Disability and Jewish Inclusion: Created in the Image of G-d
"I can't hide my disability, so why should I hide my Jewish identity?"
Shalom!
Just in the nick of time, this Drop honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), which occurs every February.
Yes, there’s a month for everything! June is National Candy Month, December is Read a New Book Month (what a shame; that should be every month… and so should Candy Month), and September is both Shake Month and Friendship Month. That’s the only month I get shakes with my friends. But this month is more meaningful than any of those!
JDAIM was founded in 2009 by the Jewish Special Education International Consortium to raise awareness and encourage inclusion for people with disabilities and special needs.
16% of the world lives with a disability of some kind. This includes famous Jews of past and present, like our fearless Biblical leader, Moses, who didn’t let his speech impediment stop him from speaking to G-d on behalf of the Jewish people and leading them out of Egypt to freedom.
The renowned violinist, Itzhak Perlman, had polio as a child and uses crutches or a wheelchair, and has inspired millions with his music. Actress Marlee Matlin is an advocate for disability rights and Jewish inclusion, frequently speaking about her experiences as a deaf Jewish woman in Hollywood.
Judith Heumann, who passed away in 2023, was a disability rights activist who played a key role in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Known as the "Mother of the Disability Rights Movement,” she too was in a wheelchair for most of her life and fought for inclusion, even suing the Board of Education for denying her a teaching license due to her disability. There are many others.
If we learned anything in the past year, it’s that we are one. Even though it sometimes doesn’t feel like it, inclusion is a fundamental belief in Judaism. But I’ll let my Instagram friend, Daniel, share more about that!
The following is written by Daniel Milich.
Shalom everyone! I am Daniel Milich, a 20-year-old proud Jewish young adult with cerebral palsy and an advocate for disability rights and inclusion. I use both a walker and a wheelchair to get around. I have always viewed my physical disability as a blessing from G-d.
My disability and my Jewish identity are both equally essential parts of me which have undoubtedly shaped me into the person that I am today. I can certainly say that I would not be who I am without these traits. I always proudly display my Jewish identity for the world to see, no matter where I go. I always wear my Judaica around my neck, which includes my Magen David, hostage necklace and pin, and a map of Israel necklace created from the debris of a fallen Hamas rocket–intended to cause our death and destruction–now inscribed with Am Yisrael Chai-“the people of Israel live!” To me, this is the epitome of Jewish/Israeli resilience and strength. I always say: I can't hide my disability, so why should I hide my Jewish identity?
I find many parallels between the disability and the Jewish communities in the beautiful values we share such as solidarity, brotherhood, and community, where we can instantly relate and connect due to our shared lived experiences as if we are one family. I feel this more strongly as a Jew but it is still always present when I encounter fellow disabled people.
There is a Jewish teaching which I strongly believe in and deeply connect to which says B’Tzelem Eloheim: that we are all beautifully created in the image of G-d. I greatly admire and appreciate this beautiful interpretation, by the Rebbe z”l who said that disabled people were “created to be special and exceptional by the Creator… endowed with special powers above and beyond the capacity of the ordinary individual.”
Truthfully, I find it hard to believe in this when it comes to my other invisible disability: my mental health struggles particularly with OCD which is personally incredibly debilitating and difficult to cope with while being deeply misunderstood and mocked by society.
I am inspired to engage in disability activism and advocacy to do my part to build a more equitable and inclusive world for all people with disabilities. From an early age, I witnessed firsthand that this world wasn’t accessible and therefore wasn’t built for people like me. For my career path, I want to be a role model for other children and young adults like me.
I’ve found that inclusion is an active choice and you do not have to be an expert in disability to create such an environment. You must have the willingness to learn and listen to disabled people and our needs and then adapt accordingly, it doesn’t have to be perfect. At the end of the day, we all seek belonging and acceptance.
I have learned to wholeheartedly embrace my physical disability with immense pride, greatly appreciative of everything it has given me, especially the meaningful lessons and experiences I have gained from it. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that in the end, everything will all work out and be okay. I must apply this to every situation in my life, including my mental health. Faith must be something we hold onto no matter what, even in the darkest of times and the most difficult of struggles.
There was a great miracle surrounding faith, hope, and disability with the six Israeli hostages who were released last Shabbat.
Among them were two disabled Israeli civilians who both suffer from severe mental illness and trauma, which led them to accidentally cross into Gaza in September 2014 and April 2015 respectively, long before October 7th. Their names are Avera Mengistu, 38, an Ethiopian-Israeli from Ashkelon and Hisham al-Sayed, 37, an Arab-Israeli Bedouin from Hura. After prolonged captivity, Avera was finally freed after being held for 3,821 days and Hisham after 3,595 days.
They survived more than ten unbearable years enduring unimaginable torture in Hamas captivity, completely deprived of their human rights and dignity. I cannot even begin to imagine or comprehend what they experienced and how much their pre-existing mental illness deteriorated over this period which lasted more than half of my life, which is incomprehensible to fathom, especially when you consider the full extent of how much time they lost in captivity and can never get back! Where were you in life ten years ago compared to today? I see myself in them, as my brothers, being a fellow disabled Jew who also struggles with my mental health.
Despite the promise to never leave any Israeli behind, the Israeli government and society at large intentionally ignored, neglected, forgot, and ultimately abandoned Avera and Hisham, two men who are their fellow citizens, as well as the ongoing efforts by their families, friends, and fellow activists to free them during this past decade. How can this be? This is absolutely shameful and the ultimate betrayal!
I was so incredibly overjoyed and emotional seeing both men finally return home alive (but clearly visibly traumatized with mental and physical scars) to the loving embrace of their families who tirelessly fought for their release and waited for an eternity to reunite with them! I was deeply touched watching the heartwarming images of their initial reunions, hugging one another for the first time after spending ten years apart. I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes. I hope they experienced the greatest joy in the world on this day and continue to do so every day for the rest of their lives as they begin their lifelong recovery journey. May all of our brothers and sisters in captivity come home as soon as possible G-d willing!
Shabbat Shalom!
Daniel Milich is passionate about Jewish history, philosophy, Israel, and disability activism. He previously had an article published in the New Jersey Jewish News in March 2023 written as a tribute to Judy Heumann z”l, a pioneer of the disability rights movement, intertwined with his own personal perspective.
He recently volunteered in Israel this past summer during the ongoing Iron Swords War via a joint program with Masa Israel and the University of Haifa, where he was able to personally express solidarity and support with the Israeli people during such a difficult time, which was a very meaningful experience for him.
He also worked at Capital Camps, a Jewish sleep away camp, where he was a camper, serving as a cabin counselor and disability inclusion specialist during the summer of 2023, which was a very fulfilling experience, especially being able to help foster the same inclusive, joyful environment that he once enjoyed. You can email him danielmilich504@gmail.com or connect with him on instagram @danielmilich.
🔗 Further Reading
Reserve soldier with cerebral palsy summits Mt. Kilimanjaro - Times of Israel
Walking with crutches through the ice and snow, Maayan Gabai ascends Africa’s tallest mountain with a group of 30 Israelis, raising NIS 1 million for Shalva, a non-profit for people with disabilities
 | A guest post by
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I always enjoy your Shabbat Drops
You highlight aspects of Judaism that not always upper most In people’s minds yet most worthy of being so. You keep us on our toes and a virtuous path. Shabbat Shalom 💕🇮🇱
As always, a weekly issue that speaks to your ability to find diverse and meaningful content.