Posts
Karla Worrell
Temple Beth-El Bulletin February 2014
When I asked if the SATO Committee had anything planned for Jewish Disability Awareness month in February, I didn't imagine the answer would include me writing a bulletin article. However, after ten years of participating in services, classes and events at Temple Beth-El with disabilities, I'm glad to share a few thoughts from that perspective.
At first glance, you'd see my canes and probably think that mobility issues from my Cerebral Palsy were my most significant challenge at Temple Beth-El. Even though accessibility is a consideration, it's been the disability that's not visible, and most recent, significant loss of sight from glaucoma, that's presented the greatest challenge to my participation in activities that I enjoy at Temple Beth-El.
The first time I leyned Torah was as part of Rabbi Creditor's Adult Bnei Mitzvah class of 2007, and I was hooked, increasing my skill and participation steadily. Then, just two years later, sudden and severe glaucoma left me with much less vision. I had to find new ways of doing many things in my daily life and in my davening and leyning as well. I was able to memorize many prayers, which made davening easier and more spiritual rather than a struggle. However, this wouldn't work with leyning, since the Torah scroll must be read. I wondered if I'd ever again be able to participate in something that was both very meaningful and enjoyable. I explored many visual aids, but they just got in the way. I realized that I could do readings from the bottom of the scroll's columns, but not the top. Then, Rabbi Creditor asked me to leyn the third aliya of Yom Kippur Minchah, which spanned the bottom and top of two columns. Though the scroll used is shorter than our regular Shabbat scroll, it was still a challenge! At one point, while practicing with Rabbi Creditor, he asked, "What do you usually do when you're having trouble reading?" From that question, the adaptations that have made me comfortable returning to leyning began.
On February 15th, I'll leyn the third aliya of Parashat Ki Tissa in recognition of Jewish Disability Awareness month. I no longer use the yad, but lean in close to the scroll. I also learn my aliya with more digital aids, including photos of the scroll itself, which allow me much more practice seeing the actual reading than I would be able to schedule with either Hazzan Marian or Rabbi Creditor.
It's taken many people's resources, ideas and support to allow me to return to doing what I love. When it comes to making a place for those challenged by disabilities, whether lifelong or relatively new, building accessibility is important, but it's only the first step. It's even more important that we be a disability-friendly community. Every person is different and deals with their disability differently. The best way to include someone, is to get to know them for who they are, and not just their disability. My passion for Judaism, along with many other interests, aren't a product of my disabilities, they're just who I am. It's not unusual for people with disabilities to keep their concerns and frustrations private. The best way to know what ways you, or others, can help is to genuinely get to know them. As you build relationships, you'll learn more about their challenges and needs as well. I hope, beginning with this Jewish Disability Awareness month and continuing into the future, all of us will work together to make Temple Beth-El not only accessible, but disability-friendly as well!
