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During the Passover and Easter seasons, I attended a workshop on Religious Signing. It was advertised as “non-denominational” but actually was geared toward Christian faiths. I was invited to present, in order to provide a Jewish “voice” (perspective).

The most appreciated part of my remarks had to do with the difference between Jewish and Christian signs. I shared with them a few signs that I can share with you as well. In some cases, there is no good, standardized sign among Deaf Jews. Perhaps you have suggestions??

The first sign example was “MOSES”. Many Christians sign this on the forehead. It is a sign similar to “GALLAUDET” or “TEL AVIV”. However, it is meant to represent Moses’ horns (according to an old tale, that Moses had beams of light about his head. The Hebrew word for “light” was mistranslated as “horns”.) I showed the preferred sign, “M” like “COMMANDMENTS” or “LAW”.

Another tricky sign is “BIBLE”. Christians sign “JESUS + “BOOK”. Jews often use the sign “TORAH”, if referring to the first five books. However, we have no good sign for the whole “Tanach”. Some people sign “B” like “LAW”. What’s your sign?

Another sign that makes me uncomfortable is “HEAVEN”. Christians make the movement to show “sky” and then a movement showing “entering” heaven. I explained that many Jews believe the Messiah or Messianic era will come here on earth. Souls do not go to heaven, but rather, all people will rise from the grave here on earth. [Remember the controversy in Israel when a cemetery was cemented over into a hotel parking lot? Orthodox Jews were concerned that the Jewish bodies would not be able to get out when the Messiah comes]. I showed a variation, which just shows the expanse of sky and eliminates the second movement.

My other favorite sign is “HOLY”. The Christian sign is “H” + “CLEAN”. I explained that the Jewish concept of ‘holy” means “special” or “set apart”. Do you have a good sign for “HOLY”?

Of course there are very few name signs for our famous Torah heroes: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, etc. Some of the Rabbinical students in Chicago are working on some suggestions, but we have no standard signs.

Okay, I hope I got you thinking! Please share your ideas by writing to me, fax [215-849-7647] or by e-mail [[email protected]] or [email protected]