Bison Have Inclusive Instincts

  This summer, my family took an eight-hour tour of Yellowstone National Park. We saw flora and fauna, smelled sulfur coming from geysers, got rained on, took many photos and heard more [...]

Included, Everyone

The following post originally ran on the blog of the Huffington Post. The poster for a middle school dance at my son’s school was blocked out in uneven, handwritten letters: SCHOOL [...]

Of Every Kind – Parashat Bereshit

The Torah opens with the story of creation. In the first chapter of Genesis, we are taught that all people were created in the image of God. The text relates that God created fish “of every [...]

Prove That Every Student Counts

As preparations for a new school year are well under way, it is more important than ever to help our schools and our teachers and our communities find ways to celebrate each and every child. The [...]

Let’s Get Started!

Written by Dori Frumin Kirshner, Matan’s Executive Director Do you trust your GPS? Have you ever relied on its navigational advice only to find yourself nowhere near your intended destination? [...]

The Gifts We All Have to Give

In recognition of Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month, we have been sharing a weekly D’var Torah (word of Torah) where guest bloggers link the week’s Torah portion to the theme of inclusion. This [...]

Two Images of Moses

At this time of year, we are beginning the Book of Exodus, the story of our liberation from Egypt.  Amidst all the imagery, drama and power, I am drawn to two conflicting images of Moses. Early [...]