Facing Challenges: My connection to Jewish Disability Awareness Month

Dvar Torah

Jewish communities around the world commemorate Jewish Disability Awareness Month (JDAM)

What is my connection?

Well, here it is.

A few weeks ago, during my admission interviews for the pluralistic rabbinical studies, I was asked by one of the faculty panel members if I have any concerns about joining the program. A bit smug, I said I have no concerns. 

The truth is, I do have a big challenge –  language. English isn’t my first language. 

I dream in Hebrew. I develop ideas and juggle words that I master for years – in Hebrew. But that was my answer, and we moved on with the interview.

A week later, I found myself immersed in a course titled “B’tzelem Elohim: Biblical Text through the Lens of Disability Studies.”  This topic is getting a lot of positive attention lately.

We looked at biblical characters we thought we knew, but probably didn’t know well enough. As our sages said “ Turn it over, and [again] turn it over, for all is therein” (Pirkei Avot 5:22).

So we did, and the answers were indeed there. You just need to look.

Questions we dove into included:

• What’s the definition of disability in today’s world vs. its definition in the biblical world?

• Will such a distinction will create distancing?

• Who are the disabled characters, and what are their disabilities?

• How do we create opportunities for including them in our communities?

Through the course of four intensive days, we dove into different texts. We heard firsthand about participants and their families disabilities, and projects they initiated to include and be included in the community.

We shared personal experiences of disabilities both mental and physical, temporary or permanent.

Only then when we looked each other in the eye and saw our own limitations with compassion, did we change gears, wore our academic hats, and started learning.

The Torah offers an ambivalent approach to disabilities. 

On one hand, it labels the disabled and excludes – not to mention excommunicates them. It is hard to read and requires a Tikkun. The lepers are excluded and are prohibited from sacrifice rituals, and Miriam, Moses’ sister – a great leader that has been excommunicated from Israel’s camp: “There was Miriam stricken with snow-white scales…he saw that she was stricken with scales…But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father spat in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of camp for seven days, and then let her be readmitted” (Numbers 12).

On the other hand, we see an inclusive approach towards leaders and other characters with various physical and mental disabilities. Moses is an example of a stutterer “…I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (Exodus 4:10). Or Aaron who experienced depression following his sons’ death: ... And Aaron was silent (Leviticus 10:2).

Leah wasn’t loved by Jacob and by the description of her face we can assume she was depressed. “The LORD saw that Leah was unloved and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.” (Genesis 29:31). Jonah doesn’t save his own soul, Naomi that returned to her home after her husband’s and sons’ death and could barely answer Ruth’s questions ״When [Naomi] saw how determined she was to go with her, she ceased to argue with her” (Ruth 1:18). Lastly “Though I walk through valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4).

Does this imply blindness, depression, or any other disability?

Many examples exist in which the biblical text puts the characters in a stereotypical box, Esau for example, would have been probably diagnosed today with ADHD, and described as a plain man that lacked manners:

“Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished” (Genesis 25:30), loved being outdoors and hunt…”Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors…” (Genesis 25:27), but had a sense for business and was loved by his father, and was labeled as a fool for losing his birthright for a stew of lentils.

We also see behaviors that imply a lack of interpersonal or social skills. Joseph, for example, is a self-concentrated dreamer that doesn’t see his brothers’ hatred towards him.

In honor of these lessons,  Jewish communities around the world commemorate awareness of disabilities, disabled people, and their inclusion in our communities during the month of February.

It’s an opportunity for all of us to learn about the wide range of disabilities, whether visible or not, as something a person was born with or acquired at later stages in life.

It’s an opportunity to self-reflect, acknowledge and embrace our own differences as key to embracing others’ differences as part of our community.

We all need to remember we were all created by the image of God – as equals.

And how does all of that relate back to me?

True, English isn’t my mother’s tongue, and it’s going to take time until I’ll think in English. However the real challenge I have is my excess of attention – something the medical world calls ADD.

Goodbye denial and thanks AJR for the acceptance, the inclusion, and the belief in me.

Dana is a Community Builder and Rabbinical student at AJR. Special thanks to Dr. Ora Horn Prouser, CEO and Academic Dean at the Academy for Jewish Religion. Translated by Udi Gotlieb.

• Check out the AJR calendar of events for more opportunities to celebrate Jewish Disabilities and Awareness Month.

• For families navigating parenting of a neuro-divrse children, Jewish Silicon Valley APJCC offers wonderful summer camp and courses dedicated to all kids, including our community’s neuro-diverse and physically diverse population.