What is JDCC?

For many years, we were faced with extremely limited opportunities to interact with other Jewish deaf people in Southern California. It was for that reason that this outreach group was started in 1992. JDCC officially became a non-profit organization in August, 1994.  

JDCC promotes individual growth, social awareness, productivity and equality, by empowering deaf and hard of hearing persons to be full participants in the Jewish community at large.

We provide a variety of events during the year. Our programming events include social events including lecture series, international kosher dinners, and community services including Havurah for singles, teens, and families. Cultural activities have involved tours to the Museum of Tolerance and My Jewish Discovery Museum. We also provide religious programming through High Holidays services that JDCC conducts entirely in American Sign Language as well as Passover Community Seder.

The program is ongoing, participants themselves identify their needs, and desires, and JDCC makes every effort to follow through. We also assist in bris and funerals when requested. Event attendance usually numbers from 30-50, and we find participants request more and more programming. The primary means of keeping Jewish deaf people in touch with Judaism and JDCC activities has been through the JDCC News, a publication printed and distributed six times a year throughout the United States and abroad. While JDCC News is a subscriber-based publication, complimentary mailings to targeted states take place at intervals. We estimate that readership exceeds 1,000 per issue.

We invite Rabbis from different Judaism branches. We accept and respect all Jewish deaf people regardless of which branch of Judaism, whether it is Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist.

JDCC is not associated with the Jewish Community Center in any way. We are an independent non-profit organization.