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 first-of-its-kind resource guide for inclusive b’nai mitzvah celebrations will be released on Feb. 3, 2026, in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) and is available now for pre-order.

Kerem Shalom will honor JDAIM with a Shabbat Community Dinner on Friday, February 6 at 6:30 pm. Following dinner, Rabbi Darby Leigh will share reflections from A Different Spirit and Deaf Identity: Exploring New Frontiers (Perspectives on Deafness), published in 2020, to which he also contributed a chapter.

This promises to be an engaging and illuminating conversation about access, inclusion, and the richness Deaf voices bring to Jewish life. We invite you to come for the meal, stay for the insight, and leave inspired by the power of our inclusive community.

RSVP by February 2 to attend the Community Dinner.

About A Different Spirit:
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 celebrations. Rabbi Darby developed this chapter during a sabbatical, drawing on his expertise to help synagogues better serve all members of their communities.