[HANASHIR:12933] RE: Deaf Members

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

Rosalie - I use sign a lot, especially with younger children.  I always
make sure to explain the reason why these signs came about; making sure
to always keep the value of respect in the forefront.   Especially when
you tell them the sign for simply singing, "la, la, la," which is a
beautiful sweep of the right hand (letter "L") along the inside of the
left arm (hard to describe in email).  The imagery is beautiful and I
think it helps children understand both the deaf community, and for
Hebrew, once they sign the words, it really helps them internalize the
meaning of the Hebrew language.   So yes, I think I use it because it's
beautiful and it helps the kids understand Hebrew, but the issue of
respect is always at the forefront and if I see someone doing something
wrong, we talk about how important it is to try to get the signs right.
It's a very sensitive issue and you may want to ask JC Ginsburg her
comments and also EJ Cohen.
Meris Ruzow

Meris (at) nycap(dot)rr(dot)com


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of Rosalie Boxt
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 2:23 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
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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