A key part of Barkai's philosophy is that a true community is one that is accepting of all its members. To that end the third cohort rabbis recently completed a course on integrating people with special needs and disabilities into the community. The course included sessions on what governmental services are available to people with disabilities so that the rabbi can serve as a resource of knowledge in this are for his community, as well as a session on stigmas and how to alleviate them. Perhaps the most moving part of the course was a question and answer session with a panel of people with disabilities. The rabbis were able to hear first hand about the experiences, frustrations and wishes of people with disabilities. This course was developed by the JDC (Joint Distribution Committee) Israel Unlimited Department. 

Vered Raz the head of Friending for JDC Israel Unlimited said this about the course: "We merited being able to hold this course with Barkai. We see Barkai as true partners, social  entrepreneurs and pioneers in the effort to gain the complete integration of people with disabilities in Israeli society. The Barkai rabbis are like the torch leading the camp and we hope that other rabbis from different groups and movements will travel together with us down the path that they have traveled."

Rabbi Fine's interview about the course on ITV