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Sukkot event to be held in American Sign Language - RocNow.com
The festival of Sukkot, when the Jewish people give thanks for the harvest and commemorate the 40 years in the desert after the exodus from Egypt, may be more special for Rochester’s deaf community this year.
For the first time, there will be a celebration in American Sign Language.
“We recognize that the deaf culture is a special culture,” said Rabbi Asher Yaras of Chabad Lubavitch of Rochester, which is organizing “Sukkot with the Entire Rochester Jewish Deaf Community” at the Hillel Community Day School. “There’s no reason for them to be deprived of a Jewish opportunity.”
Rabbinical student Joshua Soudakoff of Los Angeles, who is deaf, will lead the event, which begins at 6 p.m. Monday. Soudakoff, 19, is returning to Rochester after participating in a summer program with Chabad.
The prospect of a Jewish celebration in ASL was exciting to 16-year-old Hannah Metlay of Brighton, a student at Rochester School for the Deaf.
“I have to convince my mom to go,” she said through an interpreter.
Hannah’s father is president of Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel. When Hannah was younger, her mother would interpret for her at synagogue. In any setting, the teen said it can be difficult to follow a conversation when most of it is in English.
Celebrating Sukkot in ASL would increase her interest and understanding. “I can follow what’s going on.”
Soudakoff is from a second-generation deaf family. He wrote in an e-mail that he grew up without formal Jewish education. His mother ran the Jewish Deaf Community Center, a nonprofit educational, religious and charitable organization, and hosted Jewish events in their home for the deaf community.
He wrote that on Monday, he would be discussing the theme of Sukkot, telling stories and answering any questions.
According to the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, there isn’t a census of local Jewish deaf people. Last year’s survey didn’t expressly ask about concerns of the deaf population when it inquired about people with special needs. Sign language interpreters are available at Jewish events.
“You want the Jewish world to be completely accessible to everyone,” said Suzie Lyon, director of education at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Brighton. “You want them to feel attachment.”
Soudakoff wrote that Jewish deaf people would not have the same experience at a mainstream event, and Hannah agreed. Having an event in her language would make it more inspiring, she said.
“I love to socialize with deaf Jewish people. There’s only a few my age.”
Hannah said that need can be even greater for younger Jewish children.
“It’s so important for them to be able to meet other deaf kids and older teenagers so they’re not so isolated.”
The festival of Sukkot, when the Jewish people give thanks for the harvest and commemorate the 40 years in the desert after the exodus from Egypt, may be more special for Rochester’s deaf community this year.
For the first time, there will be a celebration in American Sign Language.
“We recognize that the deaf culture is a special culture,” said Rabbi Asher Yaras of Chabad Lubavitch of Rochester, which is organizing “Sukkot with the Entire Rochester Jewish Deaf Community” at the Hillel Community Day School. “There’s no reason for them to be deprived of a Jewish opportunity.”
Rabbinical student Joshua Soudakoff of Los Angeles, who is deaf, will lead the event, which begins at 6 p.m. Monday. Soudakoff, 19, is returning to Rochester after participating in a summer program with Chabad.
The prospect of a Jewish celebration in ASL was exciting to 16-year-old Hannah Metlay of Brighton, a student at Rochester School for the Deaf.
“I have to convince my mom to go,” she said through an interpreter.
Hannah’s father is president of Congregation Beth Hamedresh-Beth Israel. When Hannah was younger, her mother would interpret for her at synagogue. In any setting, the teen said it can be difficult to follow a conversation when most of it is in English.
Celebrating Sukkot in ASL would increase her interest and understanding. “I can follow what’s going on.”
Soudakoff is from a second-generation deaf family. He wrote in an e-mail that he grew up without formal Jewish education. His mother ran the Jewish Deaf Community Center, a nonprofit educational, religious and charitable organization, and hosted Jewish events in their home for the deaf community.
He wrote that on Monday, he would be discussing the theme of Sukkot, telling stories and answering any questions.
According to the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, there isn’t a census of local Jewish deaf people. Last year’s survey didn’t expressly ask about concerns of the deaf population when it inquired about people with special needs. Sign language interpreters are available at Jewish events.
“You want the Jewish world to be completely accessible to everyone,” said Suzie Lyon, director of education at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Brighton. “You want them to feel attachment.”
Soudakoff wrote that Jewish deaf people would not have the same experience at a mainstream event, and Hannah agreed. Having an event in her language would make it more inspiring, she said.
“I love to socialize with deaf Jewish people. There’s only a few my age.”
Hannah said that need can be even greater for younger Jewish children.
“It’s so important for them to be able to meet other deaf kids and older teenagers so they’re not so isolated.”