Jewish Deaf Tidbits |
Ken Glickman of DEAFinitely
Yours Studio has established its own web site on the internet. It contains information
about Glickman's humor products on Deaf Culture as well as on his nationally acclaimed
comedy routine, "DEAFology 101", described as a crazy crash course on Deaf
Culture for "Deafies" and "Hearies." Ken a.k.a. "Prof.
Glick," who was born deaf, likes to consider himself as an
"Equal-Opportunity" comedian where he pokes fun at both worlds - the world of
the Deaf and of the Hearing. One can read the rest of Ken's biography and arrange for a
comedy performance by accessing his new web site at http://kenstarcorp.com/profglick New
North Virginia Group
Jeff Dunefsky has formed a new group, 'Northern
Virginia Jewish Deaf Club' who hosted a brunch on Sunday, June 8th at the Northern
Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (NVRC) in Merrifield, VA.
They also plan to meet again in September. For information, contact Dunefsky at
703/449-9846 TTY/FAX or e-mail to him at dune4@aol.com
Rabbi Dubowe Speaks In PA
Deaf Rabbi, Rebecca Dubowe was a guest speaker during Sabbath
services at Reform Congregation Beth Or in Springhouse, PA on Friday evening, June 13th.
Her sermon focused on her experiences and insights as a religious leader who is deaf and
the barriers and difficulties that she has to overcome to get to the position that she
holds now. For information, e-mail to colby@uscom.com
Deaf Palestinian Injured
During an uprising in the Gaza Strip
near the Gush Katif settlement on June 16th, a Jewish settler took out a pistol and began
firing for nearly half-hour at Palestinians who tried to tear down a fence around the
settlement. A deaf Palestinian was among several people who were injured in one of two
clashes. Palestinians and Israelis are frustrated with the prolonged deadlock in the peace
talks.
New Funding for Hearing Impaired Students
The Rosslyn & Katherine Gaines Loan Fund for
Hearing Impaired Students has been established to assist hearing impaired students with
the cost of books, partial tuition, insurance and living expenses pending receipt of
scholarships and grants. This loan is non-sectarian and is interest free. Students who are
enrolled in full time study in either undergraduate or graduate programs may apply. The
Jewish Free Loan Association offers interest free loans to individuals or families whose
needs are urgent, and who may or may not qualify through normal financial resources, The
concept of loans instead of charity fills an important gap in our social system. It
affirms the deeds of philanthropists to give the gift of dignity and independence. Call
213/655-6922 Voice for more information.
Group Opposes Deaf Messianic Conference
Protestors are upset about a second Deaf Messianic
Jews (DMJ) conference that will take place during the Messiah '97 conference, a four-day
event to take place in July at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. Rev. Sigmund Epstein and
DMJ president Joe Cohn are the key people organizing the Deaf gathering. Robin Polin of
Tulsa, OK is reportedly trying to expand the ministry and she is said to have contacted a
Jewish outreach worker, a Jewish teacher, and three Messianic Jewish rabbis who are all
hearing-impaired. Among the topics discussed at the first DMJ conference that was held at
the Kellogg Conference Center at Gallaudet University last year, ten people tried to
disrupt the event which had, among its topics and workshops: the Jewish Feasts, 'How to
Win Jews to Messiah', anti-Semitism, and 'The Deaf Hear - At Last' presented by Rev.
Robert Nathan of Fort Wayne, IN based on Isaiah 29.19.
Sunday School For Deaf
Marcia Goldberg is one of the founders of Shema v'Ezer, a Sunday
school in Washington, D.C. for children with special needs including Deaf children.
"We thought that a special Sunday school would be a nice experience, and it would
give us two free, quiet hours on Sunday mornings," one mother says. In the 'Los
Angeles Jewish Times' article on Shema v'Ezer, Goldberg is quoted as explaining that Deaf
children might not be able to learn the tune for chanting their haftorahs (reading of the
Torah), but they can learn to use the trope (cantillation marks) to help them say the
verses with the right phrasing. Compared to English, Hebrew is easy for deaf people to
read aloud, because the letters and vowels are pronounced the same way in every word. Only
the "ch" sound is hard to teach.
Conflict With Yom Kippur Weekend!
Groups continue to schedule their events to conflict with High
Holidays. Yom Kippur is on October 10 Friday evening to October 11th Saturday night. The
latest culprit: Northern California Recreation Assoc. of the Deaf hosts the 11th WRAD-USA
Convention in San Leandro, CA and the California Chapter of American Sign Language
Teachers Association (ASLTA)'s 2nd Biennial Statewide Conference at Stanford University.