International Young
Israel Movement
International Young Israel Movement (IYIM) hosted its annual Deaf Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony in May 2018.
It was co-funded by The Jewish Agency for Israel. JDCC News had previously reported on annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah for Deaf adults in Israel in January 2014 and December 2016.
The Judaic Heritage Program for the Deaf, an outreach program for Deaf youth, young adults and elderly throughout Israel providing programming, events, scholarships and mentoring, organizes the annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah for Deaf adults throughout Israel including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Be’er Sheva, Haifa, Tiberias, Petach Tikva, Netanya, Eilat, Kiryat Shmona and other areas in Israel.
Through their semester-long Jewish education program, Judaic Heritage Program for the Deaf prepares deaf students for their upcoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The program has been running since 2000. They also partner with Shema’s after-school network.
Celebrants and families gather together at Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration ceremony, festive meal and tour of the Old City of Jerusalem with as many as 200 guests.
Sixty eight celebrants – including 4 from Eilat – have already registered for the next annual ceremony in May 2019.
Source: iyim.org.il/deaf/bar-mitzvah/
