Jewish Deaf Tidbits |
Mistaking an Israeli deaf bus passenger for a Palestinian suicide bomber suspect, an Israeli soldier shot him on May 26th according to South Africa's 'Independent News'. Israeli security forces and Israeli citizens have been vigilant for possible attacks and in certain cases have prevented bombings and shootings. There have, however, been unfortunate circumstances where innocent people were shot. In Sunday's shooting, the Egged bus driver became suspicious when a 25-year old man got on the bus in Kfar Sava headed for Tel Aviv and silently paid for his fare with a large bill, a 50 shekel note, something that suicide bombers usually do according to police superintendent Yossi Almoslinos. An IDF spokesperson says the military police are investigating. Aaron Ini with B'Kol, the Organization of Hard of Hearing and Deaf People in Israel, called the incident, "grave and shocking." He called on the army to give soldiers instructions that take into account the deaf and hearing impaired. A week previously, a deaf, mentally ill Israeli citizen belonging to the Samaritan sect got shot while wandering near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. He did not hear the soldiers' calls to halt. Alan Cohen, a psychologist at the Community Stress Prevention Center in Kiryat Shmona, said he's surprised mistakes don't happen more often. "People are working under quite a bit of tension and are feeling like they are under a threat," Cohen said. "If you go into a cafe or ride a bus in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem you would see there's a much greater level of awareness then anywhere else in the world."
Government Negotiations On Deaf Needs Collapse
Ruth Sinai, correspondent with the Ha'aretz newspaper in Tel Aviv says that negotiations between the Treasury
and Deaf people broke down May 22nd when they failed to agree on a "Communications Basket" allowance. This
allowance funds communication needs of Deaf Israelis including fax paper, batteries for hearing aids, vibrating
doorbells and other communication devices that supplement or replace hearing loss. Deaf Israelis are requesting NIS 450 while the Treasury wants to offer NIS 200 for
employed deaf people and NIS 130 for unemployed deaf people. The breakdown followed two meetings and Deaf
people have been protesting and striking opposite the Finance Ministry for 18 days blocking reads and burning
tires. "There is an agreement on the types of assistance for the deaf, the question is on how much," said Yehezkel
Bakel, deputy director general of the National Insurance Institute, who took part in the negotiations. The Treasury
has indicated willingness to comply with other demands including increasing hours of interpreters from 16 to 50
hours and increase refunds on hearing aid purchases. Aharon Eini with Association of the Deaf says the protests are meant to prevent government ministers from
driving by at high speeds and ignoring them.
"Hearing-Impaired Protest" In Fifth Week
In what is being dubbed "Nobody listens to us," The Jerusalem Post reports that hundreds of hearing-impaired
Israelis continue to protest outside the Knesset Sunday, June 9th. From 700 to 800 protesters have blocked roads
leading to the Prime Minister's Office and the Knesset on a daily basis and at times burning tires or holding up placards in middle of the street. Among their requests, according to Feigie
Swirksy, a National Service volunteer at the Kiach School for the Deaf: newscasts on TV be
captioned or signed; more money to buy earpieces, and up to 50 hours a year of interpreting services a year.
Knesset members "don't really listen," Feigie alleged in an interview.
Deaf Israeli Protesters End Strike
Agreement was reached June 12th between representatives of the deaf protesters and the Treasury. In a state
ment issued by the Finance Ministry, each employed person who is registered as deaf will be eligible for a "communication bonus" of NIS 288 per month and
unemployed deaf persons would be eligible for NIS 260 per month. These bonuses will also increase in 2004. Community
centers for the deaf will also have their annual budgets increased from NIS 200,000 to NIS 500,000.
Israeli Court Rules Deaf Children To Get Full Disability In responding to a petition by David Harpaz who has a deaf daughter and the Shema organization of the deaf, the High court of Justice has determined that as many as 2,000 hearing-impaired and ill children will now receive full disability allowances. In the petition, it was argued that it was extremely unreasonable and discriminatory that deaf children receive full disability allowances only up to 8 years old and 50% cut from 8 to 14 years old then 70% between ages 14-18. The State Prosecution's Office said the government will change regulations to provide full allowances up to the age of 18.
Geneticist Studies DNA
A team of Israeli, Palestinian and American researchers
have identified the mutation causing loss of hearing of a Jewish man living in
Mosul, Iraq over 2,000 years ago. This mutation was passed down to some of his
descendants over generations and in the 1950's, his family immigrated to Israel. This study appeared in the scientific
journal proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Prof. Keren
Avraham, a geneticist from Tel Aviv University and one of the leading researchers on the team, explains that the hearing loss caused by the mutation began when the male was in his late 20's.
Yedid Center Helps Deaf Immigrants
Deaf immigrants in Israel report that the language
barrier further compounds their frustrations of trying to function in Israeli society. Writer Lily Galili with Ha'aretz in an article titled The signs don't translate here' says transition
to Israel was a shock for them as they were not prepared for absorption into a harsh society that lacks facilities for
deaf people and offers no special rights for deaf immigrants. Markov, 33, deaf since birth, is one of these immigrants. Coming from Ukraine, he immigrated over one
and half years ago and has a bachelor's degree in managing centers for the deaf and directed a center that had
over 500 members. "This difference is a symptom of the society's attitude toward those with handicaps," Markov
says. Deaf immigrants not only lack a fluency in spoken Hebrew, but are also cut off from Hebrew sign language,
which is completely different from Russian sign language. As a result, the estimated 1,200-2,000 deaf immigrants
are also unable to communicate with their deaf peers who are native Israelis. "The vocabulary in Hebrew sign language is very meager," they say. "There are basic words
like 'father,' 'mother,' 'eat,' and 'sleep' that have identical signs, but the Hebrew sign language is limited and
confusing. Some words, such as 'correct' and 'innocent' have the same sign and it's difficult to understand what is
being communicated. Sometimes this linguistic and cultural difference also creates embarrassing or amusing
situations. TIC sign in Hebrew for "continue" (rubbing the fingers of the right hand in the palm of the left hand) means
"pig" in Russian, mimicking the way a pig digs into the earth with his snout. Wasab says at the beginning she
felt insulted during conversations with Israeli deaf people because she thought they were calling her a pig. These
minor issues and larger problems were discussed last week by four deaf immigrants at the clubroom of the
Ashkelon branch of the nonprofit organization "Yedid - Rights Centers in the Community." Geri
Makrov, 63, Iliya's father, seems the most depressed. In Ukraine, he was a
sports teacher and director of the camping and mountain climbing club of the Palace of Culture for the Deaf.
JDC Convention Dates
Jewish Deaf Congress is planning their biennial convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be at the Four Seasons
Hotel on July 7th to 12th, 2003. Barbara Boyd and Erick Posner are co-chairing this event. For more information,
contact Erick at geoposner@ yahoo. com
Jewish Deaf Congress's New Releases
Jewish Deaf Congress has prepared a new Haggadah as a fundraiser for the JDC 2003
Conference. It includes explanations about important Passover concepts in a format that
is easily signable. Each concept is illustrated with corresponding artwork. Songs to
sign/sing are included along with easily-signed poems that capture the Passover spirit.
Every blessing has the Hebrew a transliteration, and a translation.
JDC also has printed the second edition of a Directory listing of interpreters who serve
Jewish deaf and hard of hearing persons, The 2001 JDC Directory of Sign Language
Interpreters.
Both products are available through Stephen Brenner, JDC, 8400 Jeb Stuart Road, Potomac, MD 20854, 301/762-0221 FAX.