Today Heather and I and our VP of Education, Sue Johnson attended a conference sponsored by JUF (Jewish United Fund) on inclusion. This fits squarely within our mission statement which includes, “Embracing Diversity”.

For me “Embracing Diversity” includes more than embracing the religious spectrum that is CKI. More that embracing interfaith families. More than embracing the families where one member was born in a foreign country (we have roughly 17 countries at last count!) More than families that are not “traditional.” One parent. Stay at home dad. Two moms. Two dads. Single. Empty nester. Below the poverty line.

Who ever you are, you are welcome at CKI. We will meet you where you are. Or at least I will.

I have worked in many different Jewish educational settings. It is always sad to me to hear stories, and hear them too frequently, of the rabbi who said that a kid will never learn to have a Bar Mitzvah. Or the ed director who says that we don’t have enough resources to accommodate your child. Or the board member who didn’t understand why accessibility is important.

The hand out from this morning was entitled, “Welcome Everyone…With Joy.” Pirke Avot 1:15. Expect you may see this quote. Possibly again and again.

While I have been talking about the difference between a culture of obligation and a culture of desire, this quote puts the obligation back on us. We need to welcome everyone. With joy.

The presenter spoke about a woman who searched for a synagogue for 14 years. That’s a long time. She had a speech impediment and can be difficult to understand. She finally found a synagogue home and goes to Torah Study every week. She says, “All I ever wanted was to belong.”

We need to with someone and not for someone. We need to see people with disabilities not as a mitzvah project, since people with disabilities are obligated to do their own mitzvot.

We need to see the joy they bring to their own praying, singing, learning. They teach us. A few years ago there was a documentary that came out called Praying with Lior. You can watch the trailer here: http://www.prayingwithlior.com/ He prays with such joy, such intensity, it is amazing.

Today we watched a video about a congregation in Minnesota. You can watch it here. http://www.betshalom.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=435&Itemid=1623

The rabbi uses the idea of b’tzelem elohim, that we are all created in the image of the Divine. And that our house should be a house for all people.

They get most of it right. And they know they still are not perfect. Neither are we. Come walk the journey with us and experience joy.

Then we will all, and all means all, be filled with joy.