Modern Jewish Family by ChoiceJoining the TribeBy Bob Watts I am a convert, not a Jew by Choice. I put in the work. I didn’t flip a switch to be Jewish. I went through a change in family relationships, in practice, in community, and in adjusting to a different belief system. Because of that my …
A Story of Aging, Care, and Dignity By Steven Mandel MDHeidi Mandel PhD, DPM,LMSW “Caregiving is not just a task—it is sacred labor. It teaches patience. It forces humility. It exposes fragility. And sometimes, it unlocks unexpected spiritual growth.” D.S. came to the US with his parents in the 1930s. He worked in men’s haberdashery, …
Autism Spectrum DisorderBy Steven Mandel MD Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by a persistent deficit in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities. They must be present in early childhood, and it may result in clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, and in other important areas …
Autism: Lester’s Story My Story by Lester Shapiro Our son, now twenty-five years old, has long been diagnosed with autism in addition to intellectual disabilities. He is a beautiful and loving young adult with an amazing memory and a good sense of humor, be it in his own way. He has a keen interest in …
A Brief Introduction to Autism Spectrum DisorderBy Jacob Sheff, DO Autism is a behavioral disorder, and like all behavioral disorders, also known as psychiatric or mental health disorders, its description is in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Autism was first listed as a diagnosis on its own in …
“A Tale of Two Sisters” A story about Family, Inclusion and Diversity. “My wife and I have 2 adult daughters, Rachel, the older daughter, and Ariel. Rachel isneurotypical and high achieving. Ariel is neurodivergent – having developmental disabilities, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and is on the autismspectrum. I will first share Rachel’s life …
Inclusion: Reimagining Our Personal Responses to Communal Disruption By Rabbi Benay Lappe It was such a joy to join the FJMC International Convention earlier this month. I have beenreflecting on what an energizing, thoughtful, courageous group of leaders you are. For those of you who couldn’t be there in person, I hope you’ll take a moment to …
FJMC presents the premiere issue of Pride and Prejudice, an FJMC Journal on Acceptance Dear Friends, Pride and Prejudice is our new journal and publication by the FJMC, published quarterly. Each edition includes stories of acceptance and tolerance, reminding us of the impact of our efforts—past, present, and future. Our mission is to promote inclusion, embrace our differences, and create …
Dear Members of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, Our tradition calls upon us to not only study Torah but to live it—to be a light unto the nations and to pursue justice in all that we do. As members of FJMC, we recognize that silence in the face of injustice is not an option. Our …
The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to standing with the LGBTQIA+ community and, in particular, our trans siblings, even in the face of efforts to legally enforce a narrow and binary understanding of gender. We recognize that such policies contradict the Jewish value of seeing every human as created b’tzelem …
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