Ruderman foundation, main donor to Jewish inclusion efforts, ends its disability giving
March 5, 2021
(JTA) To many in the Jewish world, the Ruderman Family Foundation is synonymous with efforts to increase inclusion for Jews with disabilities.
Based in Boston, but active across the United States and in Israel, the foundation has doled out some $75 million over the past 18 years to support inclusion. Just this month Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month the foundation is credited with sponsoring a virtual reading of a children’s book with Chabad and collaborating with Boston’s Jewish federation to make synagogues more welcoming to people with disabiliti.
Long-time disability rights activist Judy Heumann spoke to over 150 community members from the University and partner campuses about activism, intersectionality, and representation in a Center for Jewish Life event promoting disability awareness and inclusion. Heumann recently published her memoir, “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.”
In 1970, Judith “Judy” Heumann became the first wheelchair user to teach in a New York City public school. Seven years later, she led a 28-day sit-in that resulted in the signing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act the first federal civil rights law protecting those with disabilities. Since then, Heumann, 73, has served in both the Clinton and Obama administrations and become an international leader in disability rights work.
In February 2020, Heumann published her book
As Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month comes to a close, The Forward spoke with Heumann about the pandemic’s impact on disability rights, her hopes for the Biden administration and how Jewish communities can better elevate the voices of their disabled members. The conversation below has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
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CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) David M. Schizer at the Spivack gymnasium in Ramat Gan, playing basketball as part of the Israel Unlimited partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation and Israeli government to empower Israelis with disabilities, February 2018. (JDC)
JTA To many in the Jewish world, the Ruderman Family Foundation is synonymous with efforts to increase inclusion for Jews with disabilities.
Based in Boston, but active across the United States and in Israel, the foundation has doled out some $75 million over the past 18 years to support inclusion. Just this month Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month the foundation is credited with sponsoring a virtual reading of a children’s book with Chabad and collaborating with Boston’s Jewish federation to make synagogues more welcoming to people with disabilities.