What is Hearing Mission?
A hearing mission means that individuals are tested for hearing loss by using a team with an audiometer, otoscope, tymp screeners, OAE etc, Volunteers would be trained to use a portable audiometer to screen children. Children in Israel who fail the screening are referred to an Israeli ENT and an audiologist. We are not permitted to do further testing in Israel because of their laws.
As these missions are geared for Jewish young adults, we are choosing individuals in the 20s, 30s and 40s range as Jewish funding stipulates these ages-particularly 20s and 30s. So if your adult children are interested in participating, please let me know. If we can get some deaf young adults who need interpreters, we will get a full time Jewish signer. If you know one, please let me know, although I have someone in mind.
Our past hearing missions have utilized mainly hearing young, Jewish adults. We have had three hard of hearing volunteers. They have expressed the need of finding more volunteers who hard of hearing or deaf, hence the reason I contacted you. For these hard of hearing volunteers, these are the first contacts they have made with other Jews who are hard of hearing and they would like to meet more. Sounds like it must be lonely for them.
History – Hearing Mission
My son Sam Heller, who is hard of hearing, and I have jointly organized and co-lead hearing missions in Baja, Mexico for 700 orphans and at an Israeli Youth Village for poor, behaviorally challenged teens. We thought you would be a good fit for an upcoming hearing mission in March of 2018. We are especially looking for deaf and hard of hearing Jewish young adults, although would welcome hearing individuals too.
This trip is limited to a maximum of ten young adult, Jewish, volunteers who will be screening the hearing of poor elementary school children in Jerusalem through www.afikim.org Although Israel has a sophisticated medical system, it does a poor job of screening individuals for hearing loss. This is where your help would come in.
We will be volunteering at schools from 8 AM- 1 PM on Monday-Thursday (March 5-8) with check in in Jerusalem lodging on March 4th. Breakfast and lunch are complimentary along with lodging in Jerusalem. Generally we stay at an Airbnb property.
We are in the process of applying for grants and organizing educational and sightseeing opportunities for the group. Touring would be after volunteering. Discussion by rabbis and Jewish educators would occur in the evening, related to tikun olam.
Because of our success with past hearing mission trips, Moishe House and ROI Schusterman would like to help volunteers. Individuals, 35 and under, who have been on a Moishe House retreat can obtain $250 towards transportation. Fellows of ROI Schusterman can receive up to $1000 toward airline expenses.
The Tel Aviv Purim festivities are optional, but on a previous trip, several volunteers shared an Airbnb together in Tel Aviv and participated at Megillah readings at the International Synagogue and at White City Synagogue, which provided a Purim luncheon. There were also countless parades and the infamous Zombie walk on Rothschild Blvd.
Following Jerusalem, those who are interested can join us at the Dead Sea.
For more information, contact Marcia Heller at [email protected]
Source: Marcia Heller and Sam Heller, www.schusterman.org/users/sam-heller
