This year’s JDCC Community Seder, held on the first night of Passover, was definitely unique! With reporters from the local Burbank, CA ‘Leader’ newspaper and the Daily News present, nearly 100 people followed the story of Passover on two large projection screens.
Made possible through a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) of Los Angeles, multimedia committee members worked to develop a brand new way of celebrating this Jewish holiday with ease and increased understanding of customs.
Recognizing that it is stressful for a Deaf person to read from the Haggadah, use sign language and keep eye on the Leader at their table, the grant made it possible for a graphic specialist to input a modified version of the usual printed JDCC Haggadah into a computer. This text was then merged with appropriate graphics and text for the Leader and participants to sign were programmed ‘karaoke style’.
Instead of each participant holding a printed Haggadah in their hands, each person watched the large projection TV screen. There were two large screens; each at opposite ends of the room. People who sat facing one end would watch that screen while others facing the other way would follow from the second screen. This arrangement worked very well especially with the huge size of the two projection screens. Even with room lighting on, everyone was able to follow the screens with extreme ease.
‘Keeping In Sync’
Another ongoing problem was also solved with this new ‘high-tech approach’. At past JDCC Community Seders, not everyone at each table would conduct service at the same time. Some people at their tables would finish earlier than others.
Additionally, many participants would go home immediately after completing their meal instead of completing the second part of the service.
With this multimedia set-up, JDCC organizers were delighted to see everyone participate simultaneously with ease, increased understanding, enjoyment and remain until the end of the event. Hearing people in attendance were also able to follow the service as two voice interpreters were present.
The organizers are currently compiling a final report for JCF which, among its contents, includes a survey that was conducted about participant’s experiences of following a ‘visual-oriented and structured’ service. JDCC feels that much has been learned from this service that can be applied to future programming activities.
It Was An Enjoyable Event!
Among those attending this years Community Seder was actress Marlee Matlin and Jackie Roth, actor Bernard Bragg and Evelyn Zola, a solid supporter who came all the way from northern California for the fifth consecutive year as well as one person who flew in from Oakland, CA.
JDCC would like to thank those people who served on the multimedia committee: David Cohen, Sharon Ann Dror, Michael Dubowe, Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe, Charles Katz, David Rosenbaum, Jackie Roth and Scott Watson. We are also indebted to the Jewish Community Foundation for their help in bringing this project to fruition.
