One of the blessings—and adventures—of hanging out with young children is that they do not necessarily have the same societal “filters” as most adults. Sometimes, that means that they will say exactly what they are thinking, or what they are noticing.
Why—they will ask—is that person in a wheelchair?
Why—they might ask—is that person walking with a cane?
Why—they might ask—is that person flapping their arms like that?
Often, I think our first instinct is to shut down the conversation, or to tell our children it is not polite to point or ask. I have, however, heard time and again from disability activists—and try to model for my children—that it is okay to ask, and even better to explain that bodies are different, and so are brains. In fact, our tradition recognized that centuries ago; there is a blessing meant to be said upon seeing someone with a (visible) disability. Upon seeing a “unique individual,” we are to offer these words:
ברוך אתה יי, אלוהנו מלך העולם, משנה הבריות
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, whose created beings differ.
This blessing has become both a tagline and a recommendation for comedian Pamela Schuller. Born and raised in the Reform Movement, Pamela is relentlessly funny. Her observations on disability, mental illness, dating, family, and past misadventures have led to brutally honest confessions about what it’s like being 4 feet, 6 (and a half) inches tall, and having a whole lot of Tourette Syndrome. In honor of Jewish Disability and Awareness Month (JDAIM), I highly encourage you to watch her ELITalk, The Two Little Words that Can Change a Life.
Drawing on the wisdom of our tradition, Pamela doesn’t just “tolerate” what makes her different; she embraces it, loves it, and finds the funny in it … all while challenging her audiences to do the same.
— Rabbi Sari Laufer