The Purpose Behind JDAIM

The Purpose Behind JDAIM

The Purpose Behind JDAIM 

By Amy R Weinstein (Shapiro)  

 

blue and gold text that reads JDAIM February 15th Anniversary Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, & Inclusion Month with a star of David shaped from blue and gold ribbonCantor Seth Warner recently delivered a sermon explaining that “Jews are taught to ask questions.” In that spirit, some of you might be asking what is JDAIM? And why does JDAIM play such an important role within Judaism? As a member of the Congregation Shaare Emeth community who feels passionately about this topic, it’s my honor have been asked to help answer these questions.  

Jewish Disability Awareness/Acceptance Inclusion Month (JDAIM) takes place every February to celebrate inclusion for individuals who have disabilities and mental health conditions. JDAIM was founded by Shelly Christensen in 2009 in Minneapolis. “Shelly and her colleagues felt that 20% of the Jewish population with disabilities did not feel included within their community!” (Jewfolk, 2021) JDAIM includes programs and events nationwide where professionals, families, friends, and colleagues come together to educate, advocate, raise awareness, and provide opportunities for inclusion. JDAIM takes place in February because there are no Jewish holidays! The mission to provide opportunities for inclusion does not stop once February is over – JDAIM is intended to be a call to action where people honor the gifts and strengths that all people possess and feel seen and heard. 

Congregation Shaare Emeth’s JDAIM Shabbat on Friday, February 16 will feature Charlie Kramer, a disability life coach, speaker, and musician. Charlie helps people with special needs ‘learn to not only accept their disability, but provide them with the tools to love being disabled, and fully integrate it as a strength in their life.’ (Kramer) In addition to sharing his musical talents during the service, Charlie will be the evening’s speaker, delivering the JDAIM Shabbat sermon. Charlie gives people a perspective they might not have thought about, identifying the positive, life-changing opportunities that can happen regardless of a diagnosis of a disability, and promotes accepting and living with a disability, and thriving. Audiences of Charlie’s dynamic presentations leave with opened minds and a clearer understanding and awareness of ableism. 

As Jewish people, we have an obligation to open spaces throughout our community so that everybody feels included. All people want is to feel accepted, seen, and heard. It is crucial to break the barriers of fears that people have behind the word ‘disability’ so that everybody feels safe. People with disabilities are everywhere and it is important to break the stigma of disability so that those who are young and/or elderly do not feel fearful to stand out to embrace who they are because “Fears are when you are alone…” (Warner, 2023). When you choose to be involved within your Jewish community, you are not alone. There is nothing to fear when you want to find somewhere to feel accepted, inspired, and loved.  

Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” We can all start improving the world now by recognizing the abilities of those who have disabilities. It’s important to provide opportunities that involve Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion to support ALL of our community and embrace and celebrate the fact that everybody is different.  

More information about Congregation Shaare Emeth’s JDAIM Shabbat can be found here >

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ABOUT

Leanne & Harvey Schneider

2026 Harris Frank Community Service Award Honorees

Harvey and Leanne Schneider have devoted their lives to strengthening both the Jewish and broader St. Louis communities through leadership, service, education, and a deep commitment to bringing people together.

A St. Louis native, Harvey Schneider attended local public schools before earning both his undergraduate business degree and law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Following graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he served as a trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. After five years of federal service, he returned to St. Louis and became a partner in private law practice. Over a legal career spanning more than five decades, Harvey represented family-owned businesses and private individuals in a wide range of business matters.

Harvey’s commitment to civic and Jewish communal life has been equally extensive. He has served as President of Congregation Shaare Emeth, the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis, the Central Agency for Jewish Education, the Little Symphony Concerts Association, and the Forever Young Club at the Missouri Athletic Club. In addition, he dedicated 26 years to public service on the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Town and Country, including three years as chairman.

After graduating from Washington University, Leanne Schneider spent a year studying in France. Upon her return to St. Louis, she became deeply involved in international student exchange programs, first with the Experiment in International Living and later with AFS, fostering cross-cultural understanding and lifelong connections among people of different backgrounds. This commitment to building bridges naturally extended to her involvement with the Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis.

Leanne also taught French and Spanish at Brittany Junior High School before she and Harvey started their family. Throughout the years, she has shared her passion for education and community service by tutoring New Americans through the English Language School, serving on Congregation Shaare Emeth’s first Caring Committee, and volunteering as a reader with Ready Readers. Today, she continues to nurture her love of learning and literature through a book club that includes many members of Congregation Shaare Emeth.

Together, Harvey and Leanne have exemplified a lifetime of generosity, service, and leadership. Their dedication to education, interfaith understanding, civic engagement, and Jewish communal life has enriched countless lives throughout St. Louis. They are the proud parents of three children and grandparents of four, and their enduring legacy continues to inspire future generations.