Tag: inclusion

As we prepare for our family’s upcoming seder, I am thinking about not only the relatives and friends who will grace our table, but also those four allegorical children who are perennial guests: the chacham (wise) one, the rasha (wicked) one, the tam (simple) one, and the one who does know how to ask. It’s the rasha who I am most intrigued by this year. But I’d recast the moniker “wicked” child as the “skeptic” or “critic” or even “rebel.” As part of the Passover seder, we are instructed to entertain the questions of a child who doesn’t feel they are part of what’s taking place, and who may even choose to stand apart from it. “What does this service mean to you?” the critical child asks, and we answer the best we can. This always seemed like a sour note in the Passover program, but lately I’ve come to see the beauty in the exchange. How striking that one of our most sacred traditions insists we acknowledge skepticism.

Making Space for the Question

What if our role when it comes to the so-called rasha isn’t to scold them but to acknowledge and honor their questions? What if we came to see our cherished rituals—and indeed our people—as incomplete without those who criticize and doubt? We are not whole without those who push boundaries and challenge our assumptions and ingrained ways. How remarkable that our tradition does not cast aside this child, but rather provides them an invitation to our table year after year … and how remarkable that this child accepts the invitation and joins.

Federation’s flagship Jewish Community Leaders Program (JCLP) includes a visit to a megachurch in Maryland to learn about how they build communities of belonging. Our group was inspired to learn they didn’t define themselves by rigid red lines, while still holding a clear sense of their core values. Instead, they defined themselves by an ongoing relationship with a spiritual center. They considered anyone oriented toward a common set of principles as relevant and part of their flock. It’s got me wondering: in this post-October 7 landscape, how do we help shape our future by evolving our community’s relationship with boundaries? These are not easy questions, particularly in a moment when the need for clarity and certainty feels so real.

At Federation, we will continue engaging this question and find new ways to create space for the challenging voice, the uncomfortable question, the perspective that stretches our assumptions. After all, many of the shifts that now feel foundational—expanded roles for women, inclusion of LGBTQ Jews, the recognition of multiracial Jewish identity—were once at the edges of communal acceptance. They moved inward because passionate people pushed to widen the frame.

Our Community Leadership Council (CLC) has been using this year to listen to the broad voices of our community—nearly 200 people from 26 diverse groups—including those engaged in our traditional institutions, as well as people who have not affiliated, who have felt marginalized, or who have created their own communities to meet their unique needs. It’s critical to gather insights from all to help understand and shape our community priorities.

At the Same Table

In describing the four children at the seder, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks noted, “there is a message of hope in this family portrait. Though they disagree, they sit around the same table, telling the same story. Though they differ, they stay together. They are part of a single family… The Jewish people is an extended family. We argue, we differ, there are times when we are deeply divided. Yet we are part of the same story. We share the same memories. At difficult times we can count on one another. We feel one another’s pain. Out of this multiplicity of voices comes something none of us could achieve alone.”

Bringing the entirety of our community together across differences is a bold move. It’s clear that has been our work all along. The goal has never been to embrace uniform views. On the contrary, the thing we’re meant to embrace is each other, in all our messy, diverse, and divine glory.

With wishes for a happy and meaningful Passover,

Elisa

Credit: Chicago Haggadah, 1879, a historic American Jewish Passover Haggadah published in Chicago. It is a notable example of early American Jewish print culture, reflecting the growing Jewish community in Chicago in the post-Civil War era. Who do you see as the rasha?

Inclusion is a journey shaped by curiosity, reflection, and a commitment to creating spaces where everyone belongs. On September 12, 2025, the Federation’s Disability Inclusion Advisory Group visited the Capital Jewish Museum as part of our ongoing work to strengthen access and belonging across Jewish institutions in Greater Washington. We left inspired by the museum’s openness, intentionality, and genuine desire to learn and grow.

The Capital Jewish Museum explores the Jewish experience in Washington from 1790 through today, tracing stories of community, civic engagement, and cultural life across generations. As a museum dedicated to preserving and interpreting Jewish history in the nation’s capital, its commitment to accessibility ensures that these stories are available to all who wish to engage with them.

The advisory group includes professional and lay leaders with expertise in disability advocacy, education, and policy, alongside individuals with lived experience as people with disabilities or as family members of individuals with disabilities. This diversity of perspective strengthens our work and informed a meaningful conversation with the museum’s leadership.

A Shared Commitment to Inclusion

From the start, it was clear that inclusion is a priority for the museum. The invitation to engage in a thoughtful, respectful dialogue was a powerful signal. It showed that the museum is not only thinking about accessibility but is also eager to listen, ask questions, and plan for the future in partnership with the community.

We were encouraged by the many ways the museum is already working to make its space more welcoming. From physical access features to warm and responsive staff, the museum has already built a strong foundation for accessibility. What stood out most, though, was the museum’s willingness to explore what more could be done, not out of obligation, but out of a sincere commitment to inclusion as a core value.

Practical Steps Toward Greater Accessibility

Our group shared observations and ideas not as critiques, but as contributions to a shared vision. For example, we discussed how staff training can be a powerful tool in fostering inclusion. When staff are equipped to ask thoughtful questions and offer support—whether helping someone navigate the space, understand an exhibit, or find a place to rest—the visitor experience shifts from good to exceptional.

We also talked about communication and how small adjustments can make a big impact. Adding a clearly labeled accessibility section to the museum’s website, for instance, would make it easier for visitors to plan ahead and request accommodations. We are grateful that the museum has already taken this recommendation to heart by launching an accessibility page and is committed to continuing to build it out over time. Clear, consistent signage throughout the building can also help visitors navigate the space with confidence.

For Deaf and hard of hearing visitors, the museum is already thinking creatively about how to improve access. We explored ideas like increasing caption visibility on videos, offering digital check-in options, and even partnering with services that provide on-demand ASL interpretation. These are exciting possibilities that reflect the museum’s forward-thinking approach.

Mobility access was another area where thoughtful enhancements could build on existing strengths. From seating options to restroom access, the museum is clearly considering the needs of a wide range of visitors. We appreciated the attention to detail and shared ideas for how to continue building on that strong foundation.

For visitors who are blind or have low vision, the museum’s highly visual nature presents both a challenge and an opportunity. We discussed the potential for docent-led tours with verbal descriptions, audio guides, and tactile elements that could expand access and bring exhibits to life in new ways.

Inclusion Is Ongoing Work

Disability inclusion is not something that happens overnight. It’s a process of learning, evolving, and building relationships. The Capital Jewish Museum is walking that path with intention and heart, and Federation is proud to partner in strengthening inclusion across our community.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and supporting the museum as it explores new ways to ensure that every visitor feels seen, heard, and valued. And we invite other organizations who are on their own inclusion journeys to connect with the Federation’s Disability Inclusion Advisory Group. We welcome opportunities to collaborate and strengthen inclusion across our community.

Discover how Federation is strengthening access and belonging across Jewish life in Greater Washington.