[HANASHIR:12923] Deaf Members

[Rosalie Boxt <cantorboxt...>]

Friends -- an interesting question I'd love your feedback about.  We have a
member of the congregation who works at Galludet University with the deaf
community and is an active and committed hearing Jew.  We spoke last summer
about signers for the High Holidays and began an interesting conversation of
the challenge of signing in Hebrew, and some deaf Jew's discomfort with it.
Recently she and a deaf Jew have come to us to begin some classes and
education.  Wonderful;we are very excited.  However, I mentioned that I'd
love to learn some sign to teach the junior choir to sing.  They both became
agitated and we have set up another meeting.  The long and short of their
brief response was that signing and singing angers some members of the deaf
community, it "dumbs down" sign, and is not just about different forms of
expression, and movement and bodies.  Sign is a form of communication, a
language ...

My question for you before I meet with these ladies in a few weeks, is from
those of you who use sign, both for deaf members as well as through junior
choir and music how is it received?  Have you had similar experience and
what information can I find before I meet with them in terms of music and
sign, just so I can have some background to help them when it comes to my
goals as music leader.  Help!

Warmly and Happy Thanksgiving!
Rosalie
----------------------------------------------------
Rosalie Boxt, Cantor
Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD
301-942-2000
cantorboxt (at) templeemanuelmd(dot)org


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