Blog

• 

  An Adventure Among (Head)Stones

  By Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff

  Director, Jewish Deaf Multimedia

  
  

  A quick trivia question for you: Who was the first person to teach a deaf person to speak?

  The answer: A Jew by the name of Jacob Péreire.

  Yeah, I was suprised too. But according to Wikipedia: 

  Jacob Rodrigue Péreire formulated signs for numbers and punctuation and adapted Juan Pablo Bonet's manual alphabet by adding 30 handshapes each corresponding to a sound instead of to a letter. He is therefore seen as one of the inventors of manual language for the deaf and is credited with being the first person to teach a non-verbal deaf person to speak.

  So bascially he invented a form of Cued Speech, and used it to teach deaf people to understand the concept of sounds. From there, he was able to teach deaf people to speak. Interesting, huh?

  When I was in Paris last month for a friend's wedding, I was assigned the task (by my dear step-father Kenneth Rothschild) of visiting Monsieur Péreire's resting place to take some photos of the tombstone. So I asked a friend to join me, and off we went.

  

  We arrived at the cemetery - the Cimetière de Montmartre, to be exact. Sandwiched at all sides by the bustling streets of Paris, it is a quiet and introspective place to visit. We knew that the cemetery was a non-Jewish one, so we were a little suprised at the fact that Jacob Péreire was buried here. And in fact, we were quite creeped out by the sight of rows of hundreds of Gothic-style burial masoleums with non-Jewish statues and motifs. It was definitely a place where we would never want to be alone at night. My friend and I even had a little laugh at the fact that there were so many "For Sale" signs plastered on the windows of a tall apartment building nearby. Who would want to live near here?

  We entered the front office and asked about this Jacob guy. The lady at the front desk said, "Aha! I know who you are talking about." She proceeded to look him up in an ancient tome with lists of burial plot locations. She found the right entry, and circled the location on a copy of the cemetery map for us.

  We walked through the cemetery, taking in the "foreign" sights, and continuing to wonder why Jacob would be buried here. Finally, we came across to a section where the names started to become familiar - a "Nachum" here, a "Chaim" there, a "Judah" over there. It was the Jewish section of the cemetery. That explains.

  It was quite interesting to see how run-over some of the tombstones looked; they seemed to be hundreds of years old. Vines were growing on many of them, and some seemed broken, perhaps from age. We examined each tombstone, trying to find the familiar Péreire name, but with no luck.

  Then we saw it (translated here to English):

  JACOB RODRIGUES PEREIRE

  THE FIRST TEACHER OF DEAF-MUTES

  IN FRANCE

  A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PORTUGUESE JEWISH NATION

  OF BORDEAUX AND BAYONNE

  MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

  INTERPRETER AND GUEST OF THE KING

  BORN IN BERLANGA, SPAIN 11 APRIL 1715

  DIED IN PARIS 17 SEPTEMBER 1780

  His tombstone was so big, listing many of his descendants (some of whom are illustrious in their own right). It seemed well-kept, even though we did not see any other visitors around. It felt like we were the only living people for miles around, surrounded by bone and stone. 

  We spent a few moments examining Monsieur Péreire's resting place and marveling at the opportunity of seeing a bit of Deaf history before our eyes.

  But then it hit us - he was Jewish too. My friend asked, perhaps more rhetorically than anything else, "I wonder if anyone has said any prayers at this spot...?" On the spot, we took out our prayer books and started reciting a couple of Psalms.

  Before we ended our visit, we knew that we couldn't leave without leaving a stone on his tomb. An ancient Jewish tradition, it represents perhaps the concept of a continued presence. Just as the toughness of a stone bespeaks endurance and persistence, so too should the memories and influences of departed ones be. It is as if we are saying to the soul, "We have not forgotten you. You still have a presence here in this world."

  Indeed, Jacob Péreire's influence is still here. He started off a new approach in the training and development of deaf children, and it continues to develop all the way up to today.

  But more importantly, he looked at deaf people and saw our potential. He knew that there was more to us, even though we seemed to be devoid of any language. And he labored to draw out that potential into the open. Aristotle pushed aside all deaf people, believing that it was impossible for us to learn anything. Many philosophers and educators followed in his tradition. But Jacob thought otherwise. He believed in us.

  It behooves us all to think about our great potential, and to work to actualize it. Jacob Péreire would expect no less of us.

  The stones my friend and I placed on his gravestone, I hope, will serve as a lasting reminder for us.

• 

  Moving Tales From a Dark Past

  By Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff

  Director, Jewish Deaf Multimedia

  
  

  Last week, I had the honor of meeting with a Holocaust survivor. And not just any Holocaust survivor - a Deaf Holocaust survivor.

  I went to Los Angeles, California to celebrate the recent Passover holiday with my parents and family. While I was there, I recalled that there was a Jewish Deaf woman by the name of Herta Myers living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our families knew each other well.

  I decided to reach out to Herta and ask if she would have time for a video interview. She said yes, and so I immediately scheduled a quick trip to Las Vegas (a 4 1/2 hour drive from LA). It was important to me to do this interview, for several reasons: 1) Not everyone has the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust from a first-hand source, especially from a Deaf person. 2) Herta's story is fascinating and yet somber at the same time, and I felt that it was important for our JDMM viewers to hear it. 3) As Hillel famously said, "If not now, when?" (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14)

  

  In the end, it was a seven-hour long interview, two hours of it on video. As Herta showed me documents and pictures from her pre-war years, I listened with enjoyment and fascination. She described her Deaf parents, and I felt like I could identify strongly with them. After all, they were Jewish Deaf people who lived traditional lives in the heart of a Jewish community, just like me. Unfortunately, they were brought to Auschwitz and never came out. I will never get the chance to meet them.

  Herta described her childhood memories of her family, explained how her parents sent her and her sister (who is one year and half older than her, and hearing) to a farm in the country to hide out the war, and how they returned to an empty home. She shared the chain of events that eventually led them to being transported to Bergen Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp in Germany, and how they survived 11 months in that hell.

  By the time the interview finished, I knew that it was definitely worth every minute of my time to come to Las Vegas and meet with her. Let me tell you this: Herta is an amazing person who has been through so much, and there is a lot to be learned from her and her experiences.

  I look forward to releasing the edited and captioned video of our interview in the upcoming weeks! But in the meantime, I want to share with you a couple of powerful moments from her story:

  Herta and her sister were waiting in line to be selected by the Nazi doctor in charge of admissions to Bergen Belsen. Finally, they came to the head of the line, and the doctor took a look at Herta's sister, and sent her to the right - to live. Then the doctor turned to Herta and started speaking to her. Herta's sister interrupted, explaining that Herta was deaf and couldn't understand what he was saying. Naturally, upon hearing this relevation, the doctor told Herta to go to the left. 

  "I do not remember what happened at that moment - I remember what happened just before, and right after, but I only know about that moment because my sister told me," said Herta. 

  Well, what happened? Herta's sister, horrified at what was about to happen, abandoned all sense and immediately bit the doctor! Luckily for them, "the doctor had a heart, and he let us go to the right together," explained Herta.

  - - - - - - - - - - -

  Many years after the war, Herta's sister sent her a poem that she wrote about the Holocaust. At the end, she wrote a note thanking her for all that she did to help her during those dark days.

  Herta was quite surprised, because it had been her hearing sister who did everything for her. She had served as Herta's ears, telling her what was going on at every step of their journey. So she spoke to her sister and asked her why she had written that in her note.

  Her sister explained that when they were in the concentration camp, she had often lost her will to live. But then she remembered her promise to their parents that if anything happened to them, she would be responsible to watch over Herta, her younger sister. So she knew that she had to keep on living. She just had to. At the same time, Herta was always positive and urged her sister to keep on going forward, imagining a day when they would be free from suffering.

  "More than what I did for you, you did for me," Herta quoted her sister as saying.

  The way she described this was powerful, and I believe it frames the Holocaust in a different way vis-a-vis deaf people. Despite the fact that deaf people were often in a more dangerous position because of their inability to hear, they still had much to offer and give back to the people around them. 

  If there's anything that Herta's story teaches us, it's the power of Deaf people.

• 

  DeafNation - Again!

  A couple of weeks ago, Jewish Deaf Multimedia had a booth at the DeafNation World Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. And it was a smashing success!

  We gave out free bookmarks with information about our website and what we do. We offered people the chance to do a mitzvah and put on tefillin. We gave out candle-lighting kits for Shabbat. We schmoozed with passerbys and explained what exactly we do. All in all, it was very meaningful, and we feel we were able to reach out to more people than before by having a booth.

  

  One of the highlights of our presence at the expo was the daily raffle. We sold many tickets, and the lucky winners went home with an autographed copy of "Toward a Meaningful Life" and an exclusive JDMM T-shirt!

  The three winners were David Birnbaum of Maryland, Scott Kramer of California, and Joan Revell of Arizona. Congratulations again!

  We were also able to meet and greet so many new faces. Every time a person came to our booth and said that he or she never saw our website before, it put a smile on our faces - "Now you have!"

  Among the highlights of the three-day booth experience:

  - When we asked a passerby if he was by any chance Jewish, his eyes popped out, and he said, "Why are you asking me that question?!" (Yep, he was Jewish.)

  - "FINALLY!" That was what one woman said when she spotted our booth. "I am so thrilled to see a Jewish presence at a deaf event!" Yes, you got it exactly - finally!

  - "Would you like a brochure?" That was the constant refrain we received from wandering missionaries on their quest to find the next victim. Of course, we politely declined. Every time. It is always sad to discover another well-meaning deaf Jew who abandoned his three-thousand-years-old heritage only because he never had a chance to learn what it is all about. It is things like this that embolden our commitment to bring the beauty and depth of Judaism to every single Jewish deaf person out there.

  - "Do you, um, maybe have something for interpreters?" Of course, we do! We have a fantastic resource - the Jewish Signs Glossary. We highly recommend you check it out, if you haven't. It is a great place for the novice signer of Jewish terms to visit. (If you see words that are not yet listed, please tell us!)

  - "For you, I am absolutely going to put on tefillin!" That was what a visitor from Finland told us, when we offered him the chance to put on tefillin. He had declined similar earlier offers from hearing people, because of the language barrier. But here at DeafNation - as Joel Barish puts it - there are "no barriers"! For more on this story, read this article.

  If you were among the donors who helped out with the expenses for having a booth at the expo - thank you! 

  If you were one of the kind volunteers who helped us man the booth - thank you! 

  If you stopped by our booth for a few moments of inspiration - thank you! 

  If you supported our efforts with the purchase of a raffle ticket - thank you!

  And even if you did not come to our booth, don't fret - we are here on the Internet all year around! You know where to find us, be it to make a donation, to ask for spiritual help, or to receive some good authenic Jewish inspiration!

• 

  Transforming Tears

  Tisha B'Av, observed this year on Sunday, July 29, is one of the solemnest days on the Jewish calendar.

  The Talmud (Ta'anis 30b) writes:

  "And the entire congregation lifted up their voice, and cried aloud, and the people wept that night." [Numb. 24:1]

  Said Rabba in the name of Rabbi Yohanan: "That night was the eve preceding Tisha B'Av, and the Holy One, blessed be He, said: 'You have cried on this night in vain, and I shall ordain it that your generations shall lament on this day forever.'"

  The Talmud is referring to the story of the Twelve Spies. Just before the Jews were to enter the Land of Israel, they wanted to send ahead some spies to make sure the country was suitable for them to conquer. 

  However, when the spies came back, ten of them proclaimed, "We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we!" (Numbers 13:31). As a result, the Jews broke into tears; they did not want to enter Israel on a seemingly "suicide mission".

  Sadly, these tears shed in vain were transformed into true tears, as calamity after calamity befell the Jews on that very day - Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av.

  • On that very first Tisha B'Av, the Jews were decreed to wander the desert for 40 years.

  • The First and Second Temples in Jerusalem were both destroyed on Tisha B'Av.

  • The Spanish Inquisiton started expelling Jews from Spain on Tisha B'Av.

  • World War I broke out on the eve of Tisha B'Av as Germany declared war on Russia, in 1914.

  • The liquidization of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942 started on the eve of Tisha B'Av.

  It is clear from this list that so many Jewish national tragedies took place on the same unlucky day. It is for this reason that the sign for Tisha B'Av depicts a tear falling on one's cheek, reflecting the sadness of the day that came around all because of tears of vain. (See here for a video demonstration.) 

  However, these tears can be - and will be - transformed into tears of joy! When Jerusalem is rebuilt once again in the Days of Moshiach, Tisha B'Av will no longer be commemorated as a mournful day of fasting; instead, we will rejoice with food and happiness!

  But how will this come along? By fixing the cause of the problem, we will be able to solve the issue.

  What caused the Temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed? The Talmud tells us that Jews in that era treated each other with baseless hatred, and so G-d decided to take away the Temple.

  So, the solution is: treat each other with baseless love! In this way, we will fix the problem that has plagued for us so long. (See the "Moshiach 101: Fixing the Destruction of the Temple" video for more on this!)

  Reach out to your fellow Jew.

  Show caring towards others.

  Be there for your fellow.

  Have a open heart and an open mind.

  Only then will we merit to have tears of joy.

• 

  Are You Cheresh Or What?

  “A deaf person, a mentally-insane person, and a minor are exempt from the commandments.” 

  - The Babylonian Talmud

   

  Do you see something wrong with the above quote? I do.

  No, it’s not what you’re thinking.

  The law is right.  It’s just that one word in the quote is wrong. And wrong only in English.

  You see, the rabbis of the Talmud did not speak English. They spoke in Aramaic and Hebrew. And when they said the above quote, they most distinctly said: “A cheresh, a shoteh, and a katan are exempt from the commandments.” They never used the English word “deaf.”

  Now, that’s a big difference.

  A shoteh has commonly been translated into English as a “mentally-insane person” (or the like). It refers to a person who does not have the mental capacity to understand his/her legal obligations. In such a case, Jewish law does not expect the person to be able to follow the law.  Honestly, how could it be otherwise? They do not even understand the difference between right and wrong. (Think of all the court cases where the defendant pleaded the “insanity defense.” Even secular law recognizes this distinction in mental understanding.)

  The same goes for a katan. This refers to a minor – a child under the age of mitzvah-obligation. In Jewish law, this means someone who is under 13 years old, for a boy, or under 12 years old, for a girl. Generally, children of such ages are not wise or experienced enough to be considered responsible enough to follow the law. And so Jewish law recognizes this fact, and it exempts them from being legally responsible. After all, we do not put seven year old murderers behind bars (G-d forbid).

  Now… what, really, is a cheresh? If you really thought it meant you, well – surprise! It doesn’t. Let me explain why you are not a cheresh and thus not considered exempt from the commandments.

  First of all, let us take a look at the words of the Rambam, one of the foremost rabbis of all time. This quote is taken from his magnum opus of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah. (May I also add that he wrote this in the 12^th century, long before any deaf-rights movements were born?)

  “Whenever the terms cheresh and chereshet are used, they refer to a male or female deaf mute, respectively. If, however, a person can speak but cannot hear, or can hear but cannot speak, he is considered to be an ordinary person.”

  - Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Ishus, 2:26

  Now, are you starting to see why you are not a cheresh? Because you have a voice. Maybe it is not so clear, but you have one. A cheresh doesn’t. Today, we would call such a person a deaf-mute. And we all know we (regular) deaf people aren’t that.

  There is one other thing that is important to mention. It naturally goes without saying that your intelligence also counts. Even a person who hears and speaks would not be obligated in the commandments if he did not have sufficient mental capacity (remember the shoteh we talked about above?).

  So if you’re reading this, and you understand what I'm talking about, I think it’s safe to say you’re not a cheresh. You’re just deaf.  Yeah, I’m sorry – just deaf. (There goes your career.)

  Are you surprised? Well, I bet they didn’t show you that in Hebrew school. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.

  So what does all this mean? Oh yes. You and I both have got a lot of work to do. We both are obligated in all the mitzvos that we are capable of doing.

  You see, you were put into this world to be somebody special. I mean, if you didn’t have a purpose down here, why the heck are you here now? G-d doesn’t make mistakes.

  So you are here to accomplish something. And what exactly is that something? In the words of a fundamental Chassidic text, the Tanya: “The purpose of the creation of every Jew and of all the worlds is to make a dwelling place for G-d in this world” (Chapter 33).

  How do we bring G-d down here in our world? Isn’t He oh-so-lofty and oh-so-infinite that He simply has nothing to do with us down here?

  Nope. It’s the opposite. Precisely because He is so infinite, He can be here. And even more – He can feel at home here! G-d, by definition, is unlimited in His ability to be everywhere, including down here in our cozy little world.

  And this is accomplished through revealing the essence of G-dliness in all we do. We don’t just eat; we eat to have the energy to be good Jews. We don’t just do nice things; we do mitzvahs. We don’t just learn wise stuff; we learn G-d’s wisdom.

  As a deaf person, you are – without a question – a honored member of this club. What club? Club “Bringing-G-d-Down-Here.” G-d has blessed you with the ability and understanding to accomplish great things in this world – through the mitzvos. We should use this blessing to its fullest.

  After all, a blessing should never go to waste.

• 

  Hebrew's Origins - As Proved by a Deaf Person

  The Torah teaches us: "G-d looked into the Torah and created the world" (Zohar Shemos 161b). And the Torah, of course, is originally written in Hebrew. That makes Hebrew the first language to ever exist. Kabbalistic writings are full of references to Hebrew as the "building blocks" that gave life (and continually gives life) to the world as we know it (see Tanya - Shaar Hayichud Vehaemunah for instance).

  But did you know that a deaf person played an important role in scientifically proving this idea through an experiment?

  Francis Mercury van Helmont, a Belgian scientist who lived in the seventeenth century, was a curious man. He spent much time trying to discover which language was the most natural for a person to speak - a language that the soul found expression most naturally. He identified it as Hebrew in his first publication, the Alphabeti veri naturalis hebraici brevissima delineatio (or in other words, the Alphabet of Nature). 

  In this book, he described how the sounds of Hebrew were the most suited for a human speaker. He found that the Hebrew alphabet was essentially a "pronouncation guide" for the full range of human speech; each position that the tongue could take in the mouth to make a sound was represented by a Hebrew letter. He truly believed that people were divinely created to be native Hebrew-speakers.

  And how did he prove his thesis? By teaching a deaf person to speak in just three weeks! He instructed him on how to form the sounds of the Hebrew alphabet with his tongue. From the rapid success of this experiment, van Helmont concluded that Hebrew was the most natural language for speaking. 

  All this is certainly food for thought: are we deaf people living proof of the ancient words of the Zohar? While we certainly didn't need van Helmont's experiment to assure us of the truth of the Torah's assertion that Hebrew is the world's first language, it is nevertheless enboldening to think how deaf people could play a role in demonstrating this. True, his experiment would never have merit today in the face of rigorous scientific standards, but the point remains the same: van Helmont thought the proof could be found in deaf people, which is an intriguing idea in itself.

  Hebrew speech lessons, anyone?

  (Special thanks to Kenneth Rothschild and Yves Delaporte for inspiring this article!)

• 

  Soldiers in His Army

  A recent article published by Arutz Sheva reports a decision by the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) to extend a course in sign language for its soldiers to a second round. The initial course was created out of a spirit of inclusion for the IDF's estimated 100 or more deaf soldiers. It provides an opportunity for soldiers who work alongside their deaf peers to learn how to communicate efficiently with them.

  As with every thing that happens in life, there is a lesson. But what exactly is it?

  The Jewish people are called the army of G-d - as it says in the Torah regarding the Jews' departure from Egypt: "And it came to pass in that very day, that all the troops of the Lord went out. . ." (Exodus 12:41). Just as every single soldier is a critical component in a battalion, so too is every Jew a invaluable part of the community. Every person has a role and a mission to accomplish. And just as a soldier utilizes various kinds of artillery, so too is it for a Jew; the many commandments found in the Torah are the means through which a Jew can vanquish the darkness of the world. 

  You may have been thinking all these years that deaf people have never had anything to do with the Jewish community, and that they shouldn't try to change that. Let deaf people be deaf people, and (hearing) Jews be Jews. 

  Nope! Instead of drawing barriers and separating Jew from Jew, let us instead form unions and bridges. If we already are seeing the IDF making a sincere effort to include deaf soldiers in the national army, we must know that it is all the more so true in regard to G-d's eternal army: the Jewish nation. Deaf Jews are as welcome as any other Jew in the Jewish community. Remember that - and take advantage of this.

  But that's not all.

  You, my fellow deaf soldier, are part of the army. The Army of Judaism, that is. And as any good soldier, training is essential.

  The question, then, is: Have you fulfilled your obligation as a solider to train yourself in the basics and fundamentals of your heritage? It is a question that every Jew should constantly ask of themselves through their entire lifetimes.

  Have you asked yourself this question today?

• 

  Being Deaf in the Era of Moshiach

  Who hasn't dreamed of Moshiach's arrival? 

  For thousands of years, Jews have believed and awaited for Moshiach - the Jewish messiah - to arrive and usher the world into a new era of perfection. (For more information, please visit our new section on Moshiach - Moshiach 101!)

  Interestingly, one of the main things that will happen in this era is that people will regain full function of their bodies. Blind people will be able to open their eyes and see. People who wheeled around in wheelchairs for their full lives will be able to get up and walk. Paralyzed people will be able to move their entire bodies.

  And, yes, deaf people will become hearing.

  What? Are you kidding me? Does that mean there will be an end to the deaf community as we know it today? Let's get together and protest against Moshiach's arrival! 

  Before you start using words like "audism" and "discrimination", please hold your horses (and perhaps feed them – they’ll be waiting for a while).

  Just because we will gain a new sense of hearing, does that mean we have to shut down our deaf clubs (if they weren’t closed down already)? Does that mean we will have to wipe our memories clean of sign language? Does that mean we will have to cancel our upcoming “Silent Weekends” and fire all of our sign language teachers?

  Nope. Did you hear us saying that? All we said was that we would hear.

  Just as hearing people today can hear and communicate in sign language and participate in the deaf world, so too will it be when Moshiach comes. We will remain a close-knit community of friends with mutual interests and common cultural identities. But we will also hear. So what?

  But, really, if we’re saying “So what?”. . . what, indeed, is the point of hearing when Moshiach comes?

  Let us put it in this way:

  It’s been amazing to be deaf, especially in today’s world of advanced technology. As any new student of deaf culture and sign language would say, “This is so cool!” As deaf people, we know how beautiful our culture is, and how much value there is to it.

  But Moshiach is all about an ultimate world. It is all about having the best of both worlds – of both the deaf world, and yes, the hearing world. And they are not necessarily mutually exclusive (as we mentioned above). It will be like holding dual-citizenship.

  When Moshiach comes, we will hear the spiritually-powerful blast of the shofar. When Moshiach comes, we will follow along with the sweet words of the Purim Megillah. When Moshiach comes, we will really listen to our synagogue rabbis’ speeches (oops, maybe that one wasn't a good example).

  And above all – we will remain the proud deaf Jews we are today.

• 

  It's All About the Perspective

  In this week's parsha video (Parshas Ki Savo), we explain how changing our perspective on an issue can cause us to be happy. We illustrated this through three stories from three different eras.

  But now it is time for YOU to share your perspective with us! 

  Please join in the discussion by answering the following question (sticking to all the rules of common courtesty, of course). To add your thoughts, type them as a comment below.

  What importance do you place on having a Jewish education?

  (Please explain your ideas with details)

• 

  Boldly Standing Up

  One of the main features of the DeafPeople.com website is the "Deaf Person of the Month" section. It is full of "exclusive interviews with contemporary newsmakers" - the leaders in our deaf community. 

  Curiously enough (and clearly as a result of hashgacha protis - Divine providence), the man selected as the current "Deaf Person of the Month" has a strong connection with our parsha this week (Parshas Pinchas). 

  Gary Malkowski, known in the Canadian deaf community as a social activist, has for decades fought for the rights of deaf citizens in his country. Elected in 1990 as Canada's first deaf MMP (Member of Provincial Parliament), he served a five year term representing a district in Toronto. During his term, he helped ASL and LSQ earn official language status in the government.

  Though he is not Jewish, for several years now Gary has also taught in the world's only Jewish deaf high school in Toronto, Yeshivas Nefesh Dovid. He continues to give a course in civics and government.

  Gary has earned a reputation as a man of his actions; he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. He has arranged several protests in support of his deaf community. Rather than allow a situation to remain unresolved, he prefers to do something about it.

  So, nu, what connection do you think this has with this week's parsha?

  Parshas Pinchas tells the story of a man named Pinchas. He - along with the rest of the Jewish nation - saw the leader of the tribe of Simeon (Zimri) doing a terrible sin.

  But unlike Moses and the other leaders, Pinchas didn't remain silent. He boldly stood up for G-d's honor, and he punished Zimri for his action. And for his valor, he earned the honor of becoming a kohen (member of the priestly tribe). 

  As you will see in this week's parsha video, there is an eternal lesson to be taken from this story. We can remain silent in the face of public misdeed by rationalizing away our actions - "It's not my responsibility" - "Why should I do something about it?" - "I'll let someone else take care of it." And we wouldn't be punished for it, either. (After all, it technically isn't our personal responsibility.)

  Or we can take upon ourselves the burden of action. And by doing so, we will have earned reward exceeding the usual limits (click here to see this week's parsha video for more on this). It may be tough and (seemingly) unnecessary for us to do it, but the results that follow speak for themselves.

  So Gary, in a way, is one of our contemporary symbols of Pinchas' courage. 

  Do you think you have what it takes to effect change in the Jewish deaf community and beyond? Then take a tip from Pinchas and don't hesitate to do so.

• 

  Our Fans Give Their Support

  This steel JDMM Star of David was custom made and given by Arthur Yankilevich, a proud viewer of Jewish Deaf Multimedia's videos. This creative piece of artwork inspires us, for it demonstrates that our viewers appreciate and enjoy what we produce for the Jewish deaf community. 

  So why did this find its way into the JDMM Blog? Because it has a practical message for us all: if we truly believe and support in something, we should never be afraid to take action on what we stand for. Do something - make a difference - contribute to the community!

• 

  The Jewish Take on the LIS Controversy

   

  For those who have been closely following the news in the deaf community these days, the controversy surrounding LIS (Lingua dei Segni Italiana - Italian Sign Language) should be familiar.

  The Italian Senate, with the support of the deaf community in Italy, decided to pass a bill recognizing LIS as the official language for deaf people in the country. But when the bill came into the Chamber of Deputies (the Italian equivalent of the US House of Representatives), a proposal was made to change the name of the language to LMG (Linguaggio Mimico-Gestuale - Language of Mimes and Gestures). In other words, they want to "demote" LIS to a sub-language status. As the NAD explains in a press release, "[t]his classification is not only offensive but also has social, educational, and political implications that are detrimental and harmful to the deaf and hard of hearing community of Italy."

  But it is not just that. This issue also demonstrates to the world why there should be "nothing about us without us." We know instinctively that nobody can understand a situation till it is personally experienced. Until then, no judgments should be passed that have the potential to make an impact - whether good or bad. After all, if we don't understand the situation correctly, who knows what damages we can cause?

  Where do we see this idea in Judaism? 

  In Pirkei Avos! This book, also known in English as "Ethics of our Fathers," records the moral teachings of our rabbis. It says, "Hillel taught: "Don't judge your fellow until you are in his place" (2:4). 

  And it was not a coincidence that this very same rabbi was the one who famously said to the prospective convert who wanted a summary of the entire Torah while standing on one foot: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and learn it!" (Tractate Shabbos 31a). 

  The Italian legislature wants deaf people to respect its laws and judgments? Then they should make the effort to respect and recognize the beliefs of the Italian deaf community. And this includes not passing laws and judgments on the value of LIS, Italian Sign Language.

  But of course, life is a two-way street. As frustrated as we are about the Italian government's apparent disrespect to the language of Italian deaf people everywhere, we must also recognize that the government is trying to do the most they can. As representatives of Italian citizens, the members of the Italian Parliament are always trying to represent the best interests of their districts. This is why an effective solution to this issue should be based on a mutual respect of each side; of both the deaf community and the Chamber of Deputies.

  It is no coincidence that this controversy is swirling precisely during the weeks of the Sefirah count. During the days of Rabbi Akiva, twenty four thousand of his students passed away in this time period. Why? Because they were not careful to follow his emphasis on "Love your fellow as yourself," and they squabbled with each other. Ultimately, it did not matter which side was right. The main thing was to be able to reach an agreement in the peaceful and proper way.

  May the Italian deaf community be able to successfully navigate through the stormy politics surrounding LIS and secure their deserved rights; but may they also do this without relinquishing their civic duty for reaching a balanced solution in the fairest way possible. 

  For the greatest tragedy takes place when the oppressed becomes the oppressor.

• 

  The Fire Within ASL - A Lag BaOmer Thought

   

  Today is Lag BaOmer! 

  Traditionally marked on the Jewish calendar as a day of festivities, parades, bonfires, and BBQs, this holiday is celebrated all over the world as a day of Jewish unity. 

  Lag BaOmer literally means "Thirty-third day of the Omer" - a reference to the Omer count we do between the holidays of Passover and Shavuos (See the Parshas Emor video for an explanation of the Omer count!). It is also the death anniversary of the sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Rather than observing this day as a subdued day, Rabbi Shimon asked his followers to celebrate it as a joyous occasion. This is because the death of a righteous person marks the day when "all his deeds, teachings, and work" are at their perfection. And this is indeed cause for celebration!

  Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is first and foremost recognized as the author of the Zohar, the fundamental book of Kabbalah - Jewish mysticism. For many of us, the basics of Jewish mysticism are unfamiliar. For example, did you know that reincarnation is a recurring theme in Kabbalah? Or did you realize that G-d created four worlds, and not just one?

  But no matter what we know (or don't yet know), one thing is clear: the teachings of Kabbalah (and as they are explained in Chassidus) point to one ultimate vision. 

  What's that vision? A perfect world where G-d is revealed everywhere. Though our physical world today seems to be empty of an infinite G-d, it is only a temporary state; with the coming of Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah), this will change.

  The ultimate form of unity and completeness only takes place when opposite extremes come together. In the realm of Torah, this happens when the sublime and hidden teachings of Kabbalah are expressed in practical terms. 

  When the big day of revealed G-dliness comes, it will be in a way that the infinite G-d is clothed in the physicality of the world. In other words, the binding of the esoteric and the practical.

  And this brings us to our next point. There is a profound similarity between ASL and the purpose of the world. 

  What is it?

  Traditionally, there are three levels of expression - thoughts, speech, and action. ASL is unique in that it expresses one's thoughts in the form of action, and not as speech. It bypasses the faculty of speech.

  To put it in this way: sign language is the direct link between the hidden thoughts of the mind and the physicality of the human body.

  Doesn't that sound familiar? Concealed thoughts of the mind with revealed physicality = ASL. It's very similar to the way G-d wants us to bring the world to a state of G-dly revelation. Immense secrets of G-dliness with its revelation down below = the ultimate purpose of the world.

  With sign language, the concept of a total unity between the hidden and the revealed is undeniably seen. When we use ASL, we are having a foretaste of what the Messianic days will be like - when the concealed G-dliness becomes visible in our world.

  Though Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai probably doesn't know sign language, he's undoubtedly smiling and rejoicing with us on this holy day as he mediates on the sublime meaning of sign language.

  This thought - the realization that ASL is more than what it seems - should add passion and fire in every sign we form. We are not just communicating; we are demonstrating the ultimate goal of our existence.  

  And that is the fire within ASL.

• 

  DeafNation - Riverside, CA

  This past Friday, we were honored to have a physical presence at the DeafNation expo in Riverside, California. With BIS Video Relay Services as a proud sponsor, Jewish Deaf Multimedia had a booth among the hundred different booths offering services to the deaf community.

  Besides giving out free Jewish calendars and flyers about our website, we also offered visitors the opportunity to do a mitzvah. We had free Shabbat candle kits for all the Jewish women who visited our booth, and men were offered the chance to put on a traditional Jewish object: tefillin (phylacteries). And of course, we had a tzedakah (charity) box on the table!

  In the photo above, a seventy nine year old man puts on tefillin for the very first time in his life (he was jokingly told "not to wait another seventy nine years!"). It was probably more inspiring for us than it was for him.

  Why was it so important to us to be able to do this?

  We always want to reach out to another Jewish deaf person and to add some more light in his/her life. But it is not only that. it is also important to us that everybody gets the opportunity to do something.

  Sometimes it is not enough to just talk or dream up ideas. The world has been changed and transformed many times over by the actions of those who were daring enough to do something. At Jewish Deaf Multimedia, we know that it is very important to harness the power of action. (That's the reason why this blog is officially called "The Deed is the Main Thing" Blog!)

  But why would a small thing like lighting candles on Friday night or putting on tefillin change the world?

  Because these things aren't so small in reality.

  In the words of Maimonides (a twelfth-century rabbi and philosopher):

  "A person should always look at himself as equally balanced between merit and misdeed and the world as equally balanced between merit and misdeed. . . If he performs one mitzvah, he tips his balance and that of the entire world to the side of merit and brings deliverance and salvation to himself and others."

  (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 3:4)

  From this, we clearly see the power of just one small deed.

  In addition, it is written in the Ethics of the Fathers: "A mitzvah (good deed) leads to another mitzvah" (4:2). Just as a small shift in snow build-up can lead to a full-fledged avalanche, so too does a mitzvah lead to many more. Even though we only gave people the opportunity to do one mitzvah last Friday, we are confident that it won't stop there!

  For those of you reading this, let this blog post inspire you to do something new today! Take on a mitzvah - lighting candles Friday night, learning more Torah, putting on tefillin, giving charity, putting up a mezuzah, saying the Shema prayer, and so many more options. All of them require just a little bit of effort, but the results are endless.

  Just because you didn't walk by our booth at DeafNation last Friday, why should you lose out?

• Striving Towards Positivity: The Torah's Viewpoint

  What is the "Counting of the Omer"?

  One of the reasons given for this special mitzvah (commandment) is that we recall the time period between Passover (when the Jews left Egypt) and Shavuos (when the Jews received the Torah). 

  The Jews were freed from Egypt, but they still felt emotionally attached to Egypt. So G-d gave them a forty-nine day period to work on themselves and prepare towards the big day when they would receive the Torah as a Jewishly-proud nation. (See the Parshas Emor video for more on this!)

  As we the count the Omer year after year, we continue to reflect on the important lesson of always working on ourselves - of always striving for change within us. It is also an opportunity to keep our focus on the goal: bringing Torah into our lives.

  ---------------------------------------

  Can we identify with that feeling of wanting to stay in Egypt? Do we find this phenomenon in the deaf world? Surprisingly enough, we do.

  Imagine a deaf child. Born to a hearing family and raised orally, he never had the opportunity to learn sign language. All of his friends are hearing (unlike him), and he does not see his deafness as anything other than a disability. Over the years, he has learned to ignore the frustrations and difficulties of his situation. His peers never cease to remind him that he is not exactly just like "everybody else."

  Then one day, he meets another deaf person. A deaf person very unlike him. This second deaf person comes from a deaf family, attended a deaf school, and communicates in fluent ASL. In other words, the quintessential "deafie."

  More than anything, the deaf child (who is now an adult) is flabbergasted at the way the second deaf person wears his identity "on his sleeve." This deaf person is not at all embarrassed to say that being deaf is a positive aspect of his life.

  (If anything, this is the biggest contribution that the Deafhood movement has made to the lives of deaf people - that being deaf is all about "what we can do." G-d made us deaf, and put us in a world where overcoming this challenge does not always happen in the way hearing people hope for. We can commiserate on our failures, or we can be proud and satisfied with the way we are. Being positive is always the most productive path to take. As the Chassidic saying goes, "Depression is not a sin; but what depression does, no sin can do.")

  So what do you think our friend - the first deaf person - does? Maybe he learns more about what it means to be culturally deaf; he takes ASL classes, makes more friends in the deaf community, and so on. Or maybe he doesn't. Maybe he goes back to the normal routine of his daily life. But one thing is for sure: his encounter with the second deaf person has made an impact on him.

  And then one day, he wakes up and looks at himself in the mirror.

  "I am deaf. And I am not ashamed at all to say that I am," he tells himself.

  He has found himself. He has found the liberating feeling of being able to be happy with himself.

  Why? And what do we mean?

  The Ethics of the Fathers says, "Who is rich? One who is satisfied with his lot" (4:1). One who wants to experience a rich life is satisfied with everything that he has in life. He seeks nothing more - and nothing less.

  In the case of our deaf friend, he has found true happiness in being satisfied with the way G-d created him. G-d surely made no mistake in sending his soul into the body of a deaf person. By giving recognition to the challenge of being deaf and seeing how it impacts his life for good, our friend has transformed something once viewed negatively into a positive force in his life. 

  This was what the Jews went through when they experienced the Exodus.

  After the miraculous sequence of events that eventually resulted in the Jews' departure from Egypt, the Jews found themselves in the desert. They knew that they would be receiving the Torah - G-d's eternal wisdom as embodied in word-form - but they were not ready for it. 

  For even after leaving Egypt, they were still emotionally attached to it. In spiritual terms, they were emotionally attached to the feeling of "limitation" (the Hebrew word for Egypt also means "limitations"). As much as they wanted to leave, they still felt attracted to the idea of living a restricted life. Even though it was a negative lifestyle, it was the only one they knew.

  But G-d wanted otherwise. He sent the Jews running out of Egypt and into the seven-week process that culminated in the receiving of the Torah. During this time period, the Jews learned to transform their limited mentality into the unlimited. "We are no longer Egyptians," the Jews told themselves. "We are now proud Jews." They connected their being with G-d - the ultimate Source of the unlimited.

  So too it is with our friend. He was able to leave his old perception of a limiting life as a disabled deaf person and start living as a person who only sees benefits from his deafness. He left his personal Egypt, entered the desert of changes, and then - one glorious morning - he woke up to receive the wisdom of the Torah. He realized the wisdom that being happy is being "satisfied with [one's] lot." And we simply can't say enough about the importance of being a happy Jew.

  (What's wrong with feeling limited? Maybe we want to stay in Egypt. Maybe it would be easier for us to just point to ourselves and say, "We are limited." But that wouldn't be true. It is only the way we think that truly limits us. Furthermore, when we feel limited, away goes the opportunity for a happy and satisfying life. Have you heard of a prisoner who enjoys living in a jail cell?)

  As it was for our friend, so too should it be for us all. Don't allow our lack of hearing ability to make us think that we are limited. For when we do that, we are falling into a trap. The trap of harboring a negative viewpoint.

  Instead, embrace yourself. Embrace your being. And embrace the fact that as a Jewish deaf person, you can do anything you want - including (and especially) receiving the Torah on your personal Mount Sinai today (maybe via Jewish Deaf Multimedia!).

  And then you will be happy. 

• Rising to the Challenge: A Perspective on Freedom

  This past week, we celebrated Passover with two nights of the Seder. We all know that the holiday of Passover commemorates our liberation from Egypt. It was there where the Jewish nation worked for two hundred and ten long years under an oppressive Pharaoh. 

  As we mentioned in our "Freedom? Freedom!" video, when the Jews left Egypt, they did not just experience physical freedom. They also experienced spiritual freedom when they got the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai. It was there that we received our Jewish identity - and the way to express it.

  By observing the Torah and its commandments, we allow our soul to demonstrate its intrinsic bond to G-d. For the Jewish soul, that is its truest form of freedom for self-expression.

  -----------

  "In every generation and generation, a person should see himself as if he had left from Egypt."

  - The Passover Haggadah

   

  So if we are obligated to feel that we are also part of the Exodus from Egypt, it thus follows that we should also experience the accompanying freedom - both physically and spiritually.

  In practical terms, what does that mean for us? 

  As Jewish deaf people, we know very well how many obstacles lay in our path to having a rich and enjoyable Jewish experience.

  We attend synagogue services, only to come back home feeling exhausted from keeping our eyes on the interpreter (if there was one!) for several hours straight. We try to fit in Jewish communal functions, only to feel left out. We want to attend the weekly lecture that our rabbi gives, but we can't find an interpreter.

  The list of challenges is endless.

  (In truth, deaf people are not the only people who experience challenges in life. Hearing people - naturally - have issues of their own, albeit in different forms!)

  So where is our spiritual freedom? When can we allow our Jewish identity to express itself?

  The answer, though simple, involves some investment. 

  To paraphrase the saying, "In a place where there is no person, strive to be a person" (Ethics of the Fathers, 2:6) - In a place where there are no active deaf Jews, be an active deaf Jew!

  Yes, we are asking you to take the initiative on your own!

  No deaf-friendly Passover Seder? Don't wait for others! Look online for what a basic Seder requires, and plan one. In fact, invite your family members while you're at it.

  No Chanukah party? Invite a few friends and exchange latke recipes, while you light up the world with your menorahs!

  In the mood for an "ASL Shabbat Dinner"? Call your best friend for help, and get the word out!

  The list, again, is endless. But this time, it's a list of differences that you've made in your Jewish deaf community.

  We can sit down and gripe in the darkness of our Jewishly-lacking lives. We can sadly say, "What can I do? I want to be Jewish, but how can I?" We can stay in our spiritual Egypt.

  Or - we can break free from the challenges and limitations of being a deaf Jew, and to take on some responsibility and action. We can add more light to our Jewish deaf communities, and make a difference in our lives. We can - and indeed, must -  rise to the challenge.

  Nu, what are you waiting for?

• The Jewish Birthday - and JDMM

  One of the themes of a birthday is the idea that each and every person in the world has an unique and individual mission - a mission that no other person can accomplish.

  If this is true, why then should we all unify as one group? Why should Jewish deaf people identify themselves as part of the one Jewish nation? After all, don't we each have our various life-missions that set us apart from every other person?

  The answer (in short): though we all have different missions, we all are working towards the same thing.

  A baseball team has a pitcher, a catcher, a first-baseman, and so on. Each person has his role in the game. The pitcher throws the ball, while the catcher catches it. The first-baseman is appointed over first base. The same goes for the rest of the team, each in his individual position.

  But they all work towards the same goal: winning the game. If you asked any one of the players, the answer would be the same - no matter who you ask.

  So too it is with us. We were sent to this world, one as a "Joe," another as a "Shelly", a third as a "Bob", and so on. Each one of us has an unique identity, both physically and spiritually.

  (The Lubavitcher Rebbe would often emphasize that the physicality of our world is based on its spiritual source. When something exists in our world, it is because of something found in the spiritual realms.

  So if we all are different physically (as reflected in even just one small part of our body - our fingerprints!), it is surely because of the fact that our spiritual sources are likewise varied.)

  But there is no doubt that we all were put into the world with the same ultimate goal in mind: to transform the world into a better place. To turn the world into a place for G-d to dwell in.

  And it is for this very reason that we should all unite together - despite our essential differences. 

  And this is especially true for the Jewish deaf community. Since we all have something more in common over the wider Jewish community (and even the general deaf community) - i.e., the fact that we are both Jewish and deaf - we should take advantage of our unity to help us in accomplishing the missions for which we were put into this world. 

  As Jewish Deaf Multimedia celebrates its first birthday, reflect on how you can make a difference in the Jewish deaf community.

• The Power of Speech . . . or Sign Language

  The next two parshahs – Tazria and Metzora – focus on the theme of tzaraas. A physical disease that came as result of a spiritual blemish caused by gossip, tzaraas was curable only by consulting two people – a knowledgeable Jew and a kohen (descendant of Aaron the High Priest). Tzaaras consists of discolored spots that first appeared on one’s house, clothing, and then body (depending on how soon he repented from his sin).

  It is intriguing to realize that the power of speech has a physical effect on us. If this is true for one who speaks negatively, all the more so is it true for one who speaks positively. (You might want to watch the Parshas Noach video for an insight into this!)

  And if we say that merely speaking positively through our lips has a positive physical effect on us, how much more so is this true when we use our entire body to communicate, as we do in sign language!

  The Lubavitcher Rebbe would be very careful with his word choice. For example, instead of referring to a hospital as a "beit cholim" in Hebrew (which literally translates as "home for the sick"), he would use the term "beit refuah" ("house of recovery"). In this way, he chose to emphasize the positive over the negative.

  The Jewish deaf community is small, and nearly everybody knows each other. There are plenty of opportunities for gossip, as happens in every close-knit family. But do we really want that?

  Our souls naturally strive for goodness and for what is right. Being more conscious of what we say will only result in good for all of us, both spiritually and physically!

  But won't that mean we would have nothing else to say?

  People imagined the Chofetz Chaim, well known as the author of several monumental volumes on the topic of gossip and Jewish law, to have a reserved and austere personality. After all, if you can't gossip, what else can you say?

  The reality was the opposite - he spoke much and freely with those who had the merit to know him. He simply avoided topics that had any trace of lashon hara - "evil speech" in Hebrew.

  The bottom line: once we have our priorities set straight, we won't have a problem with what we can talk about!

• A Survival Guide to the "Mikdash Me'at" for the Deaf Jew

  For those who are keeping current with the weekly parsha, it is easy to notice that there is a continuous thread that connects together the last five parshahs in the book of Exodus: the building of the Tabernacle. 

  The Tabernacle, a "travelling temple" that followed the Jews around before they had the opportunity to build the permanent Temple in Jerusalem, served as G-d's dwelling place on earth. (For a deeper understanding of this concept, see our parsha video for Parshas Terumah!) 

  Today, when we no longer have the Temple, it is still possible to connect with G-d through other means. The Talmud teaches us that today's synagogues are the "miniature" version of the Temple - in Hebrew, "mikdash me'at."

  It is for this reason that we decided to come up with a short but informative guide for the average Jewish deaf person who wants to get the most of his/her synagogue experience. 

   

  The guide can be downloaded by clicking here.

• The Value of Sign Language

  "It is my hope that we will all love and guard our beautiful sign language as the noblest gift G-d has given to deaf people."

  This was signed by George W. Veditz in his classic The Preservation of the Sign Language, a film made in 1913 in ASL. Veditz was one of the National Association of the Deaf's most prominent presidents, and he was committed to the preservation of sign language in an era when it was increasingly becoming unacceptable.

  Languages are one of the tools of humankind. When we use language correctly, we reach a level higher than we would have attained previously. Just as we create tools in order to accomplish something, so too does language serve that goal.

  Sign language has indeed been one of the most amazing developments in the deaf community. Because of sign language, countless deaf people over the centuries have been able to share their thoughts and emotions as never before. Sign language comes naturally to those who have no other option but to rely on their hands, and not their mouth and ears. It has given expression to what had once been constrained.

  But Veditz says something very important that many of us may have overlooked. 

  He said that we should love sign language. Is that all? No. He also said that we should guard it.

  It is not enough that we should appreciate and take advantage of the "noblest gift G-d has given to deaf people." We also have to guard this gift.

  As with everything, there is a benefit and there is a shortcoming.

  Money is one of the most famous examples of a gift that must be carefully used. We can use money, or we can allow money to use us. If we are careful to spend money in a way that only benefits, such as giving to charity or supporting a family, then we are using money the way it was meant to be. But when we go shopping everyday in an endless quest to find the latest gadget for the kitchen, or when we spend many hours on overtime at the workplace at the expense of family time . . . we are allowing our desire of money to control our lives.

  So too it is with sign language. As Veditz said, "It is my hope that we will all . . . guard our beautiful sign language." We should be sure to guard sign language so that it is always used for the benefit of humankind. 

  How do we guard a language?

  As mentioned above, tools of humankind are used in order to enhance one's life. They are the vehicles used in attaining higher levels.

  So perhaps this is what sign language should accomplish: it should enable us to grow and become better human beings. Furthermore, it should help us to become better Jewish deaf people. This goal is something that we should guard.

  The infinite wisdom and knowledge contained in Judaism is only now becoming more available in sign language, be it through interpreted lectures, Jewish deaf events, or videos on Jewish Deaf Multimedia. Today, our opportunities for growth within Judaism as deaf Jews are constantly increasing.

  It is up to us to choose whether or not we want to guard our language.