Five Jewish organizations are slated to receive the fourth annual Ruderman Prize in Inclusion. Photo: Ruderman Family Foundation.

JNS.org – The Ruderman Family Foundation, an organization headquartered in Boston and Israel that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Jewish community, this week announced the five Jewish organizations from around the world who are slated to receive its fourth annual Ruderman Prize in Inclusion. The winners will equally split the $250,000 prize.

This year’s prize recipients include: the Yavne Institute of Montevideo, Uruguay, the only inclusive Jewish school in that country; the YouthAbility Program at Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, Ohio, which serves at-risk youths and youths with disabilities ages 16-26 by engaging them in volunteer service, vocational activities, wellness education, and social enrichment; Kisharon’s Adult Employment Programme in the U.K., which helps people with learning disabilities obtain work experience and paid part-time jobs through creating partnerships with local businesses; Room on the Bench of Brooklyn, N.Y., which works to engage teachers, outside service providers, and parents to create more inclusive schools; and Beit Hillel of Ra’anana, Israel, a think tank that has focused on the standing, status, and stature of people with disabilities in religious communities.

“It is our hope that these awardees not only serve as the gold standard for disability inclusion in their communities, but for the entire Jewish community across the globe,” said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation.