We are thrilled to announce that Kerem Shalom’s Rabbi Darby Leigh has co-authored a chapter in “A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B’nai Mitzvah for Children with Disabilities,” written alongside his sister. This important new resource will be released on Feb. 3, 2026, in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.
About the book
Rabbi Darby’s chapter focuses on working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to prepare for b’nai mitzvah. The book as a whole provides comprehensive guidance for creating meaningful b’nai mitzvah experiences for differently abled students, offering best practices and practical approaches for inclusive celebration. Rabbi Darby developed this chapter during his recent sabbatical, drawing on his expertise to help synagogues better serve all members of their communities.
Recognition and impact
Editor Aviva Gutnick shared her enthusiasm for the project, writing: “This is a book to be immensely proud of, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to shepherd it through to the end….I want to tell you that every single person who has worked on this book—the designers, the copy editor, the proofreader, the outside readers—has commented to me how meaningful it is and how happy they are that it exists. Thank you for putting it out there into the world.”
The Poses Family Foundation recognizes the book’s significance and aims to gift it to every congregational rabbi in America. Their goal is to ensure that every synagogue has access to this comprehensive guide for making b’nai mitzvah accessible to every child.
How to get your copy
Pre-orders are now available through Amazon and Bookshop.org. This resource promises to be an invaluable addition to any synagogue library and a meaningful tool for creating more inclusive Jewish communities.
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