[HANASHIR:12931] Re: Deaf Members

[Shirona <shirona...>]

>From my limited experience with signing - mostly the Shma - I found that it
has a profound effect on the children. Making the signs while saying the
Hebrew words gives the children (and same goes for adults) a deeper
understanding of the things they are saying.  When I first saw Judy Kaplan
Ginsburgh sign at Hava Nashira I was blown away and moved to tears, and
still, it gets me every time.  For me it's an incredible form of human
expression, regardless of 'why' it originated... beautiful to watch...
deeply emotional and spiritual...

As for the negativity in this particular situation - in any given group
you'll always find the nay-sayers, those who want to limit the expression of
others, those who misuse power if they have it, those who are plain
jealous... it has nothing to do with whether one is a hearing person or not.
I can't think of any reason why a non-hearing person should object to
hearing people singing and signing - if everyone enjoys, respects and
appreciates this activity.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shirona
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
 Visit my website at    www.shirona.com
Listen to my music at www.mp3.com/shirona
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rosalie Boxt" <cantorboxt (at) templeemanuelmd(dot)org>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 2:22 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:12923] Deaf Members


> 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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