Rededicated Ukrainian Synagogue To Serve Deaf 
     Vadim Rabinovitch, an Ukranian Jewish millionaire and leader of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, donated $100,000 to help restore the Great Synagogue in Kiev, Ukraine. One of the largest synagogues in Eastern Europe, 600 people attended rededication ceremonies on March 22nd. Built in 1898 by sugar industry business­man and Jewish leader Lazar Brodsky, the synagogue was dosed down by Soviet authorities in 1926. It will now regain its role "as the focal point of the city's varied Jewish activities" says Lev Gorodetsfcy, reporter with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in New York by serving as a com­munity center for the city's 100,000 Jews. Among its func­tions is lasses for the city's Deaf Jewish residents.

TBS New Home And Upcoming Activities 
      Temple Beth Solomon, which recently sold its Arleta, CA property, has announced change of phone numbers for their new home at Temple Judea. Effective April 1st, write to Temple Beth Solomon, c/o Temple Judea, 5429 Lindley Avenue, Tarzana, CA 91356 or call 818-363-7740 TTY and 818-363-5580 Voice. Their FAX number is the same as the Voice number but you need to call them first to alert them. The E-Mail address is jsee2@aol.com Although TBS is currently without a rabbi until fall, Shabbat Services with Temple Judea Rabbi Don Goor will be interpreted during the summer on June 16, July 21 and August 18th. June 11th is also the date of TBS' upcoming 40th anniversary celebration which will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills, CA.

"Oh My Gosh! Black Deaf Jewish!" Show  
     As part of 'Black History Month' hosted by the Washington, D.C. Area Black Deaf Association (DCABDA) and Gallaudet University MSP, Warren 'Wawa' Snipe performed at Gallaudet University's Ely Center on Monday, February 28th. This play "features a dramatic arid pro­vocative vision of what it means to be Black Deaf Jewish. It was written as an original one-man show written and performed by Warren Lee Snipe to affirm the way Black Deaf Jewish male seems himself, his ancestry and roots, recount some of the wrongs that have been visited upon him and express some of his hopes and dreams." Snipes is a professional actor, dancer and choreographer. He is also Vice-President of Invisible Hands, Inc. and has ob­tained training at Central Stage, Source Theatre, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Gallaudet Unit, National Deaf Dance Theatre and DuPont Alley Dance Company.

Marlee: 'Thirtysomething... Fighting To Get Work'  
     In an interview for The Ottawa Citizen recently, Oscar winning actress Marlee Matlin tells Jay Stone "I don't really consider myself any different from the other thousand thirtysomething actresses who happen to not get work because they're not Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock or Nicole Kidman." Stone describes Matlin as "independent, free-spirited and outspoken... She is also a thirtysomething actress in Hollywood, still fighting to get work in a town that eats up thirtysomething actresses." Matlin, who was about to come to Ottawa to speak at the 'Unique Lives and Experiences' series at the National Arts Centre as part of a series of talks across North America, tells Stone during a phone interview in March that "Life is not wing to be handed to you... You always have to work for (successes) and fight for them... I relate some experiences growing up where people were more than willing to just shut the door on me. And I was not willing to have that door shut... It not only happens because I'm deaf... It happens because I'm a woman, it happens because I'm thirtysomething, it happens because I have a family, it happens because of all kinds of things..." Matlin won an Oscar when she was 21 years old for appearing in her first movie, 'Children of a Lesser God.' Subsequently she also won a Golden Globe, appeared in the 'Reasonable Doubts' TV series, appeared on 'Picket Fences', 'Seinfield' and her current recurring role as a pollster on 'The West Wing.' "Television wants me more," Matlin also says, "I don't find feature films are as accessible to me as television is. Maybe because the stakes in feature films are higher so that they're not willing to take a risk with a deaf actor. Maybe because television is more intimate and it makes more sense to have real people and therefore I represent that... I go where the best work is available for me." She is also writing a children's book, called 'Caution: Deaf Child Crossing,' loosely based on her childhood friendship with a hearing girl.

Children's TV Program Now Has Deaf Character
     The New York Times announced in its April 22nd edition that the Nickelodeon TV series 'Blue's Clues' for pre­school children now has a character who is Deaf and teaches TV viewers a few signs in each episode. Show host Steve Burns and a female puppy 'Blue' visits a school for Deaf children where they meet Carly. "We wanted to teach kids sign language and show how relevant it is to their world," said Angela Santomero, the show's chief writer and one of its creators. Cady "will do something like make the sign for 'elephant,' and we show an elephant," she said. Actress Marlee Matlin has also recorded a series of public service announcements together with Burns, who learned American Sign Lan­guage at the Lexington Center School for the Deaf in Jackson Heights in Queens, NY Five to ten new signs will be incorporated in each new episode of "Blue's Clues," said Stacey Levin, a spokeswoman for the show. About seven signs will appear consistently in each episode, like the signs for "Blue" and "thank you."

Jewish Deaf Singles To Meet  
     Samuel Landau with the Jewish Deaf Singles Registry (JDSR) has announced that they are organizing a program for Jewish Deaf and hard of hearing singles including divorced and widowed people which will take place in Silver Spring, MD on September 1-3, 2000. Workshops with Deaf speakers, special Sabbath services, Saturday night activities and a Sunday trip to Washington, D.C. is among JDSR plans. Early bird combo rate is $135 per person and increases after July 1st. More information is available on their website at http://www.JDSR.org

Upcoming Hadassah Convention  
    The National Center for the Jewish Deaf at Hadassah invites members of the Jewish Deaf Community to attend Hadassah's 86th annual convention at Century Plaza Hotel & Towers in Los Angeles, CA from Sunday July 16th to Wednesday July 19th. ASL interpreters will be present throughout the convention. A special reception/workshop with Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe, the only Deaf female Rabbi in the country, is also scheduled for Sunday July 16th from 5-7pm. Marlee Matlin will also be presented with Hadassah Life Membership during this reception which is free and open to the community. Refreshments will be served. For information, contact Sharon Ann Dror at 818/845‑9934 TTY or JDCCNews@aol.com

JDC Convention In 2001  
    Alexander Fleischman, public relations chair for the Jewish Deaf Congress (JDC) Conference has announced that their convention, co-hosted jointly with the World Organization of Jewish Deaf (WOJD), will be titled 'Celebrating the Wonders of Judaism' and will take place at Park Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. on August 13-18, 2001. For information, contact Fleischman at 954/984-9198 FAX, Steve Brenner at 301/762-0221 FAX or Debbie M. Sonnenstrahl at meranski@aol.com

Brooklyn Celebrates Federation Group Celebrate
     Natalie Rosen, Brooklyn Hebrew Society of the Deaf, Inc. (BHSD) representative, reports that they participated in the 100th anniversary celebration of the Hebrew Educational Society (HES) on April 4th. HES, the location of BHSD's gatherings for the past 72 years, is part of the United Jewish Association (UJA) Federation. BHSD plans this year's Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services at HES with Rabbi Fred Friedman from Baltimore, MD who has conducted services for the past fifteen years. Their sisterhood is also celebrating its 25th anniversary at a glatt kosher restaurant in Brooklyn on November 5th. For information, Rosen can be contacted at 516/409-1046 FAX or e-mail to Nrosen1@aol.com

Temple Beth Or Of The Deaf Disbands  
     After thirty nine years, Temple Beth Or of the Deaf was closed down in November, 1999. This decision was made by their board of directors because they could no longer continue its activities due to their declining membership, a drain that had been persisting since the 1980's. Temple Beth Or was founded in 1962 by a group of Jewish Deaf and hearing individuals including parents who banded together to have Sabbath and holiday services and have their Deaf children team about their Jewish heritage, traditions and customs through education and religious activities. After using various hearing temples, membership grew to over 200 members who participated in High Holy Days, Passover, Purim and Chanukah services as well as Bar and Bas Mitzvahs. In disbanding the organization, board members donated their Torah to Philadelphia Hebrew Association of the Deaf (PHAD).

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