Inclusion Committee
Congregation Bonai Shalom is a diverse and inclusive congregation. We welcome and strive to accommodate all people. Our *Inclusion Committee Mission is to assure that all members of Bonai Shalom are able to participate fully in all spiritual, educational, celebratory, and life events at the synagogue. *Inclusion Committee Vision: A community where all members share a sense of dignity, empathy, and togetherness; where inclusion is the framework around which congregation activities are centered.
Bonai Shalom is proud to partner with Jewish Family Service of Colorado Jewish Disabilities Advocates to create disability awareness, promote inclusion, and ensure Jews with disabilities and their families can participate fully in a rich Jewish life. Our Inclusion Committee works closely with the JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates Advisor to improve accommodations, address policies and practices, and enhance community awareness and engagement to further inclusion.
In 2020, the committee made the decision to focus on mental health issues, especially because of the added stress and isolation in everyone’s lives demanded by Covid. In February, 2021, the committee developed a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) Covenant for Mental Health, which was approved by Bonai’s Board of Directors. The document lays out our vision for making Bonai as inclusive and welcoming as possible, and we plan to set specific goals towards making the vision a reality. Read the full document here.
New programs that we hope to accomplish this year include our annual scholar-in-residence program for Jewish Disabilities Awareness & Inclusion Month (February), offering more transportation opportunities to services and programs for members who do not drive, researching streaming services for classes, increasing the number of greeters on Shabbat morning and other programming, matching families for Shabbat dinners, creating more chavurot (small groups who meet socially outside of regular synagogue activities), providing more allergy-free Shabbat kiddushes, as well as many other planned activities. If you are interested in helping us with any of these projects, please contact inclusion@bonaishalom.org.
Learn what the Inclusion Committee has done in the past.
We can use your help! We are always looking for additional input, insight, and assistance towards our mission. Contact inclusion@bonaishalom.org
We want to hear from you! We want to know your requests, needs, or concerns. Contact inclusion@bonaishalom.org
Statement of LGBTQ Inclusion and Welcome at Bonai Shalom:
Congregation Bonai Shalom is an open, affirming, and diverse community that values difference and individuality. Among our members and guests we welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning Jews and non-Jews. Our programming has included Friday night dinner and conversation with Rafi Daugherty, who shared his transgender journey, and a scholar-in-residence weekend with Rabbi Steve Greenberg. We are proud co-sponsors of Keshet’s Queer Seder.