Pokeakh Ivrim: Opening our Minds to New Forms of Inclusion

Typically when we think of access in general and in Jewish community specifically, we first default to thinking about physical access—is the bimah accessible? Do we have sign language interpretation provided for services and other events? Are Braille and large print siddurim available? It has often been my experience as someone who is blind and very Jewishly involved that, when physical access is attended to in a synagogue or other setting, there is a sense that all that is needed has been done to include folks with disabilities into the fabric of Jewish life. But accessibility is about more than overcoming physical barriers to participation; inclusion must also be understood spiritually.

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