These posters are designed to be placed at the entrances of Reconstructionist communities, in order to publicly affirmour shared Jewish values of diversity, inclusion, respect, and welcoming, and to stand up to bigotry and intimidation.
Inclusive Communities
Look Into My Eyes: Coming Face to Face with Disability, a mini-course held at RRC, was designed to help participants increase their capacity to work with people of differing abilities. We’ve recreated it here in video and articles that offer insights from Jewish tradition, explorations of the heart, and teachings from rabbis who are leaders in serving diverse communities. This course resides on the website of the Reconstrucitonist Rabbinical College. Go directly to the course.
Seeing the Other
Rabbi Jacob Staub discusses the importance of seeing and attempting to understand people who are not like us. Even in today's world of progressive Judaism, we still encounter instances where people are marginalized by language that is used or assumptions that are made. He uses the example of heteronormativity in biblical and rabbinic texts, and outlines how these passages are not one-size-fits-all.
The Value of a Different Path
Raqbbi Jacob Staub considers Mother's Day and Father's Day through the lens of people who don't have children.
Coming Out
Rabbi Jacob Staub reflects on the process of coming out.
Hebrew and English Texts Related to Disabilities and Inclusion
In the secular calendar, February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month. This resource created by Rabbi Michelle Greenfield, RRC '12, includes Hebrew texts that are often quoted when talking about inclusion of people with different abilities.