At our Passover Seder table, we tell the story of how our ancestors were set free from slavery in Egypt. It’s an old story, and we are commanded to tell it as though we ourselves were there. Of course we weren’t, and most of us really don’t understand the feeling of being enslaved and mistreated by others. The next part of the story was of a forty year journey before finally being allowed to enter the land of Israel and begin to reap the true benefits of their newly found freedom. The Jews had finally found a home free from oppression.

The history of the Jews includes numerous efforts by many who sought to restrict their freedom, and there are still more stories of the battles and suffering encountered to persevere, to survive, and to thrive. Thinking that they deserved the same opportunities and humane treatment was, once again, not enough.

Many others also seek to realize the full potential of their rights and abilities. One such group of individuals are those who are generally identified as disabled. While the word “disability” encompasses a wide range of issues, from physical limitations to learning challenges to developmental obstacles, the historical connection was that these individuals and their families were also enslaved by a society and institutions or organizations that either frowned on their challenges or simply would not or could not adapt to helping overcome those challenges. They were unable to be full and active participants in life due to their disabilities.

There are many references in the Torah and our texts about our obligation as Jews to the way we treat people, especially those that need special assistance because of a disability. But it is only in recent years that the organized Jewish world has acknowledged that responsibility and has collectively begun the process of making Jewish life inclusive to all.  Atlanta is a Jewish community of approximately 130,000 people. Estimates indicate that 10 percent of that population has some form of disability.  Given the impact that such disabilities can have on an entire family, it is easy to see how so many in our community and so many of our friends, neighbors, and associates are impacted.

Our Federation first responded to this challenge a few years ago and assembled a group of caring and knowledgeable leaders to investigate the challenges and opportunities that existed in the Atlanta Jewish Community. As a result of that investigation, we created staff positions to facilitate the development of a more inclusive Jewish community environment. The effort has included creating distribution lists to connect parents and professionals, coordinating resources and information, and working with schools, synagogues, and other organizations to make awareness of the needs of this community known and to help implement solutions. We want to make sure a parent is never turned away when attempting to include their child in a meaningful Jewish experience in preschool, religious school, or elsewhere, and we’re working hard to make this happen in Atlanta.  We’re also focused on helping children with disabilities have the experience of a Jewish overnight camp, as part of our initiative for thousands more Jewish kids to have life-changing camp experiences.

We have convened town hall meetings and listened to those most impacted by these challenges. We’ve done much and yet there is still more to do.

One of the most exciting new initiatives resulting from our efforts is the launch of the Greater Atlanta Jewish Abilities Alliance (JAA) website (www.jewishabilities.org). The website provides a comprehensive resource for persons with disabilities and their families in the greater Atlanta community. It features information about disabilities from birth to adult with over 300 local resources and access to national resources. Atlanta’s website provides a user-friendly gateway to disability resources in the Jewish and general community.

So as we continue our celebration of Pesach and think about all of our individual blessings and all that we have to be thankful for, we continue to remember that our primary obligation and “secret sauce” is our willingness to remember that “Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh – All Jews are responsible for One Another”.

Just as the Israelites faced many challenges along their forty-year journey, the disability road is also a long and challenging journey, staring at birth and continuing through adulthood.  At Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, in our mission to care for Jews in need, we hope to help families taking that journey with as much support, awareness, and caring as possible

Our respect for and efforts to help those with disabilities is something we can be proud of.  It is something that is only possible with your support and caring. And for that, I thank you.

Chag Pesach Semeach.  May your Passover be joyous and meaningful.