THIRTEEN: Reclaiming Ritual — Judaism, Disability, and Belonging (Virtual)

Join us virtually for a screening of the short film THIRTEEN, followed by a conversation and Q&A with director Allison Norlian. Inspired by a true story from Norlian’s own family, the film follows a fierce and loving mother who challenges long-held communal norms to secure her disabled daughter’s right to celebrate a Bat Mitzvah.

THIRTEEN is a tender and powerful exploration of faith, love, and belonging, asking what it really means to come of age in a tradition that does not always make room for every body or voice. As the characters on screen wrestle with questions of obligation, courage, and change, we too will be invited into that struggle. Together—with the filmmaker and the Lehrhaus community—we’ll reflect on the enduring tension between preserving tradition and embracing change for a more inclusive future.

Gateways: Access to Jewish Education is a Boston-based nonprofit that works to ensure children and teens with disabilities, diverse learning needs, and mental health challenges have meaningful access to Jewish education and community life. During the program, CEO Tamar Davis will briefly share how Gateways’ B’nei Mitzvah Program supports students, families, clergy, and educators in creating personalized, inclusive B’nei Mitzvah experiences—whether in synagogue, at home, or through alternative pathways.

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Allison Norlian is a three-time Emmy-nominated journalist, filmmaker, writer and co-founder of BirdMine, a production company dedicated to amplifying the voices and stories of people with disabilities and other underrepresented communities. Through BirdMine, Allison writes, directs, and produces short- and long-form documentaries and narrative films that aim to shift perceptions and inspire social change.

Recognized for her impact, Allison received a Catalyst for Change award from the ARC of Virginia and earned an Emmy nomination for an investigation that exposed abuse in an assisted living facility.

Allison is currently travelling to festivals with the most recent documentary she co-directed, Meandering Scars. Two decades after paralysis in a domestic violence incident, Erika Bogan uses her wheelchair to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro - to raise awareness about the mental health struggles plaguing her and the disability community.

Before filmmaking, Allison was a full-time journalist and worked in various television newsrooms across the country. She also was a digital journalist writing for outlets like ForbesWomen, HealthyWomen, and Business Insider.