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03 March 2023
Last month, our community came together to recognize Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month, or JDAIM, as we do each February. Federation prioritizes this work year-round in partnership with many leaders and supporters from across our community. And as we continue working to create a more inclusive society and community for people with disabilities, it’s critical to have honest conversations about what we’ve accomplished as well as the spaces where there’s work to be done.
One such conversation took place during our February Board of Directors meeting, where we proudly hosted a candid discussion on inclusion in Greater Washington between Federation board members Aaron Kaufman, member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and David Ervin, CEO of Makom (formerly Jewish Foundation for Group Homes). Both provided insights about our collective steps forward and substantive feedback on our community’s struggles and how we can overcome those challenges.
Today, I am happy to share that conversation with you.
I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a community, and deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication it has taken to get here. At the same time, we recognize that there is also much more to be done to ensure all people can participate in programming throughout the Jewish community.
Thank you to all of you who generously support this work, and to our community’s disability inclusion leaders, including Aaron and David, for your ongoing, strategic, and thoughtful guidance. Together, we strive to create a more inclusive Jewish community in Greater Washington, not just when it’s convenient or during a specific month, but all year long. We couldn’t do this without you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Gil