~ Rosh Hashanah
~ Yom Kippur
JDCC Activities
Over 30 people attended an informal creative Rosh Hashana service in Burbank on September 21st. Among the participants: actress Marlee Matlin, Jackie Roth and actor Bernard Bragg. Bragg had the participants laugh as he “interpreted into sign language” the sounds of the shofar blown by Alan Rich. David Rosenbaum led partici¬pants who took turns in read¬ing from the prayer book. A group discussion followed fo¬cusing on “What JDCC Can Do For You?” where participants offered to help organize future JDCC events including the upcoming Chanukah party.
The annual Sukkot party at the Soudakoff’s residence on October 10th was another enjoyable event. Everyone looked at the lulav and etrog and ate Israeli food.
TBS Services
Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf (TBS) in Arleta, CA had High Holy Day services this year. Elaine Aikins and Peter Robinson were cantors signing and singing “the words and melodies to everyone’s eyes and ears”, Bess Hyman reports, “Their dual Shofar blowers, James Kalivoda and Peter Robinson made us really feel a part of it all, especially at the close of the Yom Kippur service when we actually felt the sound of the Shofar by holding balloons in our hands. James is a 14 year old post-bar mitzvah student of Temple Beth Solomon. The commu¬nity discussion during the Yom Kippur break was led by Dr. Charles Katz, and attended by almost 50 of the worshippers who ranged from their early 20’s to 101 years of age. The topic was ‘Religion/Spirituality, Which Do I Feel?’ The discussion ran overtime!” … “The new student Rabbi Bruce Raff has already. incorporated signed prayers into his services”.
Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf celebrated their eighth annual Simchas Torah on October 16th “doing it our way” says Bess Hyman, “The whole congregation unrolled the Torah from beginning to end and the Rabbi with Yad in had showed us all the places we all know so well, the Bereshit, the Jacob’s Ladder, The Ten Commandments, the Binding of Jacob, etc. It didn’t matter that we were deaf because we could see everything”.
Illinois Services At CBS
Nona Balk with Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie, IL says that “Our High Holidays were wonderful and inspir¬ing as well. Our signing choir did a great job interpreting the service. Also our wonderful soloist sang beautifully for the hearing members. It was a full house at all the services. Rabbi Goldhamer gave very interesting sermons which we all enjoyed them. Once again we had a big drum for the deaf members to feel when the shofar is blown. Two different ‘persons blew the shofar and they did a fantastic job, we were so inspired by their performance.”
Children from the Sunday school at Congregation Bene Shalom decorated the Sukkah. “We were just delighted that it didn’t rain that week,” says Nona Balk, “so the decorations remained safe in the Sukkah. The Sukkot service was delightful as always and many deaf and hearing children came with their parents. Rabbi Goldhamer told a delightful story to the congregation. We walked around the Sukkot. The children were taught how to wave the Lulav and the Esrog together.”
Services At Fremont, CA
EJ Cohen reports that at Temple Beth Torah in Fremont, ” … we had 19 deaf adults and 4 deaf children at services, and it was beautiful for me to see us all together in prayer. I was also touched by the amount of hearing people in the temple who signed along with the shema and oseh shalom … “
New York City Participation At Temple
Marla Berkowitz reports that all High Holy Days services at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (BJ) was interpreted this year. “We are very excited that several members of the Deaf community paid annual dues and became new members of BJ in addition to those of us who were already members who renewed our annual memberships. The number of Deaf congregants at BJ continues to grow. Our members include congregants from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester.” Berkowitz was asked to present the D’var Torah during morning Torah service on Yom Kippur. A printed transcript of her d’var torah will appear in the next issue of JDCC News.
MYAJD and members of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City had a lovely Israeli buffet, reports MYAJD’s Marla Berkowitz, “members of MYAJD and hearing members of BJ had a wonderful opportunity to develop friend¬ships. BJ members have continued to express an interest in learning ASL, and their interaction with many of us during the Jewish holidays reinforced their enthusiasm. A second ASL class being taught by a MYAJD member is expected to begin at the end of October. One of the most memorable experiences every year is the celebration of Simchat Torah. Once again we celebrated by dancing with our Torahs outside on the streets of Manhattan! The police kept the streets closed off for us and there was Israeli dancing and music for six hours!! The rabbis them¬selves jumped off their makeshift outside bimah to dance with MYAJD members as we held the Torah. In fact, for some of the MYAJD members, it was their first time holding the Torah. At BJ the message is clear – Judaism is accessible to each and every Jew – regardless of our language differences”.
Philadelphia Services
Robert Katz reports that Philadelphia Hebrew Association of the Deaf (PHAD) members attended High Holy Days Services at Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA. Over 40 people attended Rosh Hashana Day Service with Rabbi David Maharam and interpreted by Lore Rosenthal. Over 50 people attended Yom Kippur Services and 28 people also attended the Break-the-Fast at Rose Olanoff Community Center.
Fourteen members and visitors attended a Shabbat Service at Rose Olanoff Community Center on October 10th. Rabbi David Maharam, with an interpreter, “gave the sermon about Sukkot and explained about lulav and etrog. Rabbi Maharam let the members feel and smell the lulav and etrog.
JCCAD – Florida
Alex Fleischman of Jewish Community Center Association of the Deaf in Florida reports that High Holiday services were well attended by over 100 people. Layreader was Cecil Weinstock. Each person read a part of the services. “We even had at least ten hearing people who also took part.” Interpreter was Glenn Ashton. Breaking the fast dinner was held at Chez Max Restaurant.
Jewish Discussion On The Internet
Alisa Shkolnik shares her experience of interpreting High Holiday services for the first time recently. She says that she “really crave the input of my peers … ” She is hoping that others may also be interested in getting together for a conference to discuss topics of interpreting specifically in a Jewish setting (anything from services to community lectures, Hebrew school/Sunday school to theater and entertainment with Jewish topics). She also announced that on Sunday, August 11th, a new Jewish Community Center’s Association of the Deaf was formed in Columbus, OH. They plan to have interpreted Shabbat services on the first Friday of each month once the federation agrees to fund the cost of interpreters.
Kay Leads Services In Rochester
David Kay shares his experience of leading High Holiday services at RIT/NTID in Rochester, NY. “Despite some efforts at advanced planning, the interpreting situation was not what had been hoped … Although I always sign for myself when I speak, I also ended up having to TRY to sign while singing in Hebrew.” Yom Kippur, he shares, was better. But Kay points out the interpreters were still “not skilled or knowledgeable in Jewish liturgy … they worked very hard – especially one who was there most of the day … ” He is making suggestions on how they can improve on their efforts next year.
