Tag: disability
Parashat Emor: On Bodies, Leadership, and the Public Sphere
Parashat Emor opens with a description of right priestly conduct. In Leviticus 21:17-23, we find a lengthy list of those Kohenim who have a mum—often translated as blemish which disqualifies them fr... Read More
Discovering Discrepancies: The Mistreatment of Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the Legal System
On a cool, crisp February morning in a quiet, snowy residential Toronto neighbourhood, the city woke up to gun shots being fired at a man wearing nothing more than a hospital gown, fleeing from the lo... Read More
On Creating Communities of Welcome
This drash was originally delivered at Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 13, 2016. Shabbat shalom!!! Thank you so much for having me in your community this Shabbat. It i... Read More
Pokeakh Ivrim: Opening Our Minds to New Forms of Inclusion
This post originally appeared on Ritualwell. Typically when we think of access in general and in Jewish community specifically, we first default to thinking about physical access—is the bimah acce... Read More
Parashat Emor: On Reading Leviticus 21 and the Problematics of Embodied Leadership
This piece first appeared here. Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21-24), read this week in synagogues outside of Israel, opens with a passage describing limitations placed on individuals whom a Kohen (priest)... Read More
Disability and God Talk
An earlier version of this piece was published here. I am passionate about creating truly inclusive and accessible Jewish communities in which all Jews can find a spiritual home, and in which we can a... Read More
On Bringing Sacred Gifts and Our Sacred Selves
Last week’s Torah portion, Vayakhel, opens with Moses’ gathering the entirety of the Jewish people together. After reiterating the singular importance of Shabbat observance, specifically focusing ... Read More
A Divine Call for Affirmation
This past week, Jews around the world commenced the reading of the Book of Exodus as part of the annual Torah reading cycle. This past week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shemot, contain important moment... Read More