Overview

A first-of-its-kind resource guide for inclusive b'nai mitzvah celebrations. For too long, teens with special needs have been on the margins of the Jewish community. As for any child, their b'nai mitzvah should be a joyous time as they transition into adulthood and affirm their commitment to their community. A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B'nai Mitzvah for Children With Disabilities is designed to help clergy and families navigate creating a meaningful and inclusive celebration for all. This collection of essays includes inspiration and practical guidance on planning a celebration, managing accommodations and settings, and teaching children with special needs, as well as personal stories and a deep understanding of the concept of inclusion. Edited by Howard Blas, the director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network which provides inclusion and vocational training programs support for young adults with disabilities in camps, and Emmy-award-winning Ilana Trachtman, director of the acclaimed documentary Praying with Lior. This resource discusses planning for teens with: Autism Anxiety and other mental health issues Visual impairment Deafness Non- and minimal speech Mobility challenges Learning differences Featuring contributions by Jacob Artson, Daniella Bardack-Tarrab, Meir Yishai Barth, Rabbi Allison L. Berry, Shelly Christensen, Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Wendy Elliott-Vandivier, Meredith Englander Polsky, Jennifer Fink, Elaine Hall, Dr. Sheldon H. Horowitz, Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer, Matan A. Koch, Serena Leigh Krombach, MA, MSEd, Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh, Jessica Leving Siegel, Batya Sperling-Milner, Dr. David Neufeld, Rebecca Redner, Arlene Remz, Rabbi Rebecca Schatz, Pamela Rae Schuller, Dr. Stephen Shore, Rabbanit Aliza Sperling, and Rebecca Wanatick.

Full Product Details

9781681150994

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Where was this book when my own children with disabilities approached their b’nai mitzvah? We had no road map and would have cherished the wisdom gathered here—the honest reflections, an abundance of practical tools, and generous stories from others who had walked this path before us. If you’re a parent preparing for your child’s b’nai mitzvah, or a clergy member or Hebrew school director or teacher seeking to understand what a child and their family need at this precious and sensitive time, this book is the companion you’ll be grateful to have by your side.” —Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses, Romemu, New York City “Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman have given our Jewish community an extraordinary gift. A Different Spirit is a call to conscience, a wellspring of practical wisdom, and a celebration of every child’s sacred worth. It opens our hearts and imaginations to what b’nai mitzvah can—and must—be when we honor every soul as b’tzelem Elohim, created in the image of God. I am inspired and deeply grateful for this indispensable resource.” —Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue, New York City “Children with disabilities have too often not been included in bar and bat mitzvahs, leaving them and their families excluded from the synagogue community. This pioneering book is transformative. It declares not just that we can, but that we must include these children; and it offers a wealth of practical advice on how to make meaningful ceremonies for these children. This book will change lives, families, and communities.”  —Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, New York City “A Different Spirit is an unparallelled resource for individuals, families, and professionals. And well beyond its practical value, it opens unimagined paths toward full spiritual inclusion and communal membership.” —Andrés Martin, MD, PhD, Riva Ariella Ritvo Professor, Yale School of Medicine “This wonderful book is guided by a passionately and uncompromisingly held principle that there is simply no physical, cognitive, or psychological challenge that cannot be met, indeed, that has not already been met. [Blas and Trachtman] challenge us to recall and help us to embody an elemental truth of Jewish life: the Torah belongs to all of us. This book is a significant contribution to Jewish life for which we should all be grateful.” —Rabbi Shai Held, president of the Hadar Institute and author of Judaism Is About Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life “This immensely accessible, useful book is an invaluable resource in making the message of b’tzelem Elohim a reality. It will be read with gratitude by parents, rabbis, educators, and the children themselves.” —Mark Oppenheimer, author of Thirteen and a Day: The Bar and Bat Mitzvah Across America “An extraordinarily important book that should be essential reading for synagogue and community leaders, educators, and truly, for everyone. It offers valuable insights, guidance, and comprehensive information to support families with a member with a disability as they navigate Jewish communal life, and it also deepens our sensitivity to becoming more inclusive in all aspects of our community.” —Debbie Niderberg, co-founder and executive director of Hidden Sparks “Invaluable information and advice for any parent of a child with a disability who is planning a b’nai mitzvah—and in fact for every Jewish parent planning one. There has never been a more comprehensive compilation of knowledge on the subject than this.” —Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, faculty emeritus at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College “Finally! A definitive how-to guide that offers concrete advice and spiritual wisdom to make the b’nai mitzvah experience truly accessible to everyone. A Different Spirit should be on the shelf of every rabbi, synagogue staff-person, and Jewish educator.""  —Jay Ruderman, Ruderman Family Foundation “A vital resource for clergy, educators, parents, and individuals with disabilities. In the spirit of ‘nothing about us without us,’ A Different Spirit provides the powerful perspective of individuals with disabilities, whose reflections about their experiences add richness and depth to the conversation. Moreover, readers will discover that in considering the needs of individuals with disabilities, they will, in fact, be moving their congregations or schools to a more welcoming and inclusive stance for all members of the community. This book has my strongest recommendation as an educator and as a parent.” —Professor Jeffrey Kress, provost and Dr. Bernard Heller Professor of Jewish Education, Jewish Theological Seminary “A wonderful book on many levels. . . .With many insights about the Jewish faith and a theological understanding of being created in the image of God, the book offers inclusion resources, accommodations, family supports, and most of all, hope that any child with a disability can be valued, included, and appreciated as a child of God.” —Rev. Tom Jones, executive director, Faith Inclusion Network “This book is a wonderful testament that each person is created in the image of God and therefore should be treated with respect, dignity, and inclusion. Each person brings their own unique blessings to the world.” —Tamir Goodman, former professional basketball player who has severe dyslexia “[The authors] understand the value and the magic that the b’nai mitzvah ceremony and event mean to all Jewish youth and their families, regardless of their physical, mental, or financial status. Thank you for your deep commitment to supporting the next generation of Jews, in all our forms.” —Peter Shapiro, music entrepreneur, owner of Brooklyn Bowl and Capitol Theater, publisher of Relix Magazine

Author Information

Howard Blas is the director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network which provides inclusion and vocational training programs support for young adults with disabilities in camps throughout the US and Canada. Howard previously served as the director of the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in New England and at Ramah Northern California. A social worker and special education teacher by training, he also teaches Jewish Studies and bar/bat mitzvah to students with a range of disabilities and special circumstances. Howard has 35 years of experience working with families and students in envisioning and preparing for a wide-range of b’nai mitzvahs, from traditional to creative. Howard received the S’fatai Tiftakh Award from Boston Hebrew College’s Center for Jewish Special Education in 2012 and the 2013 Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Howard is involved with many disability inclusion organizations in the US and Israel. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut. Ilana Trachtman is an Emmy award-winning creator of nonfiction programs for PBS, HBO, ABC-TV, Showtime, Lifetime, Discovery, A&E, and the Sundance Channel: from the legacy of slavery in Peru, to activism among Louisiana shrimpers, and glassblowing with at-risk youth. Prime-time directing credits include Mariachi High; Black in Latin America hosted by Henry Louis Gates; and Texas Ranch House. Ilana was a supervising producer on PBS’ History Detectives, the Sundance Channel’s Big Ideas for a Small Planet and began her career on PBS’ Reading Rainbow. Ilana’s independent film Praying with Lior screened theatrically in more than 60 cities, receiving six Audience Awards for Best Documentary, the International Disability Film Festival Grand Prixe, and was a critic’s pick of the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Washington Post. For WHYY, Ilana directed The Pursuit: 50 Years in the Fight for LGBT Rights, winner of the Mid-Atlantic Emmy for Best Documentary. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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