Opening the Gates of Prayer So That All May Worship

by Shelley Kaplan

From The United Synagogue Review, Spring 1999

[RESOURCES UPDATED FEBRUARY 2008]

Today, some 54 million Americans -- one in five individuals -- have a disability. As a result, many of these people are prevented from worshiping within their religious community. For too many, the gates of prayer are closed due to structural, communicational, and attitudinal barriers. Obstacles to worship that alienate people with disabilities must be eliminated.

Accessible congregations promote acceptance and full participation of congregants with disabilities in all aspects of religious life. Installing ramps, increasing the number of accessible parking spaces, providing sign language interpreters and enlarging print materials are only some of the steps congregations must take to involve and include members with disabilities.

What's the Mitzvah?

When Moses stood before the burning bush, God said, "Take off your shoes from your feet, for the ground on which you are standing is holy unto me." What makes a space holy or spiritual? It was not just the space itself but the way Moses approached that space, or stood before it. Therefore, "approaches" to the synagogue attain a spiritual quality when they permit all to enter and to fully participate in worship and study.

The prayer "Barkhu" asks the congregation to rise for the opening of the Ark. But what if one cannot navigate steps to access the bimah? What if a congregant cannot hear the Rabbi or Cantor? What if congregants with visual impairments cannot see the written prayers? According to Rabbi Arnold Goodman of Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia, "No one should feel left out of our community and denied empowerment due to disability... Older Synagogues require more effort and ingenuity to effectively remove barriers. However, this challenge should be viewed as an investment." Judaism speaks of empowering the individual. Opening the gates of prayer so that all may worship is an important way to accomplish this goal.

What's the Problem?

According to a 1994 Louis Harris survey commissioned by the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) on the attitudes of people with disabilities, seven out of ten consider their religious faith to be very important. Most congregations work hard to be hospitable and welcoming, but the barriers which exclude children and adults with disabilities from full participation may not be easily understood or identified. Although many congregations have removed some of these barriers, few congregations have reached the "Promised Land" of access and welcome. Progress has been made in making facilities accessible -- enhanced lighting and sound systems, sign language interpreters, alternative text formats, access to the bimah, a reading table from which the Torah is read, microphones. Nevertheless, beliefs about physical and mental disabilities have been slower to change.

There is a pervasive belief that the best human beings are the strongest. We often do not realize that people with disabilities have gifts and talents to share with congregations. Identifying and discussing the unique abilities and needs of people with disabilities is an extremely important process for a congregation. Certainly, it is easier to add ramps, pew cuts, accessible parking places and restrooms than to remove the barriers of stereotypical thinking. These can be addressed through education (changing minds) and friendship (changing hearts).

What Have Other Synagogues Done?

Congregations throughout North America have taken steps to remove barriers to worship, whether architectural (ramps, handrails, wider doorways, grab bars in the restroom, accessible parking), communicative (assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, large-print materials, braille siddurim) or attitudinal (education through disability awareness programs). The following congregations have been leaders in opening their gates of prayer.

Beth El Synagogue, Omaha, Nebraska

Rabbi Paul Drazen's vision was to build a synagogue that would express the spirit of the congregation and be viewed as a home by all of its members. He wanted a building that would be a distinguished addition to the Omaha landscape with a sanctuary in which communal worship could be fostered in a space that was warm, intimate and accessible.

"This vision", said architect Maurice Finegold, "begins with these intangibles and is mixed with an accumulated knowledge and philosophy, of building design in general and synagogue design in particular. We designed knowing that as members age, as new people come to the community, we had to be ready for them, because a synagogue that is not open, easily and without embarrassment, is not a synagogue for all."

The synagogue created a place for a sign language interpreter. A sound system to assist people with hearing impairments was installed. Pew cut-outs with book racks in front were created so that congregants in wheelchairs were afforded a variety of seating options. Not only were the steps leading to the bimah made wide for easy use, but a ramp was built as well. Throughout the building process, Rabbi Drazen kept in mind the teaching of the Torah that "we shall go forward with our young and our old," in order to ensure that everyone in Beth El would be included.

Adath Jeshurun, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Thanks to the dedication of Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom and Congregational President Joseph Yohlin, Congregation Adath Jeshurun is fully accessible. In 1998, major additions, costing in excess of $80,000, were made in order to accommodate congregants with disabilities. To help disabled members reach a small auditorium located near the rear entrance from the parking lot, a wheelchair lift was installed next to the six steps. In 1997, during an extensive renovation to the main sanctuary, a ramp to the bimah was installed. Handrails to the bimah in both the sanctuary and the Chapel were also installed. An accessible shelf was inserted in the lectern so that the Torah could be lowered and the person receiving an aliyah would not have to stretch to make contact with the Scroll. Increased accessibility in the synagogue enabled a member who uses a wheelchair to participate in his nephew's Bar Mitzvah. "It made us feel good that he was able to have an aliyah; if we did not have the ramp, my brother-in-law's inability to participate would have left a void," said Gerald Klugman, father of the Bar Mitzvah.

Beth El Congregation, Phoenix, Arizona

In February 1994, Jay Dahsefsky was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Seven very steep steps prevented him from reaching the Torah; unable to walk, Jay was carried to the bimah so that he could participate. When synagogue USYers conducted the Yom Kippur Minhah service, this same seven-step barrier prevented Jay from equal participation. Rabbi Rick Sherwin dreamed of having a fully accessible sanctuary. In 1993, as a condition of employment, he insisted that the sanctuary be transformed within two years. As a result, during the summer of 1995, the sanctuary underwent major renovation with the express purpose of raising the floor, lowering the bimah, and placing a ramp so that all members could stand before the Torah. Architect Mo Stein designed a ramp which would not call attention to those using it and which affordedeveryone dignity in approaching the Torah. On the Shabbat prior to Rosh Hashanah, the sanctuary re-opened and congregants who had never been able to come to the Torah were given that privilege. Jay Dashefsky, along with many others, were called up for an aliyah on this special Shabbat. "In every simha, we find someone who uses the ramp, and our congregation is no longer embarrassed by the exclusion of family members due to disability," said Rabbi Sherwin. "Everyone may now come to the bimah comfortably and with dignity."

Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Atlanta, Georgia

A prime example of an older synagogue committed to removing barriers, this historic congregation recently installed a wheelchair lift to its steep bimah. Located behind the bimah, individuals unable to navigate the steep steps can easily ascend in a dignified manner without drawing attention to themselves. "Having an aliyah on Yom Kippur made me feel like I still had value an a human being," said Sidney Kaplan, Past President, who uses a wheelchair for mobility following a stroke two years ago. A state-of-the-art assistive listening system enables numerous congregants to better participate in Shabbat services and family simhas. "For the first time, I was able to hear my niece chant Torah on her Bat Mitzvah", said a member with a severe hearing impairment.

Other accessibility features include a lectern for wheelchair users to read Torah, large-print siddurim, unisex accessible restroom, and increased accessible parking to accommodate people with disabilities and the elderly. Said Rabbi Arnold Goodman. "Cost cannot be used as an excuse for alienating any individual from prayer."

Congregation Ohev Shalom, Orlando, Florida

"Six months ago, two significant events occurred in my family's life. One was a family simha (the Bar Mitzvah of my oldest son) and the other was major back surgery for my father-in-law prior to the simha. These events intersected when it became apparent that my son's grandfather might not be able to climb the steps of our synagogue's bimah for his aliyah. Thus, building a ramp to the bimah became my son's Bar Mitzvah project." Utilizing a fund designed for increasing accessibility, augmented with money from the Bar Mitzvah fund, the project took off and the ramp was built, thanks to the assistance of a particular Hebrew teacher and his middle school students. "Our whole family was delighted with [such a] positive response from the congregation. We are pleased to know that a physical disability no longer precludes anyone in our synagogue from having an aliyah on our bimah", said Judy Levin, mother of the Bar Mitzvah.

What Is the United Synagogue Doing?

Many congregations throughout the United States have opened their gates of prayer, however, many more do not know where to go for assistance. The United Synagogue seeks to identify and recognize the full range of congregations -- from those newly alerted to disability issues to those which are fully accessible. These congregations are being singled out for their commitment to action. The USCJ, through its Accessibility Committee, seeks to increase the level of religious participation of children and adults with disabilities by sharing information about what others have done in this area.

Two significant resolutions have been passed:

• Mezuzah Accessibility -- drafted by USYers and adopted at 1997 United Synagogue Biennial Convention, the resolution calls upon all affiliated congregations to place the mezuzot low enough within the top third of the doorpost of the entrances to the synagogue to make them readily accessible to all and encouraging individuals to do the same in their homes.
• Accessibility -- Enacted at its 1991 USCJ Biennial Convention, this resolution calls upon the USCJ to provide guidance to its constituent congregations for the implementation of measures to make synagogues accessible to persons with disabilities, urges all congregations to take immediate steps to make all synagogues physically and programmatically open and accessible to persons with disabilities, urges all segments of the congregation to become involved in the process of welcoming persons with disabilities into its synagogues, and commits to ensuring that all future conventions and public programs of the USCJ be held within facilities that provide adequate accessibility.

The Accessibility Committee has accepted upon itself the mission of expanding the USCJ's leadership role as a resource on accessibility issues, promoting barrier-free access to constituent synagogues so that all may worship. We urge you to be one of the congregations committed to welcoming people with disabilities by the year 2000. Let us ensure that all of us may join together b'kol echad, with one unified human voice.

What You Can Do

Make a commitment to ensure your congregation is open to everyone who wants to worship. Start by:

• Acknowledging that barriers to full participation of people with disabilities may exist and make a commitment to begin the process of removing them.
• Educating rabbinical and lay leadership that people with disabilities are valued as individuals, having been created in the image of God.
• Removing barriers of architecture, communications and attitudes that exclude people with disabilities from full and active participation.
• Committing publicly to expanding efforts to welcome members and visitors with all types of disabilities. People, with and without disabilities, should be encouraged in your congregation to practice their faith and use their gifts in worship, service, study and leadership.
• Involving congregants with disabilities to serve on an Accessibility Committee. Members with disabilities are already accommodation experts. Once invited to participate, they will suggest low cost and practical solutions which others may have overlooked. People wit disabilities and their family members, as well as congregants (who may be special education teachers, rehabilitation counselors, architects, builders, fundraisers, etc.) are the types of people who will be interested in working on this effort.
• Sharing your accessibility projects with USCJ. Your efforts will be recognized on USCJ's future web site. In this manner, others can learn by example and remove barriers in a meaningful and cost-effective manner. Making a contribution to USCJ's accessibility project.

Your contributions will guarantee that USCJ can easily access important information so that all may worship. Contributions may be made payable to United Synagogue Inclusion Committee, Attention: Rabbi Paul Drazen, and mailed to 155 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

Resources

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rapaport House
155 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
Attention: Rabbi Robert Abramson
212-533-7800 ext. 2501
abramson@uscj.org

The mission of United Synagogue's Commission on Inclusion of People with Diabilities is to sensitize and educate professional and lay leaders about the profoundly important responsiblity of ensuring that the synagogue and all its programs are accessible to those who otherwise would be denied the opportunity to participate in all aspects of synagogue life, and to assist congregations in meeting the needs of members with disabilities by creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.

Regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) 1-800-949-4232, www.adata.org

Ten regional resource centers on the Americans with Disabilities Act have been funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide information and assistance about accessibility issues. Shelley Kaplan is co-chair of  United Synagogue's Commission on Inclusion of People with Disabilities and she is the director of the Southeast DBTAC in Atlanta, Georgia.

National Organization on Disability
Accessible Congregations Campaign
Lorraine Thal
Coordinator
910 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-293-5960
202-293-5968 (tty)
religion@nod.org

The National Organization on Disability's religion and disability program is an interfaith effort urgining national faith groups, denominations, local congregations, and seminaries to identify and remove barriers of architecture, communicatons, and attitudes. The program reaches out to congregations and people of faith through publications, information referral, and various program initiatives.