Marlee's Story

In June of 1971 I was born with Spina Bifida Myleomengocele. I attended school in the St. Louis Park School District in Minnesota. Me and my family are long-time members of Adath Jeshurun, a conservative synagogue in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

I graduated UMD with a Women’s Studies major and a double minor in Sociology and Philosophy in 1994. When I returned home I assumed the role of Vice President of my father’s company, Minneapolis Granite & Marble Co. The company sells and installs cemetery memorials and granite counter tops in the twin cities metro area. I did the accounts receivable, accounts payable, production cards, answered the telephone and much more. My parents started wintering in Florida in 1997.

I would run the entire operation while my parents were gone for the winter with my father checking in every day. I worked for my father full time until May of 2003. I decided I needed a new direction in my life, I was becoming too stressed out, working for my father became a chore and not a job I was proud of. I now work at Bet Shalom Reform Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota. I am the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of the synagogue. I have a variety of responsibilities within the synagogue but mostly I answer the busy telephone, keep the synagogue calendar and membership and Bar/Bat Mitzvah files up to date. I do whatever projects my boss Andrea Blumberg has me do, I help out wherever I can, whether it is with the Rabbi's office or the Religious School.

After years of struggling to find my place and voice in the Jewish community, I have finally found it. I have been told time and again I am a vital part of the synagogue staff. I am also a vocal part of Adath Jeshurun’s Inclusion Committee and am currently serving as committee chair. I am the happiest and the most peaceful I have ever been. As a Jewish female with a disability, I finally feel the joy, powerful spirit and strengthened inner-self I had while attending UMD classes.

In 1997 I moved out of my parent’s house into my own condo and started to live an independent life. This was the first sign of empowerment as an adult for me. Finding a job on my own without my parents help was another step. There were others as I was growing up. For example, getting a driver's license at the age of 16 was a powerful experience, graduating from high school and Talmud Torah in 1989 was an exciting time and very emotional for me.

I think having a Bat Mitzvah in 1984, having a sweet 16 party and being confirmed in 1987 and getting my driver’s license were the highlights of my childhood. I accomplished things many thought I wouldn’t be able to do because of my disability. I felt like my own advocate at times growing up.

While at UMD I helped form a student run group for people with disabilities called Access for All. I felt I needed to connect with others that had a variety of disabilities. That is why I have created Empowering Jews with Disabilities. I needed to fill a void. Jews with disabilities seem to be hidden throughout the Twin Cities. It isn't easy to meet people, let alone people with disabilities.

This site is a way to get information, connect, talk openly about anything and everything, and be respectful towards different opinions and ways of life. To empower ourselves as Jewish people with disabilities is one of the most rewarding and greatest self esteem builders I can think of.

There will be open forums posed and message boards created for all types of issues, questions, thoughts, comments. A chat room will be open so someone can go in and meet, talk, and make history. This website is new and ground-breaking. I am very excited to see where this evolves and I can't wait to meet new people and re-connect with people from my past.

Kiven002@yahoo.com