Kate Peddicord, our new Inclusion Specialist, is a 4th-year student at McGill University studying psychology and anthropology. Kate was hired with funding from the Canada Summer Jobs Program, and will work with Rabbi Greenspan and the Inclusion Committee in our efforts to make Temple the most welcoming and inclusive synagogue in the city. We believe everyone should be able to participate in Temple activities and services, and we work hard at meeting the needs of those who require accommodations. If we can help you access Temple, contact Kate at inclusion@templemontreal.ca.

Kate is passionate about mental health and early education on supporting youth who have disabilities. As part of the Peer Support Centre at McGill, Kate provided a nonjudgmental and confidential space for peers to express concerns, struggles, and general life problems. She hopes to integrate this experience with that acquired while volunteering at Friendship Circle Montreal and hearing personal accounts from those living with disabilities to bring new perspectives to this role. She believes there is always room for improvement in making our spaces more inclusive and is enthusiastic to start working at Temple. With experience in creating and running workshops on a variety of subjects from reducing harm among those with substance abuse disorder to active listening, Kate has many great ideas to implement during her time with us. Outside of her academic commitments, Kate enjoys creative writing, knits hats for her friends, goes thrifting, and fosters cats. She is originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts but has developed a soft spot for Montreal over the years living in the Plateau area and is thinking of staying after graduation.

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is more than a synagogue – it’s a community!

We are a warm and welcoming congregation of members of all ages, abilities, sexual orientations, family configurations and backgrounds. We are committed to creating a place of worship where Jews by birth, Jews by choice, Jews at heart, and those who love them truly feel at home.

Here at Temple, our efforts are guided by our commitment to promote inclusion, engage the community and eliminate barriers. We have a committee made up of leadership, professionals, parents and other congregants who are dedicated to working together on our collective Inclusion journey. Thanks to the hard work of the Special Needs Working Group, we’ve received a grant from the Miriam Foundation to support our All Abilities Inclusion Project. To learn more about our Inclusion Journey click here.

All-Abilities Inclusion Project

We believe every individual should have equal access and opportunity to participate in Temple life. Need help? Contact Rabbi Greenspan

Useful links:

• Read Rabbi Greenspan’s sermon from June 19^th on Inclusion
• Find out more about the Special Needs Working Group
• News articles about Temple’s inclusion efforts
• Find out more about the URJ’s Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center
• Watch a video introducing the Disabilities Inclusion Learning Center
• The Jewish Daily Forward’s list of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis. Rabbi Grushcow was cited  in The Jewish Daily Forward’s list of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis for being inspirational and inclusive. Read the full article here