What is Disability Torah?

Disability Torah is a way of studying and exploring texts through the lens of disability and the disabled experience. It can be a process of looking at disability that explicitly exists in the text, using the text as a jumping off point to explore lived experiences outside the text, or taking contemporary ideas of disability and brining them in conversation with the text (and much more beyond!). 

What do you mean by disability/disabled?

Disability is a hard thing to define, and can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. We try to hold a broad view of what disability can mean, and invite those engaging in our work to define it for themselves. We don’t look to formal diagnosis, classification, or determination as essential markers of disability. Self-identification is more than welcome. 

Where else can I find disability Torah?

While this project came out of a desire for more disability Torah, we have been so blessed from the disability Torah that already exists in the world. Works that inspire us include: Mati’s work in Neuroqueer Torah at www.theautisticrabbi.com; Svara’s Disability Justice Torah Circle at https://svara.org/disability-justice-torah-circle/; Rabbi Lauren Tuchman’s work with inclusive Torah at https://rabbituchman.com/; and Rabbi Julia Watts Belser’s work with disability Torah at https://www.juliawattsbelser.com/ While not a complete list, these are just a few of the incredible people and organizations that we draw wisdom from! 

How can I support your work?

We are always looking for writers and would love to hear from you if you’re interested in sharing your Torah. We want to experience your Torah! The writer interest form can be found here.

You can share our work and follow us on Instagram @disabilitytorah.

Monthly donations can be made through Patreon. One-time donations can be made through Venmo @disabilitytorah

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please reach out in an email.