In our house, we use, at least, one Hanukkiah for each person present for the candle lighting. All are welcome to be part of the ceremony - they don't need to be a family member or even Jewish. Hanukkah is a festival of freedom, resilience, and light, something anyone should be able to relate to. And, as Jews, it is our privilege and responsibility to share that message with the broader communities in which we live. 

Lately, this message of welcome seems to be lost in words of hate and fear. Certainly, we all can feel threatened by acts of terror that strike at the very heart of our culture by targeting our most routine activities. But, rather than react by building walls of exclusion, we need to focus on bridges of inclusion. I feel so fortunate to live in a country that welcomed my grandparents when they were fleeing persecution and gave them the opportunity to live full lives and grow their families, as Americans and Jews.
On Wednesday, I was once again fortunate to attend the White House Hanukkah Celebration, hosted by the President and Mrs. Obama. This is not a political event, present are Jews from all across the political and religious spectrum. It is a time to be welcomed into our nation's house, into a United States that we can call home. From the moment we entered to the sounds of the Maccabeats performing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in English and Hebrew, we were home. This year I took my son as a representative of our family's next generation, so he, too, can appreciate our country and all it represents as a home to many faiths, nationalities, and cultures. It was a privilege for us to share the spirit of Hanukkah with the President, President Rivlin of Israel, and Jews from across our country. This is the meaning of the light of Hanukkah.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark civil rights legislation, and the 40th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, we are experiencing a rapidly changing landscape shifting to the alignment of policies, best practices, and funding that promote accountability and outcomes consistent with the goals of the ADA. During this webinar, Allan Bergman, a nationally recognized thought leader and expert in disability policy and practice with over 40 years of experience, will highlight the following substantive policy changes complemented by national and state data on best practice, and discuss the impact on the provision of services and supports: