For decades, Jay Ruderman has been one of America’s leading Jewish voices for social justice, and as president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, he has become a leader in inclusion and disability rights. Now, he’s just released “Find Your Fight: Make Your Voice Heard for the Causes that Matter Most,” a new book that documents his life as an advocate, and serves as a draft for those who seek to become activists.

Ruderman grew up in Lynnfield, went to Brandeis University, and got involved in politics and activism at an early age. He helped run Neil Harrington’s successful mayoral campaign in Salem, earned a law degree at Boston University, and then served as a state assistant district attorney. He enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces, becoming the liaison between the IDF and Diaspora Jewry, and then was named leadership director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee – the largest pro-Israel PAC in America – while in Israel. He met and married his Israeli wife, Shira, and then returned to Boston, where he took over his family foundation focused on advocating for inclusion and disability rights.

The foundation’s accomplishments are numerous, and much of its focus in recent years has been on changing the culture of Hollywood’s films and their narrative about the disabled. Working with actors and directors, Ruderman explained that 1 in 5 Americans has a disability, yet less than 5 percent of actors on screen are disabled.

His persistence paid off. He established “The Ruderman Pledge,” aimed at increasing auditions for actors with disabilities. To date, it has been signed by studios CBS Entertainment, Paramount Pictures and NBCUniversal; Oscar winners George Clooney and Joaquin Phoenix; Oscar nominees Ed Norton, Bryan Cranston, Mark Ruffalo and Glenn Close; and Oscar-winning director Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”).

“Being an activist can change the world,” Ruderman said during an interview last week from his second home in Israel. He believes that real change can come from people who do not hold public office, but from people who are passionate about their fight for justice. “The real historical figures that we think about changing the world are generally not politicians. They’re activists. They are people like Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi.”

While not everyone can rise to the level of King or Gandhi, budding activists need to start somewhere, and Ruderman advises to begin with one’s heart. “You have to find your fight – and in activism, the personal is the professional,” he writes in his new book. “Personal experience roots this work in a set of values, and it’s the strength of those values that keeps you on task, that emboldens you to speak out about an issue when you are afraid to do so, and that comforts you when others criticize your efforts.”

Other parts of Ruderman’s outline for activism include:

• Persistence and preparation

Persistence is presented as fundamental to activism – change rarely happens quickly, and setbacks are inevitable. Ruderman shares how his own journey started in his youth with political volunteering and gradually evolved into leadership at the Ruderman Family Foundation. He advises activists to “go narrow and deep” by focusing on specific issues and becoming experts on them. His foundation has published numerous research papers on disability representation in entertainment and mental health challenges in various communities, using this knowledge to drive change.

• Know your facts

“The more you know about your issue, the more persuasive you’ll be,” he writes. “Spend the time to learn everything you can about the cause – its history and social, cultural, economic and political impacts. Make a point of finding out who else is also working on your issue and consider whether you should become allies. Knowledge is unquestionably power when it comes to activism.”

• Foster your community

“You need to work with others who can complement your skills and interests, and you need allies who bring their own platforms and supporters to the cause,” he writes. “By building a community of people who care about the same issues, you’ll amplify and strengthen all your efforts to make positive change.”

• Court controversy

“Don’t be afraid to criticize or confront power. Both are great ways to bring attention to your issue,” he writes. “When you create conflict in a public forum, you have an exceptional chance to capture people’s interests and even change minds. And when you spark controversy with a media celebrity, you can bring your message to an audience of millions.”

• Leverage power

“Criticism and controversy are effective, but after you’ve gotten people’s attention, it’s smart to leverage that notoriety to win allies on the inside – in government, organizations, and companies – who can help you achieve wins. As your partners in change, they can increase social pressure and wield their power on the inside to advance your issue.”

• Take care of yourself

“Make sure you pay attention to your well-being. Take breaks, switch gears, and find people you can talk to about any problems and struggles you’re having. Taking care of yourself isn’t a selfish distraction from activism. It’s necessary if you’re in it for the long haul and committed to keep fighting for the causes you believe in.”

• Know your ‘no’

“Saying no can be a healthy, even necessary choice when it comes to preserving your mental and physical health. You should also say no to partnering with people you don’t fully trust. Always listen to your gut and walk away from anything that threatens your health, your credibility, or your cause.”

• Take the win … then keep fighting

“All your successes, both big and small, are worth celebrating. So be sure to take the time to mark those winning moments with your team. Since the work life of an activist is up and down, it’s important to celebrate the ups.”

Ruderman believes that our culture is deeply influenced by the media and entertainment industry and encourages activists to do extensive research or white papers – like his foundation has done – and make them public using the media, while also building relationships with different media outlets. This includes social media, which plays a large role in activism and advocacy. While many platforms allow users to spread disinformation, Ruderman believes truth will win over lies and activists should take the high road.

When asked about the sweeping changes regarding civil liberties and freedom of speech in America and its impact on activism since the new presidential administration took office, Ruderman believes it comes down to the Constitution and the courts. “Ultimately, if the American system is going to survive as a governing system, I think it’s reliant on how we interpret the Constitution and individual rights,” he said.

These days, Ruderman is very involved in producing films and documentaries that contain powerful messages. One of his latest endeavors is “Kugel” – a prequel to the popular Netflix series “Shtisel” – which is now streaming on the Izzy channel. Ruderman serves as a producer for the series.

It was almost Shabbat in Israel, and Ruderman had to sign off. But he had a busy week ahead, with plans to travel to Africa to meet with leaders and share Israel’s latest medical technology with developing nations.

“There’s so many different projects we’re involved in all over the world,” he said. “You know, we’re just trying to help make the world a better place.”

“Find Your Fight: Make Your Voice Heard for the Causes that Matter” is available on amazon.com.