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Glickman Coming Out With Another Book
   Deaf comedian Ken Glickman, also known as 'Prof. Glick' in his DEAFology 101 performances, has announced his new 256-page book on proverbs reflecting the 'Deaf Experience'. Glickman says that his book, 'Deaf Proverbs - A Proverbial Professor's Points to Ponder' will be available in both hardback and softback in August. "Hearing people have had their proverbs ever since the beginning of civilization," Glickman explains, And it wasn't until earlier this year when I was reading one of their many proverbial books, it suddenly dawned on me that we Deafies have never had our own collection of proverbs.." For information, contact DEAFinitely Yours Studios, 9201 Long Branch Parkway, Silver Spring, MD 20901 or visit their website at www.deafology.com/proverbs.htm

Jacob Named Distinguished Alumni
   Philip J. Jacob of West Orange, NJ has been named as the 1999 Distinguished Alumni for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). This is the highest alumni honor on a NTID graduate and it is a commendation to a deaf or hard of hearing alumnus in their chosen field who are also actively involved with and contributing to the deaf community and promotes spirit among NTID/RIT alumni. Jacob is president of  New Jersey Deaf Awareness Week (NJDAW) which coordinates the biennial 'Deaf Fest' event. He is also vice president of  New York/New Jersey Phone-TTY, Inc., president of the Mercer County Deaf Investment Club and board member of the Deaf Golf Association as well as the New Jersey Relay Advisory Board and also serves on the NTID Alumni Campaign Leadership Committee. He is currently employed as vice presidenVsystems administrator of DataLife in Verona, NJ. He and his wife, Lynee have three children: Alan, Mark, and Rachel.

Matlin to Produce First Movie
   Academy-winning Deaf actress Marlee Matlin is currently in production of her first movie, a courtroom thriller titled "Where the Truth Lies" which airs as the movie of the month on Lifetime cable on September 14th. It is being produced through Hearst Entertainment in association with Greentree Films and Solo One Productions, the latter being Marlee Matlin and Jack Jason's company. Marlee Matlin and Jack Jason are one of the four executive producers. Matlin, herself, also appears in the film as a woman accused of murdering a senatorial candidate. Shooting is taking place in the Portland, OR area. "It's not a deaf story per se, meaning it doesn't have a deaf story line", Jason explains, "it just happens to feature a deaf character".

'But You Don't Look Deaf'
   Rachel Kurtz of Pacific Palisades was recently the subject of an article in the Los Angeles Times. The profile indicated that she got a cochlear implant two years ago. Maura Martindale with John Tracy Clinic says that Rachel was diagnosed as bilaterally profoundly deaf while an infant.. "It was amazing", Rachel says of her implant, "I didn't know that birds sounded differently. I didn't know that dripping water made noise. When I sat in the kitchen, I heard the toaster and microwave making noise. l didn't know so many things beeped." Writer Nedra Lindsey does mention that although the implants allow her to hear noises", she still needs "extensive training before she can clearly distinguish between sounds or understand speech. She has attended public school since second grade and although most of her friends are not "hearing-impaired", she knows a bit of sign language, but communicates mostly by reading lips and speaking. She also participates in Girl Scout Troop No. 1096. She also developed the 'Rachel's Parent Handbook' guide because she felt there "was a lack of practical information on how to raise a deaf child..."

Goldhamer Writes New Book
    Rabbi Douglas Goldhamer, a professor of Mysticism at Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf and Melinda Stengel has written a book, 'This is for Everyone: Universal Principles of Healing Prayer and the Jewish Mystics' which relates principles of Jewish mysticism to prayer. It also examine healing prayer and religion from the viewpoint of a Jew and a Catholic.

"National Jewish Deaf Awareness Month"
   Rabbi Goldhamer with Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf has declared the month of August as the first "National Jewish Deaf Awareness Month". During August he has organized seminars by several scholars on deafness and Judaism at his synagogue (mentioned elsewhere in this column). His goal is to get synagogues and Jewish organizations in cities across the country to prepare special events for deaf Jews. Goldhamer was quoted by the 'Forward' publication as saying that "Deaf Jews face several challenges. The Talmud prevents deaf Jews from leading services in front of hearing Jews. Deaf Jews who want to attend services are almost never accommodated. Virtually no synagogues in America have sign language interpreters during services. Most synagogues do not make interpreters available for special ceremonies such as marriages or bar mitzvahs of deaf Jews... this is because Jews, like most Americans, are prejudiced against the deaf... They look different, sound different, we don't understand them".

HAD Forum 'Great Way To Look At Differences'
    Colby Tecklin summed up a forum 'Jewish Deaf Culture from a Variety of Perspectives' in saying 'The forum was a great way to look at the differences between two cultures that I consider myself part of" (Deaf & Jewish). The Forum, sponsored by Philadelphia Hebrew Association of the Deaf, took place at the Rose Olanoff Community Center in Northeast Philadelphia, PA on April 18th. Alan Abarbanell, hearing son of Jewish deaf parents and a certified rabbinic aide presented three topics: "Who Is a Jew?, "Jewish Deaf vs. Jewish Hearing Culture", and "Combined Faith Marriage". The HAD News reports that eighty people came from all over the Delaware Valley and from as far away as New York City and Washington, D.C. to attend the Forum which concluded with a panel of young deaf adults and parents of deaf individuals addressing the relative importance of Judaism and deafness in a deaf Jew's identity, how various families have handled combined-faith marriages; and how Jewish deaf individuals connect with the Jewish community. Betty Oshman was co-chair of the Forum along with Barbara Kass.

Jewish Deaf Child Handbook Printed
    Batya Jacob, program director with 'Our Way' outreach program for Jewish Deaf and hard of hearing at the National Conference of  Synagogue Youth in New York City has announced that OurWay has printed a new book, 'The Hearing impaired Child in the Jewish Classroom'.

While this book covers the varying needs of children depending on hearing loss and the different communication modes, "our goal is to allow every Jewish deaf or hearing-impaired child to be mainstreamed into a Torah education appropriate for   their individual family and life style". Copies of the book is available for five dollars each by contacting 'Our Way' at 212/613-8229 or fax to 212/613-8333.

HIGH HOLIDAYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf - student Rabbi Bnice Raft will lead Rosh Hashana Services on Friday, September 10th starting at 8 pm as well as Saturday, September 11th from 10 am. Yom Kippur Services are on Sunday, September 19th at 8 pm and Monday, September 20 starting at 10 am. Services will be held at TBS. For information, contact the TBS office at 818/896-6721 TTY or 818/899-2123 FAX.

Congregation Bene Shalom of Skokie, IL will have Rosh Hashanah services on Friday, September 10th at 8.15 pm; Saturday, September 11th at 10.30 am and a Family Service on Sunday, September 12 at 10.30 am. Yom Kippur services are scheduled for Sunday, September 19th at 8.15 pm, Monday September 20 at 10.30 am and the Family Service starts at 2.30 pm. For details, contact Congregation Bene Shalom at 847/674-0327 TTY.

Temple Beth Torah in Fremont, CA will have interpreted High Holiday services: Friday, 9/10 Erev Rosh Hashanah services 8 P.M. Sat., 9/11 children's service 9 - 10 A.M.adult service 11 A.M. Sunday, 9/19 Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre 8 P.M. Monday, 9/20 children's service 9 -10 A.M. Yom Kippur service 11 A.M. Please contact the temple at 510-656-7141 (use relay) to request a flier, seats MUST be reserved in order to guarantee view of the interpreters. (small sanctuary, lots of people)

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