Rabbinical Aide Steve Horwich reads the Torah one Friday night per month here at Congregation Bene Shalom. In 1996, Steve graduated from Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf with a certificate as a Rabbinical Aide and a Para-Chaplain.
He enjoys teaching deaf children and adults Hebrew and Israeli Sign Language to help them prepare for bar/bat mitzvah. He is also available to help with funerals for the Deaf. He enjoys helping at Cong. Bene Shalom.
Steve was born in Chicago and went to Bell School, where he learned to read and speak. He graduated from high school at Niles East High School. He has also attended college at Northern Illinois University and Harper College, where they have special programs for the Deaf.
Photo: Steve Horwich (from JDCC archives).
Steve grew up attending services in a hearing temple, but he did not study Hebrew until he was an adult. He met Rabbi Goldhamer in 1974, and for the first time, he saw the Jewish prayers translated into Sign Language.
In 1981, he went to Israel for the World Organization of Jewish Deaf Convention, where he met many Jewish people from different countries, with different sign languages. They encouraged him to study Hebrew.
Steve became inspired to learn more about Judaism, and he studied Hebrew privately with Rabbi Goldhamer to prepare for his bar mitzvah.
After his bar mitzvah, Steve continued to study Hebrew in night school. He has been to Israel five times, and learned Israeli Sign Language. He has also traveled in Canada, England and France.
Steve works part time at Bonefish Grill Restaurant in Skokie. He will be happy to meet you there for an early dinner.
Source: Shalom newsletter, Congregation Bene Shalom of the Deaf, Adar 1, 5768
