E Pluribus Unum
I just arrived home from the Jewish Deaf Congress convention in Universal City, and I must admit that it was quite an experience! Like most kids my age, I enrolled in the Teens program and there I met many new people my age, above and below. After five days, I was impressed by the coordination of the program, but I realized that we, as young Jewish Deaf adults, still have a long way to go.
Despite the best efforts of a few programs nationwide, no organization has yet to bring together the several thousand young Jewish Deaf adults living in the United States and Canada. Our hearing counterparts have had enormous success with their own organizations, such as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) and the United Synagogue Youth (USY).They have shown that it is possible to have a Jewish organization focused on youth.
Why, then, can’t we do the same? Or to put it better, why haven’t we done so? One obvious reason is that we are far-flung apart, and it is hard to get people working together from such vast distances. Another reason may be that both BBYO and USY gain support from thousands of synagogues all across the country, while we have only a few Deaf synagogues.
But, on countless occasions, I have seen people working together trying to create some kind of organization for young Jewish Deaf adults (and kids, too). I praise their efforts. I wouldn’t mind creating an impromptu group for young Jewish Deaf in my area. The only problem is that I feel like I’m the only Jewish Deaf teenager in San Diego County!
That’s the root of the problem – we need to expand and try to reach every single young Jewish Deaf adult so that none of them will ever feel left out. After all, did you know that Judaism has one of the highest rates of conversions into other religions? And with Jewish Deaf people, that rate is even higher. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why.
Yet, the Deaf have a remarkable history of being able to bring together deaf people from all over the world. Indeed, they embody the American ideal: E Pluribus Unum. In Many, One. Let’s do the same for us young Jewish Deaf adults!
So, as I wrap up this short summer article, I want to leave you with a thought: What do you think is best for us young Jewish Deaf adults? What can we do? Again, I encourage people to reply to this. But no one has ever replied, so I’m beginning to think that no one reads this! I cannot let just one opinion speak for all. Perhaps a website? A pen pal program? Regional get-togethers? The only way we can improve our future is if we all pitch in our thoughts and ideas. After all, two or more heads are better than one, right?
As we return to school and work after the long days of the summer, let us reaffirm our faith during the High Holy Days and let us ask God for His forgiveness. Let us celebrate a new year, in which we can plan a better tomorrow for all Jewish Deaf! L’Chaim!
