine Chanukah/Winter 2014 posted 12/15/14
Will You Love My Son? From Zeh Lezeh (For One Another) By Rabbi Ilana C. Garber posted 11/21/14
Here's When It's OK To Use The 'R-Word' In 1 Nifty Chart From The Huffington Post. By Eleanor Goldberg. Posted 10/30/15
Parshat Ki Tavo – Inclusion Shabbat 5774 - Rabbi Sendor posted 9/15/14
Zeh Lezeh (For One Another): "Say Yes" By: Lisa Friedman posted 9/9/14
Rabbi Saltzman's Inclusion D'var Torah - Beha'alotcha
Rabbi Sendor's d'var Torah from Parshas Mezora
A Miraculous Bar Mitzvah You Won't Want to Miss by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg
Follow Up to previous article: Autistic teen overcomes challenges to have bar mitzvah

My Experience: Autism And Judaism (New York Jewish Week). By Nadine Silber
Like all human beings my unique personal identity is composed of many facets. I am a woman. I am a mother. I am a daughter and a wife, a Democrat, a citizen of the United States, a writer and a former attorney. I am also an autistic Jew. I am proud to be all of the above. I like who I am. There are times, though, when much to my sadness, it is not easy to be both autistic and Jewish. read more...
 

Autism in the IDF: Meet the Soldiers of Intelligence Unit 9900 (IDF  Blog)
Special intelligence Unit 9900 is dedicated to everything related to geography, including mapping, interpretation of aerial and satellite photographs and space research.  Within this unit there is a small unit of highly qualified soldiers, who have remarkable visual and analytic capabilities. They can detect even the smallest details, undetectable to most people.