Blog
This past Monday, Sulam had the privilege of hosting a truly special event at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum in DC. At this intimate gathering, we celebrated the past and future of Sulam and inclusion education—and the Greater Washington Jewish community as a whole—as Sulam became a part of the museum’s collection.
In the current socio-political environment, Lior’s parents, like many, felt more strongly than ever that he should attend a Jewish day school. Due to his learning differences and special education requirements, the only way to make that possible was through Sulam, the singular special education inclusion program at Jewish day schools in the Greater Washington area.
This year, Lior is attending a Jewish day school with the support of Sulam. He has a team of special educators focused on providing him with the academic, social, and emotional supports he needs to be successful.
No longer are Lior’s parents forced to choose special education over a Jewish environment for their son. With Sulam, they can get both.
This month, February, is JDAIM—Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month.
What is JDAIM?
JDAIM is a global initiative that brings together Jewish organizations worldwide. Established in 2009 by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium, JDAIM is observed each February. It is a unified effort to raise awareness, make a commitment to foster acceptance and inclusion, and ensure that individuals with disabilities, as well as their loved ones, feel a sense of belonging within the Jewish community.
Why Is it Important?
JDAIM is rooted in the core Jewish value of “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,” meaning “All of Israel is responsible for another.” This value emphasizes the communal responsibility for inclusion in Judaism—it is not just an individual effort, but a collective one. It underscores the significance of creating a community where everyone, regardless of their learning profile, feels like an integral member of the Jewish people. JDAIM is a call to action to honor the gifts and strengths that each individual possesses and to support their participation in all aspects of Jewish and community life.
How Is Sulam a Part of This?
Inclusion is more than mere acceptance. Sulam makes the JDAIM mission a reality through its Jewish day school special education program—by offering innovative and research-based education in an inclusive and Jewish setting, Sulam ensures that students with learning differences, like Lior, can fully participate in all aspects of school and community life. The multidisciplinary team at Sulam tailors educational programs for each student, fostering their academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. Through targeted instruction, inclusion with instructional support, supplemental services, and social/emotional services, Sulam champions the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in the Jewish community.
Every morning now, when Lior wakes up, he tells his mother how happy he is to go to school. Asked why, he answers simply: “Because I’m in a Jewish day school. I like being with my friends.”
“I am looking forward to connecting with other women in leadership positions at Jewish day schools and learning from the range of diverse experiences they bring to the table.
I am excited to represent Sulam in this cohort, to amplify the critical importance of special education within the field of Jewish education.”
The choice of CESJDS as the next partner school was intentional and planned. “We have long wanted to create a Sulam program at a pluralistic school,” said Heller. “We have a wonderful partnership with the school community and in particular Rabbi Mitch Malkus, the head of school at CESJDS.”
“Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based framework that teachers use to design lessons that reduce barriers and increase access to learning for all students. This webinar will introduce the main ideas and key concepts of UDL, which can be used as a springboard for more in-depth study. It is an exciting, innovative and paradigm-shifting perspective on learning, teaching, and planning!”
