As part of its outreach, the New York-based Our Way arranged for a Family Shabbaton at Beth Joseph Congregation in Arizona on February 3rd to be interpreted in sign language. “A Jewish deaf person would be lost in most synagogues,” Rabbi Eliezer Lederteind, Our Way national director explains, “We’re trying to encourage them to come back to the synagogues …. The Jewish deaf, rightly or wrongly, don’t feel themselves part of the Jewish community.” Although the Council for Jews With Special Needs in Phoenix has worked with some families to have some services interpreted, “Our Way Arizona Family Shabbaton was much more comprehensive” says Shirley Grossman, who is the mother of a Deaf son, Stuart. All services and program activities from the start of the Sabbath on sundown Friday to its end on sundown Saturday was interpreted. “We want him to feel a part of it,” Grossman adds, “It’s emotional for me as a mother to see him participating …. I enjoyed it because there was so much signing for Stuart, and he doesn’t always have that experience.” Stuart Grossman, 22 said he particularly enjoyed meeting Rabbi David Kastor, who is Deaf and part of Our Way.