Montreal – January 29, 2024 - Federation CJA will celebrate JDAIM, or Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, a unified effort among Jewish organizations worldwide as a month-long celebration to raise awareness and foster acceptance of community members living with disabilities and mental health conditions, and those who love them.
“We are proud to support children and adults living with disabilities, and their families, in meeting their unique challenges and ensuring their participation in Jewish communal life,” says Yair Szlak, President & CEO of Federation CJA. “Funding programs that focus on inclusion such as school-based academic intervention, therapy, camp experiences, supported employment, and recreation is a responsibility and a privilege.”
EVENTS
JDAIM convenes several organizations in many fun and meaningful opportunities, from an art vernissage to cooking and baking demonstrations, nights out at the movies and community-wide Shabbat celebrations - there’s something for everyone! Many events are open to the public:
- Feb. 11: “Sometimes”, a heartwarming story that explores the universal desire for inclusion, a public story time and inclusive activity event for young families at the Friendship Circle.
- Feb. 15: The Friendship Circle presents four events including the DeLamie Babka Bake, bringing teen volunteers and families together.
- Feb. 16-18: Temple Emanu-El Musical Shabbaton Weekend.
- Feb. 18: “Friend Blend” party with teen volunteers and neurodivergent participants.
- Feb. 21: L’Annexe, the Ometz Centre for Young Adults, “From Strength to Strength” Art Exhibition
- Feb 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 Zera Café - Pop-Up Shuk at the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA, 3:00-4:30pm
Several Shabbat initiatives will take place at the Adath Israel and Shaare Zion Beth-El Congregations with neurodivergent speakers. Catering will be from Zera Café, a not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to meaningfully employ neurodivergent adults.
“We are excited to be hosting The Honourable Shirly Pinto, the first deaf Member of the Israeli Knesset and current Ambassador of Advocacy for the Foreign Ministry for the Iron Swords War,” says Jodi Toledano, Community Relations Manager and Grants Officer at Federation CJA. “Ms. Pinto will be here to connect with community organizations, elementary, high school, CEGEP and university students and to strengthen the link between Israel and the diaspora,” Jodi adds. “All JDAIM events are detailed on [jlive.app]Jlive.app”.
GRANTS
Federation CJA offers up to $1,500 as JDAIM 2024 Micro Grants. These opportunities empower organizations by helping them to alleviate financial costs associated with running activities and program offerings in the month of February. These grants have been offered to 17 local organizations, schools and synagogues, nearly double the amount from last year.
BACKGROUND
There are 16,000 people aged 15 and over living with disabilities in the Montreal Jewish community. Federation CJA is committed to delivering community care with compassion and fostering spaces where everyone in our community feels like they belong.
“The Jewish core value of Klal Yisrael (unity of the Jewish people) inspires us to constantly strive to create a more unified Jewish community. JDAIM is a call to action to unite Jewish communities worldwide and for each of us to act in accordance with our Jewish values to remove the barriers to participation in Jewish life. Our community is not whole until all of us belong,” adds Szlak.
For more information on how to access services in the community, please consult the community resources section at federationcja.org/inclusion or contact us at [email protected].
About Federation CJA
For over one hundred years, Federation CJA has been at the heart of the organized Jewish community in Montreal. In partnership with a vast network of agencies and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally, Federation CJA builds and sustains this community by providing leadership and by supporting the delivery of services and programs to care for the vulnerable and those in need, to ensure a bright Jewish future, to represent communal interests, and to positively affect issues in the wider society.
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