Sha’arei Tikvah: Making the Holidays Inclusive for People with Disabilities
I first attended a Sha’arei Tikvah event three months into my tenure at JFS in 2019. The event was a Purim celebration at Congregation Beth Shalom for Supportive Living Services’ (SLS) clients, their friends and family, and congregation members. I found myself at a lively event, watching a performance of the story of Queen Esther. The experience was profound. Our clients, who have persistent mental health issues, traumatic brain injury, or intellectual or developmental disabilities, were enjoying the show, shaking noise makers, wearing silly hats, moving around the room as needed, happily shouting out what they remember about Purim at any point that moved them, and mingling and laughing with staff members and each other.
Regular services at synagogues often have too many barriers for our clients, who struggle with the length, having to sit still and focus, and being around a large group of people, which can cause anxiety or confusion. Sha’arei Tikvah events, which started more than 15 years ago, are inclusive and welcoming events that meet a particular and critical need for our clients. They are opportunities for clients to connect with their Jewish heritage and holiday traditions in a structure that meets their needs. The events also promote connection and community with others.
Sha’arei Tikvah means “Gates of Hope.” Many Jewish communities and synagogues use the name to symbolize a welcoming spiritual home and a place of prayer.
Last week, in partnership with Temple Beth Am, we gathered for a Rosh Hashanah Sha’arei Tikvah event, an important and powerful holiday in the Jewish calendar. Between clients and staff, around 20 people gathered in the beautiful, light-filled sanctuary. The service, led by Rabbi Ronit Tsadok (Director of Project Kavod at JFS) and Rabbi Laura Rumpf (Temple Beth Am), was a combination of songs, prayers, and storytelling.
Rabbi Ronit helped us reflect on the meaning of the holiday, including focusing on the sweetness we experience in our lives. She invited clients to name out loud what they’re grateful for and the people who are special to them. Clients also chimed in about a memory or something that was important to them at any moment during the 30-minute service. The openness, flexibility, and inclusiveness of the event allowed for this freedom. We ended the celebration with the sounding of the shofar, which was a thrill for all. Afterwards, we met in the community room for coffee, homemade Challah, and sweet holiday treats—and more mingling.
Currently, SLS, in close partnership with the JFS Community Connections team, holds four events per year—Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, Passover, and Summer Shabbat. I’m very proud to hold these events for our clients as they embody our mission and values by supporting the particular needs of our clients and respecting each individual’s unique dignity. Anyone who attends these events, whether staff, volunteer, or client, comes away with a real feeling of love, kinship, and connection.