JTS Hosts Discussion about Disabilities, Inclusion, and Jewish Education

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) will host “Disabilities, Inclusion, and Jewish Education” on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.. Speaking will be Howard Blas, director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network; Dori Frumin Kirshner, executive director of Matan; Arlene Remz, executive director of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education; and Ilana Ruskay-Kidd, founder and head of the Shefa School. The program will be moderated by Dr. Abigail Uhrman, assistant professor of Jewish Education at JTS. The speakers will consider how the Jewish community helps individuals with a range of disabilities participate meaningfully in Jewish education and Jewish life. They will discuss key innovations and challenges in the field as they apply to both formal and informal Jewish education, and will explore which programs, services, and opportunities are still missing.

This program—JTS’s fall Jack and Lewis Rudin Lecture—will take place at JTS, located at 3080 Broadway (corner of 122nd Street) in New York City. Admission is free; RSVP at www.jtsa.edu/inclusion. Please have photo ID available at the door. This event will also be live streamed. Join us online at www.jtsa.edu/live.

Howard Blas is director of the National Ramah Tikvah Network, which offers the inspirational Ramah camp experience to Jewish children and young adults with disabilities.

Dori Frumin Kirshner (GS ’96) is executive director of Matan in New York City, an organization that influences Jewish special needs education by training current and future leaders in a variety of settings.

Arlene Remz is executive director of Gateways: Access to Jewish Education, the central organization for Jewish special education in Greater Boston.

Ilana Ruskay-Kidd is the founder and head of the Shefa School, a new Jewish day school in New York City for children with learning disabilities.

Abigail Uhrman, PhD, assistant professor of Jewish Education at the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education of JTS, conducts research among parents of children with special needs, about Jewish day schools, and about educational decision-making.

Twice a year, the Jack and Lewis Rudin Lectures provide the opportunity for eminent academics, religious leaders, intellectuals, and public figures to discuss topics of interest with the JTS community and the public at large.