Shavua Tov
As we mark Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month, we pause to affirm a truth that sits at the heart of Jewish life and at the heart of our work at the Tucson J: every person matters, and every person belongs.
At the Tucson J our service pledge is that we create community based on Jewish Values by providing the Highest quality programs and services in a safe and secure environment for ALL people of ALL ages.
Our tradition teaches Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh all of Israel is responsible for one another. This is not a passive value. It is an active call to see one another fully, to create space for every individual, and to ensure that no one is left on the margins of our community.
We see this value powerfully reflected in the revelation at Mount Sinai. Jewish tradition teaches that when the Torah was given, everyone was present every soul, across generations, abilities, and lived experiences. Revelation did not belong only to the strongest voices or the most visible among us. It belonged to all. Sinai reminds us that inclusion is not a modern idea; it is foundational to who we are as a people.
At the Tucson J, this teaching guides our commitment to disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion. It challenges us to continually ask:
Who is missing?
Who needs to be seen more clearly?
How can we design our programs, spaces, and culture so that people with disabilities are not simply accommodated, but genuinely welcomed, valued, and empowered?
This work shows up in our classrooms, our fitness and wellness programs, our arts and cultural offerings, and in how we support one another as staff and community members. Inclusion strengthens us all. When we build a community that reflects the fullness of human diversity, we live our Jewish values more deeply and more honestly.
I invite you to read our Tucson J Blog Post reflecting on this important month and the work we are committed to advancing together.
The JCC Movement is deeply committed to the value of inclusion, I invite you to read this Article from ejewishphilanthropy to learn more.
Music often expresses what words alone cannot. The Shalva Band, an extraordinary group of Israeli musicians with disabilities, embodies the power of inclusive community. Their moving performances including songs this Song from The Greatest Showman reminds us that difference is not a limitation, but a source of strength and beauty when embraced with intention.
From the Broadway stage, You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen carries a message that resonates deeply with our Jewish values: that no one is invisible, that reaching out matters, and that community can be a lifeline. Its message echoes Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh when we show up for one another, we create hope, dignity, and belonging.
Thank you for your partnership, your leadership, and your belief in the sacred worth of every human being. May this month strengthen our resolve to continue building a Tucson J where everyone is seen, supported, and celebrated today and every day.
With gratitude and shared responsibility,
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
