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Co-Architects of Our Destiny - Susan North Gilboa

02/21/2018 04:04:50 PM

Feb21

Co-Architects of Our Destiny

February is officially known as Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of JDAIM, which makes it an ideal opportunity to check the progress we have made in building our communities and creating spaces for and bridges between a wide diversity of people.

Since the early 1980s at Valley Beth Shalom, we have opened our doors to Jews with special needs and abilities by offering a spectrum of lifelong Jewish learning, social, music, art, and spiritual experiences. To meet the needs of a growing segment of our community, ten years ago we partnered with Temple Aliyah, and created the umbrella name, OurSpace.

In last week's Torah portion, Terumah, the Israelites are given detailed instructions on how to build a Sanctuary. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks interprets the details of building this Tabernacle as “the first project the Israelites undertook together.” “Make the people co-architects of their own destiny, to get them to build something together, and show them that they are responsible and capable of collaborative action.”

As the director of OurSpace I see the Valley Beth Shalom and Temple Aliyah communities, the OurSpace staff, and volunteers, and all of its supporters as “co-architects” of our destiny by offering OurSpace. By listening to and encouraging the participants and families to talk about their needs, and interests, they too have become “co-architects” of their own destiny.

While tapping into the learning styles, skills and interests of the participants, OurSpace is where Jewish experiences happen for children, teens and adults with special needs and abilities, along with their families. These experiences shared with like-minded peers enable participants to create life-long friendships and to be part of a community while empowering them to join the larger Jewish community.

OurSpace has been successful, much like with the creation of Havurot, in giving small groups of “like-minded” people the opportunities to connect. But, now is a good time to create a blueprint that adds the building of bridges so all the different groups within the walls of our synagogues can connect.

A profound example of why these points of connection are important was expressed in an article written by Maya Wernick, an OurSpace volunteer. “I believe that people who innately have the privilege of not being marginalized by society have a responsibility to strengthen the voice of the underdog. So when I was given the opportunity to do just that, I was immediately intrigued. But when I first arrived at OurSpace, I realized that my job was not to strengthen the voices of the students with special needs, but rather to listen to their voices and really, truly, hear them. I realized that I was a student too, who was being exposed to an entirely new world and community. I love each and every individual in OurSpace. I do not treat them as clients, students, or inferior to me, but as friends, family, and community. The best thing I ever gained from OurSpace and from interacting with any individual with special needs are new friends. Joining OurSpace has truly made me change the path of my life, and the individuals I have had the pleasure of getting to know the past 3 years have had such an impact on me that I have realized that this field is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I was not helping them strengthen their voices, they were helping me find my own.”

After the Sanctuary was built… God said to Moses: “Tell the Israelites to take for me a contribution. You are to receive the contribution for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give” (Exodus 25:2). Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says, “If we learn to experience God's presence in all people and accept the gifts that each chooses to bring to the community, God will dwell within each of us.”

As the Valley Beth Shalom community was about to embark on the construction of a new building, we knew that we might be moved from our “regular” spaces. Therefore, we decided that the theme for OurSpace this year would be…

HOW AWESOME IS THIS PLACE? ?מ" נורא "מקום "-"  Genesis 28:17

Rabbi Edward Feinstein has said, “Within the walls of our community, we have complete control and complete responsibility. This is the world we create.”

So, while buildings are being constructed, this year we have been exploring, discovering and creating awesome places. By each one of us bringing ourselves, and our own gifts, we are creating a sacred space where God can dwell.

As we move forward, let's think outside the box (and the building) to explore some new ways to be the co-architects of our community's future by building bridges.

This would be a time when Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis (z”l) would say, “so therefore…”

Let's connect!

  • Join us at Beit T'shuvah this Friday evening as the OurSpace Kolot Tikva choir raises their voices in song and prayer.
  • Join us during our Sunday morning OurSpace T'fillah Time from 11:00-11:30 a.m. in Winer Chapel.
  • Join us at our annual Pesach Model Seder on Sunday morning, March 18, from 9:45-11:00 a.m., and/or
  • Visit the OurSpace Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning's 10th Annual Art Gallery on Thursday, May 16, from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

If you want to connect, learn more about OurSpace, share information with others about OurSpace, volunteer or just want to hang out with us, please contact me, Susan North Gilboa, at sngilboa@ourspacela.org.

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Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784