Jewish Deaf Gather for Shabbos

By Paige Jones – Frederick News-Post

Nearly 100 people from the Jewish deaf community gathered Friday evening in downtown Frederick to celebrate a Jewish tradition, the Shabbat dinner.

“This is the first of its kind for the Frederick community,” said Rabbi Boruch Labkowski, who helped coordinate the event.

While many of the Jewish faith celebrate the Shabbat dinner with family and friends, those in the deaf community do not always have the opportunity to participate in the tradition, said Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, who is a deaf rabbi in New York.

“Many (who are) Jewish (and) deaf don’t have access to (this kind of) experience,” said Soudakoff through an interpreter, noting that he coordinated with Labkowski to host the event in Frederick.

Families young and old slowly trickled into the Junior Fire Co. No. 2 building at about 6 p.m. Friday, greeting one another with excited waves and introducing themselves to newcomers.

“This is an exciting moment for all of us,” said Stephen A. Brenner, who traveled from his home in Potomac to attend Friday’s event.

Although the event, which was hosted by Chabad of Frederick, was catered toward the Jewish deaf community, Dr. John Madison volunteered as an interpreter.

“We figured we’d give them the opportunity to have a Shabbat experience,” Labkowski said, moving around the room to greet others and ensure everything ran smoothly.

Brenner said the event was important to him because of his involvement in the Jewish deaf community in the Washington area. He helped found the Washington Society of Jewish Deaf years ago to foster community and raise awareness.

“It is my dream that in the near future we have a deaf rabbi living in our community,” he said.

While there are no concrete plans for similar events in the future, Labkowski said he hopes to hold another event soon for the Jewish deaf community.

“No better way to start off the new year than by serving the entire community,” he said.