Observe JDAIM with Us

by Nina Woldin

JDAIM, Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, begins this week. Established in 2009 by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium, JDAIM is observed each February. 

JDAIM was created to raise awareness and foster inclusion of people with disabilities in Jewish life. A unified effort among Jewish organizations and communities worldwide, JDAIM calls each and every one of us to act according to our Jewish values – to honor the different gifts and strengths that we each possess. 

At Chai Mitzvah, where our mission is to build an inclusive and caring community,
we aim to live these values every day.

There are many ways to participate in JDAIM:

• Support participation and involvement in communal life for individuals with disabilities.
• Within your community, raise awareness and remind others that inclusion and belonging are essential to wellbeing and quality of life for people with disabilities, mental health conditions, and their caregivers.
• Show acceptance of those choosing their own Jewish journeys.
• Advocate for the civil rights of people with disabilities and mental health conditions.
• Become familiar with disabilities in order to understand and overcome stigma, prejudice, biases, stereotypes, and myths about disability and mental health conditions. 

Chai Mitzvah has a wonderful curriculum for JDAIM! New and very user-friendly, Kehila: Caring & Community focuses on disabilities and inclusion. Written in partnership with Shutaf Inclusion Programs, it explores Jewish perspectives on disability and fosters respect and care for all. 

Please share your JDAIM activities with us!