What does it take to create a truly inclusive Jewish community — one where everyone, regardless of ability, can participate fully in Jewish life? That’s the question at the heart of the Pushing the Boundaries Conference, held earlier this month at the Prosserman JCC in Toronto.

Bringing together accessibility experts and Jewish communal leaders from across North America and Israel, this biennial conference offers more than just ideas—it’s a catalyst for change. After a hiatus following its inaugural event due to COVID, this year marked the conference’s second iteration and a renewed commitment to inclusion across Jewish spaces.

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa was proud to be a sponsor of this year’s event, hosting two panel discussions and sending a strong Ottawa delegation that included representatives from Tamir and the Jewish Ottawa Inclusion Network (JOIN).

Among those in attendance was Jodi Green, Federation’s Interfaith and Advocacy Specialist.

“During the conference we learned about what we can do better, what the trends are in accessibility and inclusion that we can learn from and implement in our own communities,” she said.

Green noted many powerful moments throughout the gathering — particularly the keynote addresses from those living with disabilities and from advocates on the front lines of accessibility in Jewish life.

Featured speakers included David Lepofsky, Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance; Rabbi Ruti Regan, a feminist rabbi and disability advocate; and Aaron Kaufman, Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs with Jewish Federations of North America.

Federation also hosted Kaufman alongside Andrew Collicot and Leah Glick-Stal from Shared Services Canada, the federal agency responsible for delivering IT across departments. Their panel focused on accessibility supports for current and prospective federal employees — an especially relevant conversation for Ottawa, where the public service remains a major employer.

“This conversation was important because ... it showed how the federal government takes accessibility very seriously, and hopefully there are lessons learned that we could translate into our communities,” said Green.

Representatives from other Jewish communities across Canada also participated, and Green took part in a national roundtable of Jewish Federation leaders exploring accessibility in their own cities.

“Part of what makes accessibility work is broad community engagement,” said Green about one of the key points of the roundtable discussion. “When you have broad community engagement around the issue, that is when you can start problem solving together.”

The Ottawa team left inspired and energized to continue advancing inclusion back home.

“There’s huge value in one organization making sure their spaces are accessible to people with diverse needs,” she said. “But it’s community, when we all work together, to make Jewish spaces accessible for people with diverse needs.”

While these conversations are ongoing in Ottawa, the Federation remains committed to working in partnership with those most affected to help create a more inclusive community for all.

To learn more about Pushing the Boundaries, click here