February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a time to reaffirm a principle that guides our work year‑round: a truly vibrant Jewish Detroit is one where everyone belongs.
Across our community, Federation partners are creating environments where individuals of all abilities can learn, grow, pray, celebrate and connect. Through inclusive classroom supports, vocational services, adaptive recreation and accessible communal spaces, these organizations ensure that every person has meaningful pathways into Jewish life. This work reflects one of Federation’s core values: creating a more vibrant Jewish life in Detroit, Israel and around the world. Whether helping a teen attend camp with the right supports, connecting adults to job training, or expanding access to community programs, these efforts open doors in ways that strengthen our entire community.
That commitment to dignity, access and belonging is central to the work of Gesher Human Services. “Judaism teaches that every individual is made in God’s image,” said Eric Adelman, Gesher’s Chief Advancement Officer. “We must create conditions where everyone is fully welcomed into communal Jewish life and can access education, spirituality, recreation, and workforce opportunities.” Gesher delivers a broad array of services for people with physical and developmental disabilities, rooted in the conviction that with the right supports, everyone can live a full and purposeful life in both Jewish and broader communities.
This vision is echoed through Opening the Doors, a program of Jewish Family Service that has reshaped Jewish education in Detroit for more than 30 years. “Too often, parents of neurodivergent children have been told that a classroom may not be the ‘right fit,’” said longtime OTD leader Ellen Maiseloff. “Opening the Doors changes that narrative by promoting inclusive education that engages, connects, advocates, empowers, builds strong community, and ensures that everyone benefits.”
Since its founding, Opening the Doors has supported more than 25,000 students and now works with schools each year to provide learning support for over 1,100 children. Its holistic approach includes diagnostics, mental health resources, educator training, collaborative Jewish learning, and teen leadership development. Together, these efforts help create classrooms where every child’s strengths are recognized and celebrated.
Beyond just these two examples, this commitment to inclusion extends across Federation’s partner network. Yeshiva Beth Yehudah weaves disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion into its educational programming, while Tamarack Camps ensures that every camper, regardless of need, can experience Jewish summer camp through adaptive programming and individualized supports.
While JDAIM helps showcase these efforts during February, inclusion is a daily commitment across Federation partner agencies throughout Jewish Detroit. Together, they are creating environments where individuals of all abilities can fully participate in Jewish life, reflecting a shared belief that inclusion is not just necessary, but a fundamental expression of our Jewish values. “We are honored to support disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion work in our community,” said Steven Ingber, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Detroit. “Thanks to the vision of our partner agencies along with the generosity of our supporters, we will continue investing in programs that open doors, expand access and ensure everyone belongs.”
