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Home > Welcome > Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At CEC, we embrace the full spectrum of Jewish life and identity. There’s no single way to be Jewish, and we welcome people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, and interfaith families who share our values.

Inclusion is a core value. We strive to meet the needs of all who worship, learn, and gather with us, recognizing each person. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and welcome diversity within our community.

We offer accommodations such as streaming, large print prayer books, sensory spaces, visual aids, captioning, and ASL interpretation by request. Please let us know how we can help you and your loved ones participate fully. While we may not meet every need, we are committed to doing our best and appreciate your understanding. The accommodation request form can be submitted for any activity at CEC. 

In addition to our staff Inclusion Specialist, here are some of our inclusive practices and offerings:

Physical Inclusion

Mobility

Accessible parking beyond designated spaces, including for those without placards

Electronic entry doors 

Preferred seating in our sanctuary and classrooms 

A ramp to access the bima

Height accommodation on the bima with a step for those who need it

Wheelchairs available on-site

ADA-compliant bathrooms, including extra bars for caregivers and those needing assistance

Auditory

Live Captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation available upon request

Sound amplification headsets and assisted hearing options to listen on a device in real-time during all produced video streams

Microphones and closed captioning during meetings and programs

Improved audio system for better sound quality

Visual

Increased sanctuary brightness for those with vision limitations

Large-print books for services 

Magnifying lenses and book lights 

Access

Live streaming of worship for those unable to attend in person

Remote committee meetings to help families with childcare and time constraints

Multi-access and hybrid programming (lunch and learn, Torah study, etc.) for those who travel, lack transportation or are home bound

Carpools for those unable to drive or without transportation

Registration assistance for programming and membership renewals for those who need help with technology

Physical mailings for those who don't use or prefer not to receive information via email

Dietary accommodations at all programs (Dietary Restrictions Commitment)

Economic Inclusion 

Fair share dues model allowing people to contribute what they can, when they can

Tuition-free religious school or B'nai Mitzvah fee to help all join our congregation regardless of income

Scholarship help for almost all programs (excluding our Congregational Israel trip) including meals, classes, L'Taken, school books and supply fees, and many more

Camp scholarships for those who would like a deeper immersive experience

Assistance with housing and meals for congregants who can't afford living based on their current financial situation

Expanded household membership definitions to include adult children with disabilities, adult children who are caregivers, and those temporarily away at school

Family & Religious School Inclusion 

A resource room for pull-out sessions for children whose learning needs can’t be met in their classroom

A table with quiet sensory activities for children in the Sanctuary who may have difficulty sitting still

Highchairs and Booster Chairs

Joint accounts for extended and divided families to allow them all to be part of the congregation

Assistants for supporting students with distinct learning abilities in the Religious School

Flexible requirements for B'nai Mitzvah to ensure that students of all ability levels can achieve success

Virtual Mid-week Hebrew options for dual-income families and those who travel great distances

Chug programming for different learning styles and those who need expression through other modalities or movement

LGBTQ+ Inclusion 

Social groups and task forces for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and allies to ensure a safe space for free expression

An all-gender restroom in the office 

Name tags with pronouns

Ceremonies and life-cycle events for interfaith and LGBTQ+ couples

LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Gatherings

Jewish Experience and Jewish+/Interfaith Inclusion 

English transliteration of Hebrew texts and prayers

Judaism 101 courses to feel more comfortable

Increased access for Jewish-adjacent family members in lifecycle events and religious rituals

TV displays and visual tefilah to help with new songs and prayers

Training for non-Jewish staff to adjust the language and ensure inclusivity

Interfaith and Jewish+ Affinity Group Gatherings

Our Inclusion Specialist welcomes requests for additional accommodations. Please email any questions or concerns to inclusion@mycec.org. 

We are...

Individuals and couples; seniors and students.

Families with young children of all ages and empty nesters.

Single parents, blended famlies, widows, and windowers.

LGBTQ+ people and their allies, Jews of Color, Jewish, Jew-ish, and interfaith.

20s/30s adults exploring Jewish identity.

Matt Newton

Inclusive Education Coordinator

Theorizing that one could time travel within his lifetime, Matt Newton stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished…” Well, not exactly. While Matt is not Dr. Sam Becket, he feels blessed to have jumped through several rewarding life experiences, including previous careers as a U.S. Army linguist, an advertising “madman”, and a marketing coordinator for a multi-global corporation. However, it wasn't until meeting his wife Mia (an incredible high school teacher) that Matt discovered his true calling - supporting neurodivergent youth and adults as they work to navigate living in a neurotypical society.

Over the years, this passion has led Matt to help this population (and their families) find inclusion, social-emotional support, and advocacy at school, home, and work. At his previous company, where he still works part time as the program director and a coach, Matt helped design training materials and provided coaching to staff for best practices on supporting the neurodiverse community. Additionally, he works 1:1 with clients and their families on developing strategies to help manage some of the daily challenges they face

With a degree in Psychology from San Jose State and several years of experience working with children and adults, Matt is excited to join Congregation Etz Chaim in supporting inclusion for all. As a Jewish-adjacent partner in an interfaith marriage, raising a daughter firmly in the Jewish faith, Matt believes recognizing and appreciating our differences is a key to building life-long foundations of faith and growth. Having recently moved to Illinois from the California Bay Area, he, his wife Mia, and their daughter Talia are appreciative of how welcoming CEC is and look forward to continuing to grow within this loving community.

Zichronah Livrachah זִכְרוֹנָה לִבְרָכָהMay Her Memory Be for a Blessing

Rachel Wood z"l

Inclusion Specialist & B'nai Mitzvah Tutor

Rachel Wood, a proud member of Congregation Etz Chaim, since 1979. She began teaching in the Religious School shortly after becoming a member, first Judaica but then as part of the Hebrew faculty. 

Her varied posts were 3rd-grade Hebrew teacher, language lab creator for learners with differences, 6th-grade Hebrew teacher, and the B’nai Mitzvah tutor. She became an inclusion specialist here at CEC and a mentor to support Jewish institutions across the country as they provide inclusion opportunities for their students. She aided teachers and teaching assistants who have children in their classes with diagnosed learning disabilities and offered suggestions and materials for children who need to approach learning in a non-traditional manner. On top of that, she supported adults by organizing sign language interpretation as well as CART (closed captioning) system.

As a licensed speech/language pathologist with an emphasis on child development and learning styles, she put those skills to use in public schools, private practice, and early intervention programs.

Rachel devoted her life to helping others and was a strong advocate for people with disabilities. Her impact on our community truly cannot be understated.

Fri, July 18 2025 22 Tammuz 5785