A first-of-its-kind resource guide for inclusive b'nai mitzvah celebrations.
For too long, teens with special needs have been on the margins of the Jewish community. As for any child, their b'nai mitzvah should be a joyous time as they transition into adulthood and affirm their commitment to their community.
A Different Spirit: The Essential Guide to Creating Meaningful B'nai Mitzvah for Children With Disabilities is designed to help clergy and families navigate creating a meaningful and inclusive celebration for all. This collection of essays includes inspiration and practical guidance on planning a celebration, managing accommodations and settings, and teaching children with special needs, as well as personal stories and a deep understanding of the concept of inclusion.
Edited by Howard Blas, the director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network which provides inclusion and vocational training programs support for young adults with disabilities in camps, and Emmy-award-winning Ilana Trachtman, director of the acclaimed documentary Praying with Lior.
This resource discusses planning for teens with:
Autism
Anxiety and other mental health issues
Visual impairment
Deafness and hard of hearing
Non- and minimally-verbal speech
Mobility needs
Learning differences
Accepting All by Shelly Christenson
Recognizing the Divine in Every Soul by Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Voices: Embracing Autism and Discovering Chabad by Dr. Stephen Shore
Voices: Jacob Artson
Building a Team by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Planning a Meaningful Celebration by Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer
Entering the Space: A Checklist and Guide for Envisioning Your Child’s B’nai Mitzvah by Rebecca Redner and Arlene Remz
Being Able to Enter Is Not Enough: Creating an Inclusive Synagogue by Rebecca Wanatick
Sibs in the Spotlight by Jessica Leving Siegel
A Happening: Using the Arts as a Pathway into Spirituality by Elaine Hall
Your Very Own Sing-Down: B’nai Mitzvah in a Camp Setting by Dr David Neufeld
Who Is a Bar Mitzvah for, and When Is It Actually Inappropriate? A Dialogue by Rabbi Allison Berry and Matan Koch
Voices: The Beginning of My Life’s Journey by Yishai Barth
Voices: The Secret Sauce of Tourette's by Pamella Schuller
Expanding the Toolbox: Being the Great Teacher You Already Are by Meredith Englander Polsky
Hebrew Teaching Methods for Learners without Fluency in Any Language by Rebecca Redner and Arlene Remz
Voices: An Anxiety-Filled Bat Mitzvah by Jennifer Fink
A Bat Mitzvah for a Braille Reader by Rabbanit Aliza Sperling and Batya Sperling-Milner
“Better to Be a Reed Than a Cedar Tree”: Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing B’nai Mitzvah Students by Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh and Serena Leigh Krombach
The Perfect Storm: B’nai Mitzvah, Mental Health Challenges, and Being Thirteen by Dr. Audra Kaplan
Reimagining the Drash by Rabbi Rebecca Schatz
LD is for Real: Helping People with Learning Disabilities Prepare for B'nai Mitzvah by Dr. Sheldon Horowitz
Voices: Say Something by Daniella Bardack-Tarrab
No Speech Required: Preparing Nonverbal/Minimally Verbal Students for B’nai Mitzvah by Rebecca Redner and Arlene Remz
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