ShabbaTTogether: Disability Inclusion And Mental Health Awareness

MISSION VIEJO, CA - From Chabad of Mission Viejo: Members of the Mission Viejo Jewish community will take an important step in incorporating inclusion of individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions in the synagogue and throughout Jewish life on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo, in conjunction with Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), which is February.

The community will join at 6:30 p.m. for an inclusive Havdalah service and Melava Malka family dinner featuring talks on how to bolster inclusivity and be more sensitive to other’s needs. Additionally, children with and without disabilities will join together for special arts and crafts.

Religious settings such as the synagogue, mikvah or holiday programs often present a unique set of challenges to people living with disabilities and mental health conditions. A focus of the gathering will be learning how community members can better support people with disabilities so that they feel at home in the synagogue and at community events.

The project, dubbed “ShabbaTTogether,” is a project of the Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative, an organization that empowers Jewish communities to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions.

“Our community, just like every community, includes people with disabilities,” said Rabbi Zalman Marcus, co-director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo. “We may not always see or understand what someone is going through, but we can work to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and like they truly belong.”

The inclusion initiative draws inspiration from the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, who taught that all Jewish people are one entity, and while each individual has different talents and abilities, every individual who fulfills his or her obligations to the extent of their G‑d-given capacities shares in the totality of the effort and accomplishment.

The Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo sees this Shabbat as a time to increase their efforts towards inclusion, which already include wheelchair access, allergen-sensitive menus, large-print prayer books, page-number assistance and a quiet space.

“I wish people would understand that all I want is to participate like everyone else,” said a community member who asked to remain unnamed. “For me, going to synagogue, is what makes me feel like I belong in the community. I am so thankful that the Cjc of Mission Viejo is going out of their way to ensure I can participate and contribute in my community.”

For more information about Mission Viejo’s ShabbaTTogether, visit www.ChabadOfMV.com.

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