ISSUE NO. 124 - IYAR 5772 - MAY 2012
A Special Shabbos in Norfolk, Virginia
Hamodia - The Daily Newspaper of Torah Jewry
On February 19-20, Norfolk, Virginia, hosted a very special Shabbaton for a very special organization. Our Way, an outreach organization for the Jewish deaf, is a division of the National Jewish Council for Disabilities and an agency of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Eliezer Lederfeind is its devoted leader. Intrigued by the concept of an outreach Shabbaton for the deaf, I was determined to find out more about the organization and the people involved in it.
Rabbi Eliezer Lederfeind
Rabbi Lederfeind, a child of deaf parents and the father of two deaf daughters, has devoted his life to helping deaf people and bringing them closer to Torah. He discussed the goals and programming of the Our Way Shabbaton.
While the main goal of the Shabbaton was kiruv, it also provided camaraderie for about 25 deaf people - both frum and non-frum - from Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Rabbi Lederfeind explained that since 1969, when Our Way started, there has been a radical change in the way deaf people communicate. Although there was always a controversy between those in favor of signing and those who promoted oral communication, with the advent of the cochlear implant, the majority of deaf children is now able to communicate orally and are being mainstreamed in local yeshivos and day schools. The Shabbaton was arranged to accommodate both groups.
Friday night began with hadlakas neiros, davening and a special session by Rabbi Lederfeind for those not yet observant, entitled “How to Pray and What to Say.”
At the Shabbos seudah, deaf scholar-in-residence Rabbi David Kastor made Kiddush in Hebrew, signing in English. Mr. Chaim Gedaliah Levinson, a student at Gallaudet University, gave a wonderful dvar Torah using both speech and sign language, and Mrs. Tovah Wax spoke about her experiences growing up as a deaf child.
On Shabbos morning, krias haTorah was signed by Rabbi Kastor, and deaf participants received aliyos, one of the highlights of the weekend. In addition, it was heartwarming to observe David Collman, a 17-year-old who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, receive the honor of gelilah.
Other events included a shiur by Rabbi Kastor on Purim, a mime performance by Aron and Yossi Globman, two deaf brothers from Philadelphia, and an oneg Shabbos at the home of Rabbi Chaim Silver, Rav of Bnai Israel Congregation in Norfolk.
Following Havdalah, which was also signed, a special melaveh malkah ended the beautiful weekend.
This Shabbaton was a project of NAIM, North American Inclusion Month, sponsored by the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. During the month of February, their goal was to make all shuls accessible to people with disabilities.
Our Way also has special publications on halachah and mitzvos with illustrated sign language in order to help make Yiddishkeit accessible to the deaf.
Rabbi David Kastor
Rabbi Kastor received semichah from Yeshivas Ner Yisrael and is a graduate of Gallaudet University for deaf and hearing-impaired students. He is currently living in Baltimore with his wife and beautiful family. For the past 22 years, Rabbi Kastor has been working part-time for Our Way, doing outreach and organizing Shabbatons and other activities.
“One of the organization’s goals is to educate people to understand the needs of deaf people and to provide social events for the deaf. We try to show shuls how they can accommodate deaf people by hiring interpreters, teaching people sign language, and providing deaf people with the opportunity to receive aliyos.”
Aron Globman
Aron Globman is a deaf young man who lives with his family in Philadelphia. He spoke about his impressions of the Shabbaton.
“It was a wonderful experience, especially to go to Norfolk, as I have never been there before,” he said. “I met a lot of other deaf people. My brother Yossi and I made a mime show for the deaf people and others from the community.”
Aron explained that three of his brothers are also deaf. He often creates and performs mime shows with his twin brother, Avrumy, who could not attend the Shabbaton.
What words of encouragement does Aron have for others who are struggling?
“Even though I am deaf, that does not stop me from living a normal life. I try to encourage other deaf people to learn about being Jewish. I am lucky people in my family know sign language and are patient, and have taught me about Yiddishkeit. I was also lucky to be able to attend Jewish schools, with the help of interpreters.”
Rabbi Chaim Silver
Rabbi Chaim Silver is the Rav of Bnai Israel Congregation in Norfolk, which hosted the Shabbaton. He shared some thoughts about the Shabbaton and Our Way’s important work.
“I was very impressed with Rabbi Lederfeind and Rabbi Kastor, who are bringing Yiddishkeit to those who do not have any other resources,” Rabbi Silver said. “There was one lady there who, at the beginning of Shabbos, would not step into my shul because it had a mechitzah. But by the end of Shabbos, she was deciding when she would come back, and she wrote a beautiful e-mail describing her wonderful impressions of the Shabbos.
“I never spent a Shabbos with so many deaf people before,” Rabbi Silver continued. “I found them to be very confident … in fact, I was the one who felt out of place; watching them communicate in sign language made me feel like I was in France, listening to everyone speak French!
“Everything during the Shabbaton was presented in sign language and in speech. When I gave a dvar Torah, Rabbi Lederfeind signed along. When Rabbi Kastor presented his dvar Torah in sign language, Rabbi Lederfeind read along out loud from the notes.
“I was happy to witness the work that Rabbi Lederfeind is doing and was inspired by his mesirus nefesh for this cause. It was a pleasure to host this group in my kehillah, and I was glad that we were able to be the facilitator for such a positive experience. I look forward to hosting more Shabbatons in the future,” Rabbi Silver concluded.
Mrs. Batya Jacobs
Mrs. Jacobs described some of the other projects of Our Way. The organization, which has members across the country and chapters around the world, even as far away as Australia, provides many services to the deaf and hearing-impaired. It provides a resource center, educational support, help with placement of children in Jewish schools, assistance with job placement, and coaches to help members acclimate to their new jobs.
Our Way organizes many events that are accessible to deaf people. Recently, in preparation for Purim, the text of the Megillah was recorded on a CD and projected at the front of the shul; a pointer enabled participants to follow along with the baal kriyah. This project was made available to shuls throughout the world.
Our Way works hard to encourage the Jewish deaf to marry other Jews, since the intermarriage rate among this group has been as high as 75 percent. The organization hosts many singles programs and is very proud that five Jewish couples have met and married through the programs in the past few years.
In May, its annual family Shabbaton will be held in West Orange, N.J., with an expected crowd of 200.
Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz
Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz is the Rav of Agudas Yisrael of Greenspring in Baltimore, the Av Beis Din of the Baltimore Beis Din, and the father of four hearing-impaired children. He has written a booklet entitled “Toras Hacheresh: A Practical Guide to Electronic Hearing Devices on Shabbos and Yom Tov,” published by Our Way, and he is working on a second booklet with halachic rulings relevant to deaf people’s fulfillment of mitzvos. Rabbi Shuchatowitz discussed the importance of accommodating deaf people in shuls.
“Many shuls won’t give an aliyah to a deaf person, and they understandably feel very excluded, both in terms of social acceptance and in terms of their ability to participate in kvod haTorah. If a deaf person is able to say the brachos and with the help of a hearing aid can follow along with the baal kriyah, or if he can read at least three pesukim during kriyas haTorah along with the baal kriyah - it’s helpful if he can prepare this in advance - then his aliyah would be valid. This would enable the hearing-impaired to receive aliyos and to feel accepted and respected, which is very meaningful. Otherwise, a she’eilah should be asked.
“At the Shabbaton, Rabbi Kastor signed along with an explanation of the parashah. That is wonderful since the point of kriyas haTorah is so that people will know what is written in the Torah and learn from it,” Rabbi Shuchatowitz continued. “There is no hefsek involved in this as the ones who are watching and understanding the sign language cannot otherwise hear the kriyah, and they are watching silently without disrupting the kriyah for anyone else.
“Our Way is the only organization to reach out to hundreds of deaf boys and girls with various degrees of hearing impairment. Many of these people feel isolated from the Jewish community as they cannot go to Jewish schools. Someone has to reach out to them to make them feel like a welcome part of Klal Yisrael.
Rabbi Lederfeind, a child of deaf parents and the father of two deaf daughters, has devoted his life to helping deaf people and bringing them closer to Torah. He discussed the goals and programming of the Our Way Shabbaton.
While the main goal of the Shabbaton was kiruv, it also provided camaraderie for about 25 deaf people - both frum and non-frum - from Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Rabbi Lederfeind explained that since 1969, when Our Way started, there has been a radical change in the way deaf people communicate. Although there was always a controversy between those in favor of signing and those who promoted oral communication, with the advent of the cochlear implant, the majority of deaf children is now able to communicate orally and are being mainstreamed in local yeshivos and day schools. The Shabbaton was arranged to accommodate both groups.
Friday night began with hadlakas neiros, davening and a special session by Rabbi Lederfeind for those not yet observant, entitled “How to Pray and What to Say.”
At the Shabbos seudah, deaf scholar-in-residence Rabbi David Kastor made Kiddush in Hebrew, signing in English. Mr. Chaim Gedaliah Levinson, a student at Gallaudet University, gave a wonderful dvar Torah using both speech and sign language, and Mrs. Tovah Wax spoke about her experiences growing up as a deaf child.
On Shabbos morning, krias haTorah was signed by Rabbi Kastor, and deaf participants received aliyos, one of the highlights of the weekend. In addition, it was heartwarming to observe David Collman, a 17-year-old who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, receive the honor of gelilah.
Other events included a shiur by Rabbi Kastor on Purim, a mime performance by Aron and Yossi Globman, two deaf brothers from Philadelphia, and an oneg Shabbos at the home of Rabbi Chaim Silver, Rav of Bnai Israel Congregation in Norfolk.
Following Havdalah, which was also signed, a special melaveh malkah ended the beautiful weekend.
This Shabbaton was a project of NAIM, North American Inclusion Month, sponsored by the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. During the month of February, their goal was to make all shuls accessible to people with disabilities.
Our Way also has special publications on halachah and mitzvos with illustrated sign language in order to help make Yiddishkeit accessible to the deaf.
Rabbi David Kastor
Rabbi Kastor received semichah from Yeshivas Ner Yisrael and is a graduate of Gallaudet University for deaf and hearing-impaired students. He is currently living in Baltimore with his wife and beautiful family. For the past 22 years, Rabbi Kastor has been working part-time for Our Way, doing outreach and organizing Shabbatons and other activities.
“One of the organization’s goals is to educate people to understand the needs of deaf people and to provide social events for the deaf. We try to show shuls how they can accommodate deaf people by hiring interpreters, teaching people sign language, and providing deaf people with the opportunity to receive aliyos.”
Aron Globman
Aron Globman is a deaf young man who lives with his family in Philadelphia. He spoke about his impressions of the Shabbaton.
“It was a wonderful experience, especially to go to Norfolk, as I have never been there before,” he said. “I met a lot of other deaf people. My brother Yossi and I made a mime show for the deaf people and others from the community.”
Aron explained that three of his brothers are also deaf. He often creates and performs mime shows with his twin brother, Avrumy, who could not attend the Shabbaton.
What words of encouragement does Aron have for others who are struggling?
“Even though I am deaf, that does not stop me from living a normal life. I try to encourage other deaf people to learn about being Jewish. I am lucky people in my family know sign language and are patient, and have taught me about Yiddishkeit. I was also lucky to be able to attend Jewish schools, with the help of interpreters.”
Rabbi Chaim Silver
Rabbi Chaim Silver is the Rav of Bnai Israel Congregation in Norfolk, which hosted the Shabbaton. He shared some thoughts about the Shabbaton and Our Way’s important work.
“I was very impressed with Rabbi Lederfeind and Rabbi Kastor, who are bringing Yiddishkeit to those who do not have any other resources,” Rabbi Silver said. “There was one lady there who, at the beginning of Shabbos, would not step into my shul because it had a mechitzah. But by the end of Shabbos, she was deciding when she would come back, and she wrote a beautiful e-mail describing her wonderful impressions of the Shabbos.
“I never spent a Shabbos with so many deaf people before,” Rabbi Silver continued. “I found them to be very confident … in fact, I was the one who felt out of place; watching them communicate in sign language made me feel like I was in France, listening to everyone speak French!
“Everything during the Shabbaton was presented in sign language and in speech. When I gave a dvar Torah, Rabbi Lederfeind signed along. When Rabbi Kastor presented his dvar Torah in sign language, Rabbi Lederfeind read along out loud from the notes.
“I was happy to witness the work that Rabbi Lederfeind is doing and was inspired by his mesirus nefesh for this cause. It was a pleasure to host this group in my kehillah, and I was glad that we were able to be the facilitator for such a positive experience. I look forward to hosting more Shabbatons in the future,” Rabbi Silver concluded.
Mrs. Batya Jacobs
Mrs. Jacobs described some of the other projects of Our Way. The organization, which has members across the country and chapters around the world, even as far away as Australia, provides many services to the deaf and hearing-impaired. It provides a resource center, educational support, help with placement of children in Jewish schools, assistance with job placement, and coaches to help members acclimate to their new jobs.
Our Way organizes many events that are accessible to deaf people. Recently, in preparation for Purim, the text of the Megillah was recorded on a CD and projected at the front of the shul; a pointer enabled participants to follow along with the baal kriyah. This project was made available to shuls throughout the world.
Our Way works hard to encourage the Jewish deaf to marry other Jews, since the intermarriage rate among this group has been as high as 75 percent. The organization hosts many singles programs and is very proud that five Jewish couples have met and married through the programs in the past few years.
In May, its annual family Shabbaton will be held in West Orange, N.J., with an expected crowd of 200.
Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz
Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz is the Rav of Agudas Yisrael of Greenspring in Baltimore, the Av Beis Din of the Baltimore Beis Din, and the father of four hearing-impaired children. He has written a booklet entitled “Toras Hacheresh: A Practical Guide to Electronic Hearing Devices on Shabbos and Yom Tov,” published by Our Way, and he is working on a second booklet with halachic rulings relevant to deaf people’s fulfillment of mitzvos. Rabbi Shuchatowitz discussed the importance of accommodating deaf people in shuls.
“Many shuls won’t give an aliyah to a deaf person, and they understandably feel very excluded, both in terms of social acceptance and in terms of their ability to participate in kvod haTorah. If a deaf person is able to say the brachos and with the help of a hearing aid can follow along with the baal kriyah, or if he can read at least three pesukim during kriyas haTorah along with the baal kriyah - it’s helpful if he can prepare this in advance - then his aliyah would be valid. This would enable the hearing-impaired to receive aliyos and to feel accepted and respected, which is very meaningful. Otherwise, a she’eilah should be asked.
“At the Shabbaton, Rabbi Kastor signed along with an explanation of the parashah. That is wonderful since the point of kriyas haTorah is so that people will know what is written in the Torah and learn from it,” Rabbi Shuchatowitz continued. “There is no hefsek involved in this as the ones who are watching and understanding the sign language cannot otherwise hear the kriyah, and they are watching silently without disrupting the kriyah for anyone else.
“Our Way is the only organization to reach out to hundreds of deaf boys and girls with various degrees of hearing impairment. Many of these people feel isolated from the Jewish community as they cannot go to Jewish schools. Someone has to reach out to them to make them feel like a welcome part of Klal Yisrael.
http://www.hamodia.com/inthepaper.cfm?ArticleID=537
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