Dear Readers,
We hope you will begin to notice the name of Rachel Braver, who now works for JDCC coordinating office office activities as well as writing articles for JDCC News. We are currently expanding the office area to allow more space for JDCC's projects. Welcome onboard, Rachel!
I attended Rabbi Rebecca Dubowes Shabbat services at Temple Adat Elohim in Thousand Oaks, CA on February 18th. It was great seeing Rabbi Dubowe and her wonderful and supportive Congregation welcome the Jewish Deaf Community once a year. Their guest, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh sang and signed a number of songs. She is a composer and performer of Jewish music.
The Jewish Deaf Community has seen both happy and sad changes in recent years. While more hearing Temples offer interpeted services, Jewish deaf organizations are struggling to survive. Most recently, Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf in Arleta, CA announced that it is relocating, after 35 years in their own building, to Temple Judea, a hearing temple who has offered space. Temple Beth Or of the Deaf in New York has closed down. On the happy side, Philadelphia Hebrew Association of the Deaf has purchased their own building.
I remember when there were many more Jewish Deaf organizations... the Los Angeles Hebrew Association of the Deaf, Cleveland Hebrew Association of the Deaf, Boston Hebrew Association of the Deaf and Chabad House's Hearing Impaired Program in Los Angeles.
We are sorry to have Jeff Lubman leave the JDCC board as he is now taking classes. While we will miss not seeing him in Board meetings, we thank him for his support over the years and wish him the best of luck! Jeff Dichter has accepted our invitation to fill the board vacancy.
Preparations for JDCC's sixth annual Passover Community Seder plans are coming along nicely. We are revising the multimedia presentation with a second edition which is being funded this year by the Steven Speilberg's Righteous Persons Foundation and Ruth/Allen Ziegler Foundation. We hope to have you join us.