Mickey Rosner interviews congregant and Koleinu member Caitlin Silvi in honor of J.D.A.I.M
With an introduction by Cantor Adesnik
“With my condition I will always have flares. The storm system that came in really messed with my pain so I did not sleep last night. We call that a “burning day”. I always remind myself you can’t be a Phoenix without having burning days. You need ashes to rise from. So today will be the day I get stuff done that I wasn’t able to do because of the flare. I am constantly reminded of this cycle of rebirth. When I converted, I took the name Phoenix as my Hebrew name. So, it wasn’t a day it was a mindset that changed everything.” Caitlin Silvi, TE Congregant and Koleinu member.
February is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. It is a unified effort among Jewish organizations to band together for programing, fundraising, outreach and lobbying to raise awareness for those with invisible and visible disabilities. Its mission is to foster acceptance and
inclusion of people with different abilities, physical differences, mental health conditions, and invisible disabilities and those who love them. JDAIM was founded in 2009 to champion the rights of all Jews to be accepted and included in all aspects of Jewish life.
Some of you might know Caitlin Silvi, and in the “before times” you may have seen her singing in choir and sharing her beautiful voice. She was also rarely without Sidnee, her service dog, and she often rolled her way through our hallways in her stylish and fabulous pink wheelchair. Caitlin is a sweet soul through and through, with both a heart of gold and a soul of strength and fire.
Our own Mickey Rosner interviewed Caitlin about her life living with physical invisible disabilities. Mickey is co-chair of our Koleinu committee. She has dedicated her life to helping non-verbal children communicate and share themselves with the world. She is a champion of inclusion and acceptance for all, regardless of differences in ability or need. She is a blessing to everyone here at TE.
The holiness code found in Leviticus 19 reminds us:
לֹא־תְקַלֵּ֣ל חֵרֵ֔שׁ וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
You shall not insult the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind. You shall fear your God: I am Adonai.
Rashi explains, He is one who cannot hear your [insult] and therefore cannot feel aggrieved, but [she,they]/he has the characteristic of being a living person! The same applies to all living [persons].
Rashi reminds us that each person regardless of ability or need is a living person holding a spark of the divine within. Each of us is created B’tzelem Elohim, in the sacred image of God, and should be treated as such.
I hope you will read the incredible interview here.
B’shira (In Song),
Cantor Lauren Adesnik
