by Randi Sherman
Reprinted from Jewish Week of NY – December 29, 2006

Yossi Samuels, though deaf and blind, communicates and inspires.

Yossi Samuels, bottom, is introduced by his father, Kalman, to two Ramaz students after the assembly as brother Avi looks on.

Yossi Samuels was born a healthy child 30 years ago in Israel. But at 11 months, due to complications from a faulty DPT vaccination, he lost his ability to hear and see, as well as some of his motor skills, which continue to degenerate.

Yossi had no communication with the world around him until the age of 8, when he met Shoshanah Weinstock, a deaf teacher who taught him sign language. One day, Weinstock came running to Yossi