Blog Test - WIP

February is

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM)

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) is a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide to raise awareness and foster acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions and those who love them. JDAIM is a call to action for all of us as we act in accordance with our Jewish values, honoring the gifts and strengths that we each possess. JDAIM is observed during February.

The mission of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month is to unite Jewish communities worldwide to raise awareness and champion the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish life like anyone else.

What does belonging mean to me?

This is a question we ask during the month of February, however, we should be asking this question all year long! Once again at Congregation B’nai Amoona, we have joined the movement to promote Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month. #JDAIM2023

The Intersection of Race, Disability and Religion: A First-Person Experience
Thursday, February 2 at 4:00 pm CST
Join The Branch and webinar speaker Asha Chai-Chang as she talks about the growing community of Jews who identify as Jews of Color. Born in Long Island as the Jamaican/Cuban/Chinese/Jewish daughter to immigrant parents, Asha is an Actuary by Trade turned Award-Winning Director/Writer with invisible disabilities.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER

History of Racism in U.S. Healthcare: Root Causes of Today’s Hierarchy and Systems of Power
Tuesday, February 7 at 1:00 pm CST
Join us for the inaugural event in the National Health Equity Grand Rounds series, History of Racism in U.S. Healthcare: Root Causes of Today’s Hierarchy and Systems of Power. This event will highlight the root causes of present-day health inequities by tracing the social, economic, political, geographic, and environmental forces that shape opportunity for health in the United States.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER

Direct Support Professionals – Accompanying People in their Spiritual Journeys
Wednesday, February 15 at 1:00 pm CST
Helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities discover and find belonging in a faith community of their choice can be daunting. This session provides practical tips for support teams, from making initial contacts and introductions to helping build relationships between the people you support and members of a church, synagogue, or mosque.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & FOR MORE INFORMATION

To watch the special pre-recorded webinar, JDAIM Reflections on Faith and Disability with Judy Heumann, please click HERE.

https://www.respectability.org/
https://jkidaccess.org/
https://inclusioninnovations.com/jdaim/

February is also

Black History Month

Cultural Leadership is a youth education and leadership organization that develops a diverse group of youth into social justice changemakers who advocate for equitable and just practices. They do this by exploring the strengths and oppressions of our communities through the lenses of Black and Jewish experiences. For more information about Cultural Leadership, please click HERE.

BA teenagers Benjamin Kruger and Chase Waldman spoke about their experiences with Cultural Leadership during our MLK Shabbat commemoration on January 14. We encourage you to read their speeches by CLICKING HERE.

Congregation B'nai Amoona's
Inclusion Statement

B’nai Amoona is an inclusive community that embraces, supports, and values all people being B’Tzelem Elohim (in the image of God).