Jay Ruderman
Jay Ruderman, 2014
Born
Jay Seth Ruderman

(1966-03-16) March 16, 1966
Occupation(s)Activist and philanthropist
Spouse
​
(m. 2002)​
Parent(s)Morton Edward Ruderman, Marcia Jortner Ruderman
WebsiteOfficial website

Jay Seth Ruderman (born March 16, 1966) is an American lawyer, disability rights activist and philanthropist. He is the president of the Ruderman Family Foundation.

Biography

Jay Seth Ruderman was born in Boston to Marcia and Morton Ruderman, the eldest of three children.[1] Ruderman's father was a founder of Meditech.[2] He was raised in a traditional Jewish home, where his family kept kosher and believed in strengthening Israel through Zionism and philanthropy.[3] He visited Israel for the first time at the age of 13, as a gift for his bar-mitzvah.[4] He attended public schools in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, and received his undergraduate degree in 1988 from Brandeis University,[5] where he served as president of the student body in 1986–1987. He earned his JD from Boston University School of Law in 1993.[6]

Ruderman is married to Israeli-American Shira Menashe Ruderman, who serves as executive director of the Ruderman Foundation.[7] The Rudermans met while Shira was teaching Arabic to members of the Israeli intelligence community at Ulpan Akiva in Netanya.[8] Ruderman lives in the Greater Boston area and has four children.[9]

Ruderman began his career as Assistant District Attorney in Salem, MA, and also worked as deputy director of AIPAC. In 2005, he enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces and became the liaison between the IDF and Diaspora Jewry.[10] He then returned to AIPAC as Leadership Director in Israel before assuming a position at the Ruderman Family Foundation.[11]

In addition, Ruderman served on the board of directors of the National Organization on Disability.[12] He sits on the board of governors of the University of Haifa,[13] the Jewish Agency for Israel[14] and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee,[15] and is a member of Brandeis University Board of Trustees.[16]

Activism

Ruderman is the president of the Ruderman Family Foundation which lobbies for disability rights. According to Ruderman, the Foundation's first major project was to promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in Jewish day schools.[17] The foundation has also focused its attention on the Hollywood entertainment industry, working for the inclusion of disabled characters in shows and movies and advocating for those roles to be acted by people with disabilities.

Ruderman believes that unemployment for people with disabilities is a major civil rights issue that requires creative solutions, such as tailored job training programs and a change in attitudes among employers.[18] At the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, he called for greater accessibility and the inclusion of people with disabilities and diversity.[19] In March 2020, he sponsored an event to present Peter and Bobby Farrelly with an award for hiring actors with disabilities.[20]

Ruderman has also proposed such changes in the Israeli film industry. In December 2021, he convinced four major Israeli broadcasting corporations to improve civil rights within the entertainment industry for people with disabilities.[21]

Ruderman praised the 2021 film CODA, highlighting its groundbreaking inclusivity for people with disabilities in Hollywood. The movie featured three deaf actors in leading roles which gained the Ruderman Foundation's Seal of Authentic Representation. Ruderman commented that progress has been made in major studios adopting inclusivity guidelines, reflecting a positive shift toward greater representation for individuals with disabilities in the entertainment industry.[22]

In 2023, Ruderman has focused on combatting anti-Semitic tropes within film and television by engaging Hollywood celebrities. Ruderman believes that "entertainers have a bigger impact on our society than even elected officials". Ruderman promotes the accurate and diverse portrayal of the Jewish people, with the goal of challenging misconceptions about their uniform appearance.[23]

Views and opinions

Ruderman has sought to strengthen the relationship between American Jewry and Israeli opinion leaders.[24] While serving in the IDF and becoming the military’s liaison with world Jewry, he discovered a substantial gap between Israelis and Americans and realized "that whatever Americans think is not necessarily what Israelis think." Since then he has devoted himself to bridging that gap.[25] He has expressed disappointment over Israel's stance on egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall[26] and comments by Israel's Minister of Education about the high rate of intermarriage among American Jews.[27] Ruderman believes that the "doomsday talks" of an irreversible chasm between Israel and the American Jewish community are mistaken.[28]

Ruderman is critical of the portrayal of disability in certain films, among them Me Before You, where the paralyzed protagonist commits suicide because he feels his life is not worth living. Ruderman stated: "To the millions of people with significant disabilities currently leading fulfilling, rich lives, it posits that they are better off committing suicide."[29][30] Ruderman feels it is problematic for a non-disabled actor to play a character with a disability.[31] Ruderman explains that “part of my philosophy in philanthropy is always looking for a void. I believe in the road ‘less traveled.’” [32]

Awards and recognition

In September 2022, Ruderman and his wife were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Jerusalem Post for their long-standing work in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities and strengthening the relationship between Israel and American Jewry.[33][34]

In 2016, Ruderman was named by The Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews of the year.[35] He won this award again in 2022.[36]

In 2021, Ruderman was named one of the top 100 Most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine.[37]

References

  1. ↑ Negri, Gloria (October 31, 2011). "Morton Ruderman, 75; devoted life to helping others". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ Morton Ruderman devoted life to helping others, Boston Globe
  3. ↑ Honorable Menschion: Jay Ruderman, Sharon Shapiro, and Shira Ruderman
  4. ↑ University of Haifa
  5. ↑ "Jay Ruderman '88 – Commencement – Brandeis University". www.brandeis.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Class of 1993 – School of Law". www.bu.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Jerusalem Post 50 Most Influential Jews: Number 46 – Jay and Shira Ruderman". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  8. ↑ “Israelis living outside the country are an asset”
  9. ↑ Linde, Steve (September 29, 2016). "Jerusalem Post 50 Most Influential Jews: Number 46". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  10. ↑ Jerusalem Post:Jay Ruderman
  11. ↑ "Jay Ruderman – NCFP". February 15, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Our Board". National Organization on Disability. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Mrs. Shira and Mr. Jay Ruderman (Israel/USA), Philanthropists". bogcms.haifa.ac.il. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Members Of The Assembly Serving On BOG Committees". The Jewish Agency. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Officers & Board Members". JDC. December 26, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Leadership & Trustees | Brandeis University". www.brandeis.edu/.
  17. ↑ "How the Rudermans helped bring disability awareness to the Oscars". Jewish Insider. February 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ Ruderman, Jay (December 14, 2011). "The civil rights issue we need to talk about". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sundance Partnership Extends Accessibility for Attendees With Disabilities". The Hollywood Reporter. January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  20. ↑ Gray, Tim (March 5, 2020). "Farrelly Brothers Saluted for Inclusion and Activism". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  21. ↑ Linde, Steve (September 25, 2022). "Jay and Shira Ruderman: Jews combining philanthropy and advocacy". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Celebrating 'CODA's inclusiveness". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. April 24, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  23. ↑ Linhardt, James (October 27, 2023). "Celebrities Have a Leading Role to Play in Countering the Rising Tide of Antisemitism". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ Ahren, Raphael. "Joe Lieberman: US-Israel relations about to become 'very productive'". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  25. ↑ Honorable Menschion: Jay Ruderman, Sharon Shapiro, and Shira Ruderman
  26. ↑ "Major US Jewish philanthropists decry Western Wall backtrack, conversion bill". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Israel's education minister: Intermarriage among US Jews 'like second Holocaust'". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Love for Israel Survives a Decade of Discord". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  29. ↑ "'Me Before You' director responds to controversy over film's ending". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  30. ↑ "The director of Me Before You is #sorrynotsorry about its controversial ending". Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Why are we OK with disability drag in Hollywood?". Los Angeles Times. July 11, 2016. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Ruderman program for American Jewish Studies is bridging gaps between Israel and American Jews" (PDF). Heights Magazine. University of Haifa, Division of the Presidency and External Relations. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  33. ↑ Rosenbaum, Alan. "Jay and Shira Ruderman receive Jerusalem Post Lifetime Achievement Award". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  34. ↑ פרס מפעל חיים של הג'רוזלם פוסט 2022 הוענק לג'יי ושירה רודרמן, retrieved September 15, 2022
  35. ↑ Linde, Steve. "Jerusalem Post 50 Most Influential Jews: Number 46 – Jay and Shira Ruderman – TRENDING STORIES – Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Jay and Shira Ruderman: Jews combining philanthropy and advocacy". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  37. ↑ Bernstein, David (April 27, 2021). "The 100 Most Influential Bostonians".
  38. ↑ University of Haifa (June 2, 2015). "Jay, Shira Ruderman" (PDF). University of Haifa.
  39. ↑ Jocelyn Gould. "Jay Ruderman ('93) to Receive an Honorary Degree from Brandeis University – School of Law". www.bu.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  40. ↑ Green, Suzanne (September 19, 2019). "Jay and Shira Ruderman receive Jacob Rader Marcus Award". Jewish Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  41. ↑ Rebecca Sun (November 5, 2019). "Media Access Awards to Honor 'The Good Doctor,' 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' and Nyle DiMarco (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  42. ↑ "BOST June 22 Page 108". digital.modernluxury.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
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