Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

I had the extraordinary experience of moderating a discussion with artist/author/activist Riva Lehrer about her book Golem Girl. The book is an open, honest memoir of Lehrer’s life as a disabled, queer Jew. This program was part of the Acclaimed Author Series*, which we at Kol Ami co-sponsored with the Jewish Experience program of the J and Jewish Federation.

The predominant feedback from those who participated was how much they learned from Lehrer’s discussion. I learned much from the evening. My overarching takeaway from reading Golem Girl and from the evening is the enormous strength Lehrer possesses, and the strength of the many disabled people she collaborated with in painting their portraits. (We hope to work with the local visual arts community as well as the disabled and queer community to bring Lehrer to Kansas City.)

For all of our inclusiveness at Congregation Kol Ami, and my stated desire to be broadly inclusive, I have not fully considered how we can better serve and welcome the disabled Jewish community. As Lehrer said, for other marginalized communities there are places to gather as a community. For those with disabilities, the challenge to be in community is far greater.  

A broader lesson for me is the needed reminder that I can always do more to reach out to the marginalized in our community and in our world. I should never rest on my laurels, or even believe that I have laurels to rest upon.

*We are waiting to receive a recording of the evening’s program from Ethan Helfand, director of Jewish Experience. As soon as it becomes available, we will get it distributed/posted, so those who could not attend the evening will be able to view it.