Big Tent Judaism

An Inspiring Story of Inclusion

On a daily basis, we highlight and comment on stories or events related to creating an open and welcoming Jewish community. In thousands of blog entries, we have touched on any and every subject that has impacted our community, for better or for worse. After five years of blogging, we still find ourselves inspired by the extraordinary steps many are willing to take in the name of inclusion. A recent story in the New Jersey Jewish News about a bar mitzvah perfectly captured this sense of awe.

Sam Frankel is 13 years old. He also happens to have Down’s Syndrome, which gives him major difficulties in learning and communication. The article traces the exceptional work undertaken by Sam, his parents, and the synagogue – Temple Emanu-El in Westfield – to make sure his needs were met and he could participate in this major Jewish event. Preparing for a bar or bat mitzvah is already a hard job, which makes Sam’s accomplishment so much more impressive.

A story like Sam’s reminds us just how important it is to make sure we have the tools in place to help everyone – regardless of their status in the Jewish community – feel included. That’s why the first principle of our Big Tent Judaism Coalition is to welcome all newcomers. By that we don’t mean only those who have never participated before. The principle is meant to include everyone interested in finding Jewish meaning and community, like Sam Frankel.

We hope others read this story and recognize the significance of not only Sam’s accomplishment, but also of what this means for the Jewish community. Clearly our tent is big enough to include those with special needs. Let’s make sure we’re doing all we can to help them share in the joy of our community.

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