Deaf-friendly synagogues offer sign language interpreters

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http://www.jewishledger.com/articles/2006/03/16/news/on_the_cover/news01.txt

When Fern Reisinger, who is deaf, was growing up, she says she did not feel included while attending synagogue.

"I never enjoyed temple. I never understood what was going on," she explained. "I went along with the group and just read. I lost out on being a whole Jewish person. I am familiar with general traditions, but do not have the true meaning of Judaism. That is a loss for me."

That changed when Reisinger and her family - husband Charlie, who is also deaf, and their two hearing children, as well as Fern's mother-joined Temple Sinai in Newington more than 10 years ago.

"As Rabbi [Jeffrey] Bennett became familiar with us as a family and our needs, he went out of his way to find interpreters so that we could be included," said Reisinger, who is director of education at the American School for the Deaf in West Hartford. "This was much appreciated. It allowed me to be involved in my children's Hebrew education."

Temple Sinai, a synagogue well-known for its inclusiveness, was one of the first Connecticut synagogues to offer sign-language services. But today there are a few more synagogues who do offer some sign language interpretation for some services or events.

Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, which has a couple of deaf members, offers sign-language interpreters at two Friday night Shabbat services a month as well as some other synagogue events.

In Middletown, Congregation Adath Israel began a pilot program six months ago with a sign language interpreter attending several events.

Congregation B'nai Jacob in Woodbridge has a list of freelance interpreters who they can call if they receive a request for signing.

Other Jewish organizations are also offering sign language services in order to make their events more welcoming to the deaf community. A sign language interpreter was present at the screening of "Ushpizin" at the Wesleyan University's Israeli Film Festival last month. And an interpreter was also on hand at the Greater Hartford Commission on Jewish Education's Teach-In in January.

"Someone in the deaf community learned about our program and asked if we could provide an interpreter," said the CJE's Anna Elfenbaum, who was only happy to find an interpreter for the event. "We want Jewish education to be accessible to all," she said.

'A place for all'

Temple Sinai in Newington began offering sign language interpreters more than ten years ago when a family with deaf members - which has since moved out of the area - joined the synagogue.

Today, there are four Temple Sinai members who are deaf, and Rabbi Bennett said that he considers it important that the congregation offer sign language interpreters when they are needed.

"The mission of Temple Sinai is inclusion - on the letterhead we have the words 'Makom l'kulam' -- 'A place for everybody,'" Rabbi Bennett said. "We don't want anyone to be excluded, including the deaf."

Temple Sinai offers sign language at every monthly family Shabbat service, during the High Holidays services, and at any adult education or other event when they get a request for an interpreter.

Maureen Chalmers of Oxford is one of Temple Sinai's main sign language interpreters.

She signed at the temple's religious school for five or six years when some deaf children were enrolled, and at bar and bat mitzvahs as well.

Chalmers, who is not Jewish, said that signing during Sunday school for young children helped her to learn a lot about the basics of Judaism.

Like most interpreters, Chalmers does not sign the Hebrew that is spoken during services, but only what the rabbi or teacher says in English. She can sign basic prayers like the Shema, but most often directs those reading her signs to page numbers for Hebrew prayers so they can read along.

"There are not a lot of Jewish people with interpreting skills in the state," she said. "If there were Jewish people who could sign during services it would be incredible. I am interpreting the best that I can, and I do a good job, but I can never do it with the subtle nuances that someone who is Jewish could."

Naomi Bravin, who is Jewish and who is working toward her certification in sign language interpreting, said that she doesn't think it is necessary for interpreters at synagogues to be Jewish.

"I don't think it is necessary, but you do need to understand the content," Bravin said. "If someone is familiar with the prayers and meaning, I don't think you have to be Jewish."

Bravin, a teacher at the American School for the Deaf, began learning sign language in high school, and after getting her bachelor's degree, got her Masters from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the prominent university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Naomi was tapped by Congregation Adath Israel to serve as their sign language interpreter during their sign language pilot program this fall.

The Middletown congregation began the pilot program at the suggestion of Laurie Meotti, a member of the deaf community, who is not Jewish. An advocate for the deaf, Meotti has spent the last year contacting synagogues with regard to offering sign interpreters.

"Even though I am not Jewish, I appreciate having the opportunity to attend services at Beth Israel and have grown to love that congregation and clergy," Meotti said. "The reason why I have set about doing what I've been doing for nearly a year is because I had noticed that only one synagogue in the greater Hartford area - Temple Sinai - was routinely providing sign interpreters. I felt that deaf Jews (and non-Jews alike) ought to have more choices...so I set about trying to convince synagogues to open their doors to the deaf."

"Laurie contacted us and we developed a friendship with her," said Rabbi Seth Riemer of Adath Israel. "She really encouraged us to think about offering this service and to really think about what it means, practically, but also with an emphasis on the spiritual and moral reasons for doing it."

Adath Israel began its pilot program in the fall - despite the fact that the synagogue has no deaf members. Naomi Bravin signed at several events organized by Adath Israel, including some adult education programs and services.

As the pilot program wraps up, Rabbi Riemer said that his congregation will have to evaluate whether the program was successful.

"I think it is a good thing to send the message - a sign of good faith - about offering services like this. Certainly, people can't say we have been indifferent."

Welcoming synagogues

Naomi Bravin - who says she will continue to be a sign language interpreter for Adath Israel if they find that they need one - herself belongs to Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford.

She met her husband, Jeff, who is deaf, when they were both working at the Lexington School for the Deaf in New York. Today, Jeff also works at the American School for the Deaf in administration. The Bravins and their three children joined Beth Israel a year ago, but visited a variety of synagogues before making their choice.

Naomi said that they have felt welcomed at every synagogue they attended.

"Every place we visited was welcoming and was open to the idea of getting interpreters," she said. "Every synagogue was willing to do what was needed in order for us to make us feel comfortable and welcomed at services if we were to become members."

Despite her skill as an interpreter, Naomi said she prefers not to act as an interpreter at her own shul.

"One of the downsides of being Jewish and interpreting is that for the big holidays, I want to be with my family, observing the holiday myself," she said. "That is the hard part - you want the service to be interpreted, but it is hard to interpret if you are celebrating the holiday yourself."

Serving everyone's needs

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs of Beth Israel said that he was first sensitized to the needs of the deaf community when he worked in Nashville with Rabbi Beth Davidson, who is a sign language interpreter.

He became even more aware of the importance of offering sign language for those who need it while officiating at a funeral where a deaf person was one of the mourners.

"The family had brought a sign interpreter to convey my message to that person," Rabbi Fuchs said.

"I was impressed with [the interpreter's] spirituality and empathy as well as the beauty of the sign interpretation that I again began to think about how we might better serve the needs of this underserved population."

The interpreter at the funeral was Naomi Bravin.

"The Bravins joined Beth Israel and, now the issue was more direct," Rabbi Fuchs said. "Unless we could have sign interpreters, one of our own members would be left out of the worship experience."

With a donation by a congregation member and the assistance of Beth Israel's librarian, Jane Zande, who began coordinating the effort, the congregation began to hire interpreters for some services.

"I hope the day comes when we can do it all the time," Rabbi Fuchs said. "It is a most gratifying feeling to know that this effort on our part opens up a warm meaningful worship experience to a population who previously was unable to participate fully."
 
shalom and hello

I am hearing impaired in north Carolina and I am going to say the least I can say I am very very frustrated with synagogues here that don't have anyone to sign for the deaf or hard of hearing. like myself and we have jewish deaf in the community but the problem is just that I am not sure how its gonna work out that we can get any signers I currently am working on making aliyah to Israel and jewish agency are pushing for me to get a letter from rabbi after becoming involved in jewish community as they want to know my involvement in the community what I am doing etc. this was a headache, and I send a message to one more synagogue in Winston salem NC to see of anything there its cost money to move from one city to another. that's gonna cause problems but I am trying to get back into synagogue life as before and have a place to be and then once there for how long then I can get a letter from him about my involvement in the jewish community what I was doing and all that for jewish agency. any idea or anything will be helpful thank you so much
 
Jewish Deaf Congress, Inc.
Contact Us - Jewish Deaf Resource Center


Have you tried reaching out to the Jewish Deaf Resource Center or any other Jewish Deaf agencies? I wasn't sure if you had done that part since you mentioned you have been reaching out to a jewish agency (hearing?). These links above may be able to help you direct to the correct agencies that could provide the interpreters you need.
 
:wave:Shalom, ariel

I like those links Jolie gave you....there are a couple of d/Deaf or d/Deaf-friendly synagogues in the States but wasn't aware of any exactly where you are.
I'll give you the links anyway:

http://www.tbsdeafjewish.org/<Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf>

and <different>

Congregation Bene Shalom - Home
 
Well.......I'm not a Jew, but I lived with one for years, (she was a bad Jew but......she still was one).and I've been to synagogue, granted I went to drink with the rabbi after it, but........
All I can stay
Purim rocks.......getting smashed and trying to recite the Hebrew alphabet backwards
Badass!!,
Other then that
I can't offer much here.....
Shalom
 
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Well.......I'm not a Jew, but I lived with one for years, (she was a bad Jew but......she still was one).and I've been to synagogue, granted I went to drink with the rabbi after it, but........
All I can stay
Purim rocks.......getting smashed and trying to recite the Hebrew alphabet backwards
Badass!!,
Other then that
I can't offer much here.....
Shalom

Could explain what you mean about being a " bad Jew" . And I really feel only a Jewish person should use the words "A Jew"., Whenever I heard anyone that not Jewish say 'a Jew' it was used as an insult to me.
 
Well.......I'm not a Jew, but I lived with one for years, (she was a bad Jew but......she still was one).and I've been to synagogue, granted I went to drink with the rabbi after it, but........
All I can stay
Purim rocks.......getting smashed and trying to recite the Hebrew alphabet backwards
Badass!!,
Other then that
I can't offer much here.....
Shalom

Then why did you come here to made a comment about person that you did not like . If the person was not Jewish would you had taken the time to post about them? I am reading between the lines and do not like what I see.
 
Then why did you come here to made a comment about person that you did not like . If the person was not Jewish would you had taken the time to post about them? I am reading between the lines and do not like what I see.

maybe it was referred as a person who was bad at the religion? I'm trying to think positive I kinda know where youre coming from with the way it was implied.

I've heard of "bad Catholics" "bad Christian" whatever "bad dog owner" "bad parent" its an adjective to describe something.

people suck regardless of whatever label it was for. The way he said bad jew it did jump out on me, it took me few seconds to realize he didn't imply it that way I first thought until I figured the other way to explain it.

Why bother to comment many things in many different threads? Alldeaf will be alldead if we didn't comment on things, including our reactions. lol
 
maybe it was referred as a person who was bad at the religion? I'm trying to think positive I kinda know where youre coming from with the way it was implied.

I've heard of "bad Catholics" "bad Christian" whatever "bad dog owner" "bad parent" its an adjective to describe something.

people suck regardless of whatever label it was for. The way he said bad jew it did jump out on me, it took me few seconds to realize he didn't imply it that way I first thought until I figured the other way to explain it.

Why bother to comment many things in many different threads? Alldeaf will be alldead if we didn't comment on things, including our reactions. lol

That was not my point. This thread is about temples being deaf friendly and for someone to come say they have nothing to say about this but they do know a bad 'Jew' is rather strange to me. And did you notice that spelled out words Catholics and Christian but the person said bad "Jew' and like I said when people said 'Jew' to me it was as insult . I never heard the word 'Jew' used in a good way.
 
I have friends who are Jews, and that is what they call themselves, in a good way. In fact, one friend told me that he wasn't "Jew-ish"--he was a Jew. He said, "I'm not 'ish' anything; ish means like a Jew but not really one." That's what he said. Even though some people might use the term in a negative way he wasn't going to let them hijack his heritage.

I guess it's a personal preference, depending on your experiences.
 
I have friends who are Jews, and that is what they call themselves, in a good way. In fact, one friend told me that he wasn't "Jew-ish"--he was a Jew. He said, "I'm not 'ish' anything; ish means like a Jew but not really one." That's what he said. Even though some people might use the term in a negative way he wasn't going to let them hijack his heritage.

I guess it's a personal preference, depending on your experiences.

Not really. It's commonly thought of as insulting among people of Jewish heritage.

The proper term to use when referring to someone of Jewish ancestry or a member of the Jewish faith is “Jewish,” although “Jew” is technically correct. However, “Jew” has become laden with negative connotations which have led most people to conclude that it should not be utilized in polite conversation, for fear of being viewed as an insult. The plural form, “Jews,” along with “Jewry” to refer collectively to Jewish people around the world, is appropriate for use in most regions, although individual people may express personal preferences which should be respected.


Unfortunately, antisemitic attitudes about Jewish people have persisted worldwide for centuries. As a result, these attitudes have shifted the way in which people view the word “Jew.” Technically, however, it is just a proper noun used to describe a person of this ancestry or faith without awkward circumlocutions.

The issue is that “Jew” is often used as a pejorative. Antisemitic rhetoric refers to “dirty Jews” and uses “Jew” as though it is an insult, rather than an adjective, and as a result, it sounds jarring to hear someone referred to as “a Jew,” rather than “Jewish.” Furthermore, the word has also historically been used to describe being cheated out of something, as in “I got Jewed on that deal,” referencing a widely-held stereotype that Jews are greedy swindlers.

Should I Say "Jew" or "Jewish"? (with pictures)
 
Not really. It's commonly thought of as insulting among people of Jewish heritage.
Not among all. I know many people of Jewish heritage who proudly call themselves Jews.

It depends on how the words are used, and who is using them. Not everyone uses words/names the same way.

However, if it offends someone to be called a Jew I wouldn't purposely say that to the person.

It would be wonderful to see people of Jewish heritage take back ownership of their name from those who misused and abused it. I guess we haven't arrived there yet. :(
 
Interesting that the linked article uses a picture with a caption that uses "Jew" despite what it says in the article.

Did you notice the picture above that and understand it was explaining how the two words are used?
 
Did you notice the picture above that and understand it was explaining how the two words are used?
It shows that there is a correct usage for the term. It's all about context.
 
I have friends who are Jews, and that is what they call themselves, in a good way. In fact, one friend told me that he wasn't "Jew-ish"--he was a Jew. He said, "I'm not 'ish' anything; ish means like a Jew but not really one." That's what he said. Even though some people might use the term in a negative way he wasn't going to let them hijack his heritage.

I guess it's a personal preference, depending on your experiences.

That is it. I feel it nothing wrong for a Jewish person to call their self a "Jew" and had said this before. People had said a number of times in front of me that they 'Jew' them down! " when they got a good deal . And I wanted to say one woman who was my daughter's teacher No. she "N" them down!" And she how she liked it.
 
<quote from WDYS>: 'People had said a number of times in front of me that they 'Jew' them down! " ' <end quote>

This happened to my mom a couple of years ago. She was part of a group of community activists working on a public park project and someone just shot that out.
 
That is it. I feel it nothing wrong for a Jewish person to call their self a "Jew" and had said this before. People had said a number of times in front of me that they 'Jew' them down! " when they got a good deal . And I wanted to say one woman who was my daughter's teacher No. she "N" them down!" And she how she liked it.
Yes, that's a very low class way to use Jew as a derogatory verb. I've heard mostly older people say that; I hope younger people are getting away from that use.
 
<quote from WDYS>: 'People had said a number of times in front of me that they 'Jew' them down! " ' <end quote>

This happened to my mom a couple of years ago. She was part of a group of community activists working on a public park project and someone just shot that out.
:(
 
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