Federation’s Lieberman Fellowship brought nine local Jewish organizations together to advance disability inclusion, creating impact plans, fostering accountability, and moving toward a tipping point where inclusion becomes “who we are” rather than “what we do.”
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Creating a Community of Belonging
Belonging is essential to a strong Jewish community
We understand belonging in two essential ways: how we stay in relationship across difference, and how we ensure Jewish life is accessible and inclusive for all. Both are necessary and both guide our work.
Belonging means feeling valued, even when we disagree
In a time of deep divides, within and beyond the Jewish community, we create spaces for respectful, honest conversation. As our community becomes more diverse in experience, perspective, and identity, belonging requires shared skills.
We support learning and dialogue not to erase disagreement, but to hold it with dignity, curiosity, and care.
Building Skills to Engage Across Difference
Belonging does not happen automatically in diverse communities. It must be built. Federation invests in leadership development that equips individuals and organizations with the skills to engage across difference with curiosity, humility, and care. These investments strengthen our ability to remain in relationship through disagreement and to lead with confidence in complex moments.
Our approach includes:
- Dialogue and learning initiatives that foster pluralism
- Convenings that bring together diverse perspectives
- Leadership development and skill-building grounded in shared responsibility
Support for this approach comes through strategic investments, including Federation’s Cornerstone Fund, which focuses on leadership development across life stages.
Belonging also means being able to participate fully, without barriers
We invest in programs and partnerships that make Jewish life accessible, welcoming, and responsive across ability, age, and circumstance. From inclusive camps and youth experiences to senior engagement and well-being, this work focuses on the structures that make belonging real in everyday life.
Inclusion is not an add-on. It is core to building a Jewish community where everyone can show up, connect, and contribute.
Our inclusion efforts focus on:
- Disability inclusion and accessible programming
- Inclusive camps, youth, and family experiences
- Senior engagement and efforts to combat isolation and loneliness
- Mental health and well-being initiatives
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM)
Observed each February, Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM) centers disability inclusion as an essential part of Jewish life and belonging.
Disability includes a wide range of experiences—many of them non-visible—and intersects with mental health, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and aging. JDAIM invites our community to reflect on how Jewish life is designed so that people of all abilities can participate fully, with dignity and belonging.
For families with young children, PJ Library offers JDAIM resources, including book lists and conversation guides that help introduce disability inclusion in accessible, age-appropriate ways.
Where Inclusion and Belonging Take Shape
At Lessans Camp JCC, Ethan and Bennett Blicher thrive thanks to dedicated counselors and a culture of inclusion, supported by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Bender JCC.
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Dr. Aiman Tohid is leading Makom’s innovative clinic for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reshaping equitable care and provider training across the DC region.
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Donors from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington witnessed inclusion in action at Lessans Camp JCC, where accessibility, thoughtful programming, and a spirit of belonging create transformative summer experiences for every camper.
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ReelAbilities Film Festival
Across Greater Washington, we work to foster greater understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities. This annual festival, powered by the Pozez JCC in Northern Virginia, features award-winning films and interactive programming that invite our community to engage with new perspectives and better understand the diverse experiences and talents of people with disabilities. View ReelAbilities schedule
Our approach to belonging—across difference and through inclusion—is grounded in enduring Jewish values that guide how we show up, invest, and lead:
- B’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God) Every person is created with inherent dignity and infinite worth.
- Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) We are called to heal what is broken, within ourselves, our communities, and our world.
- Anavah (humility) We approach this work with humility, recognizing that our perspectives are shaped and limited by personal experience.
“It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but neither are you free to desist from it.” —Pirkei Avot 2:16
Guided by these values, we:
- Stand up against antisemitism and its impact
- Partner across Greater Washington to advance inclusion and belonging
- Examine our own systems for bias or exclusion
- Commit to learning, accountability, and growth
Together, these values guide how we invest, partner, and lead, ensuring that our community remains open, connected, and caring, even in complex and challenging moments.
Hands-On Israel, led by Federation’s community shlichim, brings dynamic, personal Israel engagement to synagogues, schools, and JCCs across Greater Washington through story-driven workshops that spark connection, curiosity, and conversation.
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Federation is launching a new phase of Israel engagement, deepening personal and communal connections with Israel through partnerships, immersive experiences, and inclusive dialogue—especially for younger Jews navigating complex relationships with the Jewish state.
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Federation’s 2025 Impact Index Pulse Survey reveals key insights into Jewish life in Greater Washington, highlighting needs around belonging, access, and engagement—and informing how we invest in a stronger, more inclusive future.
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Avodah CEO Cheryl Cook shares how service, Jewish values, and community shape emerging leaders through hands-on work in DC. From fighting antisemitism to building lifelong purpose, Avodah’s impact reflects a powerful Federation partnership grounded in dignity and justice.
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On their first Shabbat in DC, 13 Avodah Corps Members gathered in Rock Creek Park to begin a transformative year of immersive service, rooted in Jewish values, justice, and bold leadership.
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Since August, more than 120 families across the DMV have hosted PJ Library Get Togethers—sharing challah, crafts, and community, and making Jewish life joyful, personal, and deeply connected.
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Standing together against hate
We partner with diverse communities to confront hate, foster understanding, and build a more inclusive, connected future.
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