A Personal Message From The Editor
Hi Readers!
On behalf of the Jewish Deaf Community Center, I was honored by the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness (GLAD) with their Presidents Award. Richard Ray, GLAD president, presented the award to me during their 30th Anniversary Banquet at the Bay View Hotel on May 1st.
The President’s Award is given to a person who “provides highest quality service, personal, and business for the deaf and hard of hearing communities; demonstrate leadership capabilities; high moral character and good citizenship; and community involvement. This individual was chosen for her exceptional involvement in the deaf, hard of hearing and hearing communities through her leadership on the local, state, and national level. ” On the plaque, it states that the award was presented “For her personal commitment in serving the Jewish Deaf Community and as the founder of Jewish Deaf Community Center.” I want to thank you all for your support throughout JDCC’s seven years. It would not have been possible without all of you!
JDCC has exciting plans for the High Holidays! A different guest leader will conduct Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services this year. If you are interested in being on the High Holiday Committee, please contact us.
JDCC News Is Looking For New Writers!
Interested in writing articles about Jewish Deaf people involved in sports or profiles on Jewish Deaf people? JDCC News has some openings! Writers can be either Deaf or Hearing. All articles must be submitted with a photo (black/white or color is fine). Anyone out there interested in doing a new feature article that involves interviewing Jewish Hearing People Involved in the Jewish Deaf or Deaf Community? And, of course, we are interested in your proposals for future feature articles!
Dear Sharon,
I wanted to say thanks for a lovely evening before I forget to, my family enjoyed the seder as much as I did; everyone we met was extremely nice and I literally had to pull my daughter away from all her new friends. It was all in all, a lovely experience. I hope to remain informed of other events that come up in the JDCC. Have an enjoyable Passover holiday, and once again, thanks.
Linda Bernett
Culver City, CA
Dear Adam Stone,
Just a few days ago I was in LA, and saw your piece on Purim. It seems well done.
One item that caught my eye was your take on the tashen, really meaning pockets.
Your suggestion that it was “intentionally distorted to hamantash” is hardly plausible.
Why would we honor the villain with a delicious and primary Purim food named after him? And why would we give Amalek the very opposite of what we are mandated to do? The idea that we swallow is very very far-fetched.
It is clear that all this came from an error, a very serious error. The Hebrew way of saying man-tash (you correctly identified this) is ha-man-tash, meaning – the mantash.
The error came about when this was written as per usual without vowels, and some people, less than well-schooled, thought it read as hamantash.
Can you imagine us giving any form of dignity to people who were out to kill us off? It could not happen.
I wish you well, and much success in all your efforts and endeavors. With best Pesah wishes,
Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka
[email protected]
Hi,
I read your story in this past issue of JDCC and I am very curious as to why this gentleman, Joseph Schertz was not allowed into the United States at Ellis Island because he was deaf. First of all, how did they know he was deaf, unless the mother had to tell them, and why refusal of all deaf people into this country. And, how did he get in through the Hispanic Quota, which I am curoius what that even is. I am a sign language student, and have tried to research this with all of the books I have, and couldn’t find anything related to this. If it is not too much trouble, could you please answer me, or let me know as to how I can find out this information. Thanks so much.
Susan
[email protected]
Brenda Schertz, daughter of Joseph Schertz responds:
Dear Susan,
My sister Jackie wrote my father’s story for the most recent issue of JDCC. We originally thought our dad couldn’t enter the U.S. because he was deaf. At Ellis Island they would give physical exams and we assume they tested his hearing. Later, we discussed with our uncle about this. He said that it wasn’t because he was deaf but it divas because the U.S. had a quota on how many people from Eastern Europe could enter the U.S. At that time the quota was filled and they couldn’t accept more people from Eastern Europe. There were not many people emigrating from South America and quota from the area hasn’t been filled. So my dad and his mother went to Venezuela and applied for emigration to the U.S. through Venezuela rather than Europe. Ellis Island was accepting applications from South America. Many things are vague about our family’s history but we believe it was a combination of both factors were involved in rejection of my dad’s application in the first place.
If you have found more information about this subject please do share that width me. Do you know if other Deaf people were admitted through Ellis Island with the knowledge that they were deaf? Thanks.
Brenda Schertz
[email protected]
Hi,
Currently I am a student at Catonsville (MD) Community College in their Deaf Interpreter course. I am doing a semesterend paper on the Deaf Jewish Community, with the sub-topics “Legal/Political” and “Language/Communication”. Would you please email back to me any information you have on these subjects? Thank you so very much.
Also, I found the description of your organization very interesting. May God bless your efforts.
Cathy [email protected]
