As summer begins to wind down, many are already looking ahead to the High Holy Days. Whether attending a synagogue in person, or joining in virtually, meaningful participation starts with access to the prayer texts. But for the millions of Americans living with vision loss or have a print disability, reading a standard prayer book can be difficult or impossible. For nearly a century, the JBI Library has worked to remove those barriers by providing free braille, large print, audio and other downloadable digital materials to people and communities all around the world.

This year, JBI continues to expand its accessible prayer books and resources with a new braille edition of Machzor Lev Shalem as well as braille and large-print aliyah cards featuring the blessings recited at the bimah before and after Torah reading. (To ensure delivery before Rosh Hashanah, all orders must be placed by August 28, 2026.)

“At JBI Library, we strive to provide accessible liturgical materials representing the many different Jewish movements and communities,” said Michelle Shapiro Abraham, Executive Director of the JBI Library. “Guided by requests from our library patrons and the needs of the community, we are especially excited to add the Conservative movement’s Machzor Lev Shalem in braille this year. Every new title we produce brings us one step closer to making Jewish worship accessible to all.”

JBI has also expanded its collection of free digital downloads, providing instant access to the most frequently used prayers and texts.

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Courtney Shapiro is the Assistant Digital Editor for Hadassah Magazine. She has written for Woman’s World, First for Women and Best Life. Follow her on Instagram for book recommendations, reviews and more.