Media: Picture of many people standing and sitting around on a grassy area talking, signing and eating. Allen is sitting with his back to the camera.
Yael Zelinger
2 December 2021
Allen attended the CJE’s Deafblind Shabbatons Baltimore for several years. When we found out that he moved, I emailed him to get his new address. Allen told me he would like to connect with a Jewish rabbi in his new home town of Kyle, TX.
We found Rabbi Ari Weingarten, the Chabad rabbi in nearby San Marcos, and he told us he was running a community-wide menorah lighting outdoors on the 4th night of Chanukah, December 1st.
Watch Video – A Story of a Chanukah Miracle:
With help from the Jewish Deaf community all over the country including, Baltimore, DC, LA, Kansas City, San Marcos, and more, we pulled together the interpreters, funding, information and rides that Allen needed to attend this event.
It was incredible crescendo when all the pieces finally fit together and Allen and his wife were picked up at their home and driven to meet his interpreters at the huge menorah in San Marcos, TX.
There’s more!
Since the tactile interpreters was Deaf, they also hired a platform interpreter. AND ALL THE OTHER DEAF PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE THERE WERE THRILLED TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER FOR THE CEREMONY!
We hope that Allen and the Jewish Deaf and hearing communities in TX will keep in touch with each other.
Shout out to Rabbi Ari Weingarten, Leah Miller, Nancy (the driver), Joyce Dworsky (of Vital Signs Interpreting Agency), Sharon Ann Dror, Martha Goodman, Sheryl Cooper and Communication by Hand Interpreter agency for helping and even trying to help make this happen!
Happy Chanukah!
Source: Yael Zelinger
