Kind hearts, generous spirits and unfailing dedication were the highlights of the tenth anniversary of the Jewish Deaf Community Center (JDCC) held on June 2, 2002 at the Temple Ari Adat in Valley Village with an attendance of 100 people.
An excerpt from the JDCC program book mentioned that JDCC was first formed as an informal group called Creative Services Group in 1992 and then incorporated as JDCC two years later on August 1994. JDCC wanted to meet the needs of individual growth, social awareness, productivity and equality among deaf and hard of hearing Jewish individuals through empowerment and participation through a number of activities that JDCC has had provided over the years. The fact that it continues in its tenth year is evident and self-explanatory of these aims, activities and deaf and hard-of-hearing Jews from all over the places.
Jeff Dichter, acting as the master of ceremonies, kicked off the program with ten candle lighting ceremony (to represent ten years). Some individuals and couples were called upon the stage to light each candle as recognition of their involvement and support of JDCC over the years: Ruth & Percy Morris, Jana, Eric & Riva Brody, Shula & Jeff Dichter, David Rosenbaum, Pauline & David Dror, Dina Dror, Rachel Braver & Marlee Matlin, Sharon Ann Dror & Kenneth Rothschild, Marie & Jeff Lubman, Ira Rothenberg, and Debijo & Fred Lovitch. A buffet style brunch of omelets, bagel and lox, fruits and champagne soon followed.
The entertainment, a short play written by a deaf Jewish man, David (DJ) Kurs called “To Be Jewish And Deaf” came in two parts, with the awards part sandwiched in between. It presented a conflict in a lighthearted way that all deaf and hard-of-hearing Jews have experienced them selves in their lives, that is, balancing the social needs to be with other deaf people and being an observant Jew. The cast included those who have had acting experience in the past: Koli Cutler, Alan Schwartz, Melissa Yingst, and the Soudakoff children, Joshua, Michael and Rachel.
The JDCC Awards part best showed why JDCC continues to exist through kind hearts, generous spirits and dedication! The Friend of JDCC Awards went to Rachel Braver and Marlee Matlin. Rachel, with a passion for media, sign language, and Judaism, began as public affairs representative and contributing writer for the JDCC News. She also was very helpful to JDCC in many other ways, including coordinating some of the JDCC’s events and voice-over in the Passover Seder multimedia video project. Upon receiving the award, she dedicated her award to her grandmother, Anna, her parents, Morty and Sara and her deaf cousin, Faith.
The second Friend of JDCC Award went to Marlee Matlin, an Academy Award winning actress, for her generous support for JDCC over the years, including a donation of five thousand dollars to enable JDCC to provide projects and activities to the deaf community. She also led the panel discussion during the Rosh Hashanah services in 1997 as well as participating in other JDCC events. Marlee dedicated her award to her mother, Libby and the father, Ted Tannebaum of her best friend who had passed away recently.
More evidence of kind hearts and generous spirits included a table full of Rachel Braver’s family who came over to provide support and witness the honor that Rachel herself received as well as the play’s writer’s parents, Alice and Mitch Kurs who have attended JDCC’s activities in the past, particularly the Seders.
The high school art and essay contests awards went to two deaf high-school-aged Jewish students both from Yeshiva Nefesh Dovid (a yeshiva for the deaf) in Toronto, Canada. The art contest award went to Yakov Rubinov, and the essay contest award to Daniel Chernoff for his moving essay called Spiritual Upbringing from a Physical Downfall.
The entertainment continued its second part which concluded with a surprising end with a message of hope WW reconciliation. More awards followed after. The JDCC Community Service Award went to Kenneth Rothschild who was very surprised. JDCC also benefited from Ken with his many years of services to the National Congress of the Jewish Deaf (now called Jewish Deaf Congress) The JDCC Achievement Award went to Eric Brody for his involvement in the past High Holiday services and service on the JDCC board.
Dave Sladek and Francine Stern were the voice/sign language interpreters and Richard Fendrich and Shari Eckstein-Hanaumi both were deaf-blind interpreters. The program ended with the cutting and serving of the anniversary cake and everyone left with feelings of good cheer and friendship.
