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Opening the Gates to B’nei Mitzvah for All Children

February 27, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Binny wrapping tefillin with a teacher

Since 2003, Gateways: Access to Jewish Education has collaborated with dozens of synagogues from across the denominational spectrum to ensure that every child is able to have a meaningful and joyful Bar/Bat/B-Mitzvah. Join us on February 27th in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) to learn how to confidently tailor B’nei Mitzvah experiences to each child’s strengths and needs. Designed specifically for clergy, this webinar will teach you how to create child-centered goals, adapt the service, collaborate with families, have productive rehearsals, and support students’ needs.

We are able to offer this webinar FREE of charge thanks to the generous sponsorship of the American Conference of Cantors, the Rabbinical Assembly, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.

About Our Presenters

Tali Cohen Carrus, Gateways’ Senior Director of Programs, is passionate about inclusive Jewish Education and has worked with youth with and without disabilities in a variety of contexts including schools, synagogues, and summer camps. She has worked extensively as a disability inclusion consultant, partnering with Jewish organizations to improve their capacity to support and meaningfully include all members of the community. Tali holds an M.S.Ed in General and Special Education from Bank Street Graduate School and is a certified DIR/Floortime play therapist. In addition, she received a certificate in Advanced Jewish Studies/Day School Education from the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators and is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholarship.

Rebecca Redner is an educational specialist at Gateways, where she aims to make Judaism accessible, joyful, and meaningful for students of all abilities. Rebecca has worked with diverse learners as the lead teacher and coordinator of the Gateways B’nei-Mitzvah program for over a decade, and is the author of the Gateways Haggadah (2015) and the Gateways Shabbat Family Companion (2016). She graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s Degree in special education and holds a Master’s of Jewish Education with a certificate in special education from Hebrew College.

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