Inclusion
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MISSION AND VISION
Temple Israel celebrates the diversity of our congregational family and is fully committed to sustaining and growing a community that deeply values and respects that diversity.
The Inclusion Committee is committed to making Temple Israel a safe, welcoming, and inclusive Jewish community for all people, including interfaith families, without regard to religious upbringing, education, level of observance, wealth, ethnic origin, skin color, physical or mental limitations, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Our committee members are a diverse group of TI members who care deeply about ensuring that Temple Israel is welcoming and inclusive of all, both those who are currently connected to our community and those who wish to be connected. We educate ourselves and the community regarding contemporary issues pertaining to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Areas of specific focus for this committee include:
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Interfaith And Differing Backgrounds
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Accessibility
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Communication
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Gender And Sexuality
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Racial Justice
At Temple Israel, we are grateful for the diverse journeys that bring people to our community. At the core of our Jewish tradition, we understand ourselves to be commanded by God to love and embrace all people, no matter their background or ethnicity. Our community includes those who have been Jewish their whole lives; those who have chosen to join the Jewish people as part of their own spiritual journeys; and interfaith families. We believe that we are strengthened by the gifts that all members of our community bring, and we extend a warm welcome to those who - through their love for members of the Jewish people - are part of our family and fellow travelers in our work to make the world more filled with caring, love and responsibility. We hope that you too will find a place in our community. If you want to learn, to join in prayer, to help repair the world or to forge community together - Temple Israel welcomes you.
Want to take a first step? Contact the Inclusion (outreach) committee here or by reaching out to Rabbi Jeremy Fineberg.
Report on the TI Accessibility Survey, Spring 2022
Temple Israel Accessibility Survey
A report to the community, June 2022
It’s been a busy spring for the Inclusion Committee, and we’re delighted to report results of the April Accessibility Survey, as well as progress on other fronts.
First, we’ve been awarded a $1,000 grant from CJP and the Ruderman Synagogue Inclusion Project to subsidize teacher training in the Hertz and Religious Schools. In-service sessions will provide coaching for dealing with students and families dealing with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. More information will be forthcoming before the new school year.
The TI cohort working with United Synagogue and Keshet organized the first Pride Shabbat at Temple Israel, which took place on June 4, and secured a Pride Progress banner which is now prominently displayed on the building, with approval and overwhelming support of the Board of Trustees.
In April, nearly 90 congregants responded to our Accessibility Survey, and those responses have informed much of our work. After reviewing the numerical summaries and the many comments that congregants provided, we’ve created a list of action steps that take account of how many people stressed a point, the urgency of the need, and the financial costs involved. We have begun to communicate and advocate for these items, but understand that some can happen soon, and others may take longer to finance and implement. Some of your contributed ideas stimulated additional ideas from the committee, and the list below reflects both.
In this list, bold-face indicates items the committee has identified as near-term priorities and underline indicates those items already implemented.
No-Cost Items
- Remind service leaders to speak up and use microphones properly from the bimah, both for in-person and Zoom attendees
- Obtaining Braille Siddurim – there is a free source for this
- Include people on Zoom (and in person) by repeating questions and giving technological assistance
- Better publicize and communicate the availability of accommodations and work being done to make TI a more fully inclusive Congregation
- In consideration of people attending via Zoom, remind service leaders not to drum on the lectern.
- Ask Kiddush club participants to delay gathering until the conclusion of the service and/or make it more widely known. Raise sensitivity to community members with alcohol or substance struggles.
- Encourage congregants to support those with learning differences.
Low-Cost Items
- Magnification sheets to enhance visibility of Siddurim and Chumashim – Done and available in the back of the sanctuary, with a large-print sign announcing them.
- Remove some seats to make space for wheelchairs
- Provide quiet spaces when there are over-stimulating gatherings or events and publicize the location of such spaces for each event.
- Leadership (Rabbi + administration) must make decisions about the future of remote and hybrid events at the shul, and develop an appropriate technology plan.
- Improve signage re: whereabouts of hearing and visual adaptations
- Improve publicity re: whereabouts of hearing and visual adaptations
- Engage those with cognitive and developmental delays in the service
- Flip sign for bima with page numbers, etc.
- Simplified siddurim and Torah stories
- AA/JACS meetings led by volunteers
- Communicate how schools adapt to individual needs
Medium-Cost Items
- Provide programs and materials that do not presume substantial Jewish knowledge
- Obtain and provide transliterated Siddurim. Done, with thanks to the Markson family and Rabbi Gordon
- Revise and re-introduce laminated cards cross-listing page numbers in both the blue and red siddurim.
- Repair paved walkways and make curb cuts
- Upgrade and modernize assistive listening devices
High-Cost Items
- Improve the sound system for the Bima and Zoom; encourage decisions about the best hybrid and remote technologies going forward.
- Install push buttons to open interior doors
- Training for Hertz and Religious School teachers re special needs (Applied for and received Ruderman grant for next school year)
- Revive Teen programming
- ASL interpreters for special events
- Improve Zoom sound system and add captioning
- Paved Access to Woodland Wilderness and Playground
- Paved Access to Sukkah from Parking Lot
- Wheelchair Access to Downstairs Chapel
This prioritized list emerged from our close reading of respondent comments and our review of the responses given to the multiple-choice questions. The graphs below summarize those responses. One clear message in that we need to do more to publicize and communicate the availability of accessibility accommodations and the efforts already underway.
The Inclusion Committee
Anna Matloff Beth Singer, Secretary Bruce Creditor Ken Wolkon Mark Fisher Matt Wulf Matt Zinno Rob Carver, Chair Stefani Wood Sue Gelfman Tova Sperber
Question Summaries
In each graph, horizontal axis represents the number of respondents.
Thu, April 25 2024
17 Nisan 5784
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Pesach-No School
Monday, Apr 29th 3:30p to 5:30p
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TI Reads: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
Thursday, May 2nd 7:45p to 9:00p
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Kid Led Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 3rd 6:15p to 8:30p
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Alternative Service with Rabbi Josh
Shabbat, May 4th 9:00a to 10:00a
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Open House Shabbat
Shabbat, May 4th 9:00a to 12:00p
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Shmooze and Booze
Sunday, May 5th 9:30a to 11:00a
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Keshet
Sunday, May 5th 11:00a to 12:15p
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Religious School: Youth Group Grades K-4
Sunday, May 5th 11:15a to 12:30p
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Yom Hashoah at Temple Sinai
Sunday, May 5th 7:00p to 9:00p
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Hanging between Heaven and Earth: Hair and its Meaning in the Tanakh
Tuesday, May 7th 7:45p to 9:15p
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Hazak Program
Thursday, May 9th 7:00p to 9:00p
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Volunteer Appreciation Shabbat
Shabbat, May 11th 9:00a to 12:00p
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Brotherhood Routes
Sunday, May 12th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Keshet
Sunday, May 12th 11:00a to 12:15p
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Religious School: Youth Group Outing
Sunday, May 12th 11:15a to 1:00p