Yeshiva Nefesh Dovid, founded in 2001 by Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Kakon and Dr. Hartley Bressler, both deaf, recently celebrated its first graduation ceremony with four students graduating this year. 

Situated in Toronto, the yeshiva is a program designed to teach Torah combined with derech eretz (secular education) to deaf students all over the world. The yeshiva can truly be considered an international school, since it attracts boys from all over the globe, from France and England to New York and Israel. 

On the yeshiva’s website, it is described as “a valuable support system for deaf and hard-of-hearing boys throughout the global Jewish community who struggle academically or socially, in either yeshivos or public schools.” This is true, considering the fact that most of these boys come from families who are frum (religious). Most of them were sent to cheder (Jewish elementary school) in their childhood, and they struggled to understand and interact with the other hearing students. Interpreters were not readily available, because they both had to be Jewishly-aware and willing to work at rates the Jewish schools could offer. Others made their way to Toronto from public schools where they felt alone even in the crowd and had to fight to keep their Jewish heritage alive.

Not only does the yeshiva function as an education provider, but it also provides a community for those deaf yeshiva students. Every Shabbos, the yeshiva students are sent to people’s houses for meals in pairs to experience Shabbos in a family setting. Some of the hosts are even able to sign, and they communicate efficiently with the students.

 

The yeshiva spends most of its mornings in Torah study, which could cover everything from Chumash (the Five Books of Moses) and Nevi’im (Prophets) to Mishnah (the Jewish Oral Law) and Gemara (the responsa of the rabbis to the Mishnah). Then, after lunch at one pm., the focus shifts to secular learning. English reading and writing skills are honed, and so is the knowledge of math, science, and history. English is an important skill to learn, especially because of the international background of the boys.

The yeshiva commenced its graduation ceremony with a private dinner hosted at the home of one of its supporters. The dinner was deliciously arranged, and there were speeches interposed between the courses. Rabbi Kakon gave a speech, and so did Dr. Leonard Siger, former Gallaudet professor, and Daniel Chernoff from Chicago, the first official student to graduate from the yeshiva. Daniel was the only student to graduate last year so he participated in this year’s graduation ceremony. Daniel is now a student at Ner Israel Yeshiva in Baltimore, MD. They all spoke about the beginnings of the yeshiva itself, and how it became stronger and improved with its gaining support from the Toronto Jewish community.

The graduation ceremony itself took place in the basement of a shul near the yeshiva. Over eighty people attended, including the parents of the graduates.

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Kakon started the ceremony with speech speeches from Yakov Rubinov and Elkana Markowitz. They described their experiences with the yeshiva, and how it shaped who they are today. 

Then Rabbi Kakon presented the Limudei Kodesh (Religious Learning) Award to Avraham Rubinov, and he also made a speech.

The Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivah Gedolah – the school on whose property the Yeshivas Nefesh Dovid program has been allowed to operate – rose and made a speech. He explained his experiences concerning the yeshiva’s founding and how it grew and his high regard for the yeshiva was emphasized.

Then David Arabov was called by Rabbi Kakon as the recipient of the Limudei Chol (Secular Learning) Award. He made a speech as well.

There was a brief break when everyone enjoyed the  refreshments, and then the program began again. A slideshow presentation was given; the graduates had worked together to present a stunning montage of pictures of their childhood and yeshiva times. 

Then the ceremony ended. The attendees mingled about, meeting the staff of the yeshiva.

All in all, it was an inspiring evening, and an evening to remember for the graduates and attendees alike.

As for the future of the yeshiva?

Let’s hope that it will grow and serve more boys from the global Jewish deaf community. Even now Yeshiva Nefesh Dovid has commenced its sixth year with eight boys from around the globe including London, France, Israel, New York and Toronto.

To learn more about Yeshiva Nefesh Dovid, visit their website, www.nefeshdovid.com or contact Rabbi Kakon at Yeshiva Nefesh Dovid, 77 Stormont Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5N 2C3 or [email protected]

* Rabbi Chaim Tzvi and his wife, Libbi, who is deaf as well live in Toronto with their children, two of whom are deaf.. Chaim Tzvi also has a deaf brother Eli who lives with his wife who is deaf and their children in Brooklyn, New York.

Rabbi Chaim Tzvi’s grandparents are Rabbi David and Lieba Rabinowitz who are both deaf. Rabbi David Rabinowitz of Detroit, Michigan was the first Deaf Orthodox Rabbi who is a descendant of a long line of distinguished rabbis and is the grandson of the first Chief Rabbi of Toronto, Rabbi Naftoli Tzvi Horowitz. 

Dr. Hartley Bressler is the first deaf person to become a medical doctor in Canada and maintains a private practice in Toronto.

Roy Lamanna is the Principal for Secular classes. He is deaf and also teaches Learning Strategies and Geography. Currently, the school has on staff four other deaf teachers – Gary Malkowski, the first deaf politician as a former MPP – Career Studies, Philip Daniels – Math, Bijaya Shrestha – ASL and Tony Fuoco – English and language arts. Other courses are given by hearing teachers who are fluent in sign language or with the help of ASL interpreters.