This was the topic during group discussion at JDCC’s Rosh Hashana Services .
After reading an interesting article by Alexander Fleischman in the book, “The Deaf Jew in the Modern World.” I felt it would be a good issue to about the problems we face in the Jewish hearing community.
PROBLEMS WE FACE
Example of problems we as Deaf Jews face today in the Jewish Community are:
1) Lack of Jewish education for young deaf children.
2) Lack of religious practice.
3) Lack of insight or exposure from the Jewish Community… Being as a Jewish person as a whole person.
4) Lack of Rabbi availability who knows sign language and Deaf Culture.
5) Lack of rapport with the Jewish Community as an united community.
6) Lack of Deaf leaders to work with Jewish Community as representatives for the Deaf Jewish Community.
7) Lack of Deaf awareness in the Jewish Community.
STATISTICS
How many Deaf Jews are there in America? According to the National Census of the Deaf Population in 1974: 500,000 prevocationally deaf persons and close to 25,000 Deaf Jews (5%).
Now today, let’s assume 50,000 deaf Jews as compared to six million hearing Jewish people living in America.
National Congress of Jewish Deaf was founded in 1956. There are approximately 500 active members.
JDCC has 2,000 names (not including spouses) on their mailing list.
Where are the 48,000 remaining Deaf Jews located? Are they aware of NCJD, JDCC News, services available among Temples with interpreted services, Deaf Temples in Arleta, California and Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie, Illinois? Deaf Jewish Clubs such as Hebrew Associations of the Deaf in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Toronto?
JDCC’s Yom Kippur Services with Rabbi Fred Friedman
WHERE ARE THEY?
Where are the Deaf Jews? What happened? The deaf adults who attended residential schools for the deaf lived away from home had limited religious education, and exposure to Judaism. Sometimes there are no Judaism programs being provided due to separation of church and state. The deaf Jewish child innocently participates with their Christian classmates in their Bible classes. Also, lacking the breadth and depth of instruction about Judaism. Many Deaf Jewish adults lose their Jewish identity by intermarrying, assimilating or converting outside of Judaism. For example, Rabbi Douglas Goldhamer of Congregation Bene Shalom (CBS) in Skokie, Illinois was watching a television program, “The Phil Donahue Show” when he was studying at Hebrew Union College in 1969, in this show, a hearing Catholic priest explained of his efforts to “save” many deaf people from Jesus including people with names: Bernstein, Goldbergs, and other Jewish names. He thought it was terrible. He decided to investigate by visiting a Temple for the Deaf in Chicago and ended up becoming a Rabbi there.
ATTENDING SERVICES
Where do the Deaf Jews go for Shabbat services or High Holidays? Today, in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and other cities – they attend hearing temples where interpreters are provided for High Holidays and occasional Shabbat services. Temple Beth Solomon in Arleta, CA has Friday night services twice a month, and Congregation Bene Shalom has services every Friday night. Other Jewish deaf clubs have gatherings for lectures, special events, and social events.
SEGREGATED?
Do you feel that we belong to the hearing Jewish community? We all, as Deaf Jews, are very much the sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are part of our heritage, followed by their offspring and the generations to come. And yet, the Deaf of America are the most overlooked and forgotten group of handicapped people by our Jewish community. Often, they tend to pay more attention and support to the blind, lame (crippled in a limp, i.e. leg, arm, etc.) and the mental retarded persons. We often wonder why the Deaf people continue to remain the least important group to the Jewish community as second class citizens. Living in the silent world?
An example: In Israel or New York, there was no interpreter services available in the memorial services for Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Rabin.
INVISIBLE HANDICAP
From a hearing person’s perspective: the first impression is you cannot identify a deaf person by walking down the street until you speak to him/her and he/she points to their ears and shakes their head in the negative. Next, you will see him taking out a pad and pencil, or perhaps he tries to speak in a high-pitched or hoarse voice. Deaf person is weird, mute, uneducated and communication between you and him comes to a halt and breaks off the communication gap. Also, the deaf person is always underestimated in capability and intelligence, and underrated in society in comparison with hearing peers.
DEAF RABBIS OF THE DEAF?
How many Deaf Rabbis are there in the world today? Are they part or full time Rabbis? How many hearing Rabbis know sign language and have an understanding of our deaf culture, etc.?
There are ONLY 5 Deaf Rabbis that exists in the world! And none of them work in the Deaf Community as a full time Rabbi of the Deaf. There are very few hearing Rabbis who knows sign language or have any interest or desire in working with the Deaf Jewish community as a full time employment. It is very difficult to raise funds to keep a full time ordained Rabbi. Most Rabbis depend on extra income from weddings, funeral services, Bar/Bat mitzvahs and special events plus an annual fixed salary from Temple membership dues.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Both Temple Beth Solomon (TBS) and Congreation Bene Shalom just increased their annual dues: TBS: Families $400, Individuals $200. Congregation Bene Shalom: Families $750, Single adult $350. These prices are due to potential general deaf’s limited salary income. General hearing Temple membership dues are roughly around $1,500 a year.
SIGN LANGUAGE AS ELECTIVE
Why can’t they have a course in sign language or deaf culture in the Rabbinical programs as an elective course? Then they may be interested in doing their internship in working with the Deaf Jewish community.
What does one of our Holy Books, the Talmud (written over 2,000 years ago) say about our status as Deaf Jews? In the Talmud, it says that lunatics, children and deaf people CANNOT take an active part in performing many of the Commandments. They were prohibited to enter into contracts, buy or sell property and getting married. In the Talmud, “Deaf Mute” – Mute means can’t speak or read. To those Rabbis who have never been exposed to a Deaf Jew or have an understanding of Deaf Awareness, still follow this Talmud law. The Hebrew word for deaf mute is “Heresh”.
EXCLUDED
In Maryland, Deaf Orthodox Rabbi, Fred Friedman went to a Temple. There were ten men present which would make a minyan possible. However, the people continued to wait. Rabbi Fred Friedman decided to ask them what they were waiting for and was told, “You are not counted in the minyan.” It happened in the early 1980’s.
TALMUD AND TORAH
The Talmud laws was written by Jewish scholars. And the Torah was written by G-d. In reference, Torah Leviticus 19.19 under 14,
“YOU SHALL NOT INSULT THE DEAF, OR PLACE A STUMBLING BLOCK BEFORE THE BLIND. YOU SHALL FEAR YOUR G-D; I AM THE LORD.”
Does this conflict with the Talmud laws?
PARTICIPATION IN HEARING COMMUNITY
Why should Deaf Jews participate in the Jewish Community such as Hearing Temple services, B’nai B’rith, National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, and other such organizations?
With proper guidance, the deaf could serve on committees and assist the Deaf Jewish community to develop better exposure/or rapport with larger scale within the framework of these national and international organizations. Their participation would educate the Jewish community about their capabilities for living, working, and sharing together. This is what Judaism should be and is about.
CONCLUSION
Taking all the problems into consideration, we again must fan the flames for improved relationships between the Jewish community and the Jewish Deaf. Results do not come from hoping and dreaming. The bridge has to be crossed by both participants, locked arm in arm.
SUGGESTIONS
How can we develop a better bridge with the Hearing Jewish Community? Alexander Fleischman made an 8 point program:
1) An improved deaf awareness program within the Jewish community.
2) Better rapport between the Jewish community and Deaf leaders.
3) More qualified teachers in religious education across the nation for youths as well as adults, including Torah studies and youth counseling.
4) Appointment of deaf paraprofessionals to work with Rabbis.
5) Inclusion of deaf adult leaders as speakers at meetings in the Jewish community.
6) Establishment of sign language teachers with deaf teachers.
7) Consideration for the needs of Deaf Jews in the Jewish community projects.
8) Persuade hearing children of deaf parents to become Rabbis and/or community leaders
and serve the deaf.
After group discussion, an article about Marla Berkowitz and Naomi Brunn was read as it was an perfect example. Read article on page 9.
