Being an Inclusive Community
Shaarei Shamayim strives to be an inclusive Jewish community. We invite people of varied backgrounds to join us. We recognize the diversity of our community, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, age, national origin, assigned sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious identity, cultural identity, physical ability, mental ability, and socioeconomic status.
To that end, we are seeking to increase belonging across our synagogue community and want to give our members and guests the opportunity to share with us when we've fallen short.
Thank you for helping us to ensure that our entire community feels valued, safe and heard.
– CSS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Here are our some other ways in which we are creating inclusivity at Shaarei Shamayim:
Accessible Space
All of our services, as well as our Gesher and Kesher programs, are held in spaces that are wheelchair accessible. We do have Friday night potlucks in people's homes, which may or may not be accessible. We try to accommodate people as best as possible, while also preserving the value of hosting others in our homes.
Disability Inclusion Coordinator
If you or your child has a disability and would like to request an accommodation at services, programs, or in our school, feel free to contact Jeff Spitzer-Resnick, Shaarei Shamayim's Disability Inclusion Coordinator, at inclusivity@shamayim.org or 608-206-7164.
Fragrance-Free Environment
Shaarei Shamayim is moving toward becoming a fragrance-free environment, as one more way to act from our values of inclusion. Some people in our community have strong reactions when exposed to manufactured fragrances such as those contained in personal care and laundry products. Please come to our services fragrance-free so all can fully enjoy our holy space and time together.
Help Us Improve
If you have had an experience in our CSS community which doesn't reflect our inclusive values, feel free to share your thoughts on our newly developed DEI Concern Form. This form sends information directly and solely to Stormy-Kito Aliyah Justice, President of the Coordinating Committee and Co-Chair of the CSS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee. Stormy-Kito will reach out to you directly if requested.
Depending on your concern, you may also consider reaching out to the chair of the Rabbi Liaison Committee, whose members communicate feedback to our rabbi about her work with the congregation.