Celebrating the Jewish Deaf Spirit

Q: What do you get when you light up a nine-foot high De’VIA Menorah?

A: 700 people across the United States, plus another 7,000 people on social media.

This past Chanukah was an incredible celebration of the Jewish Deaf spirit. In four cities across the nation, deaf people gathered together to participate in a menorah lighting ceremony, socialize and network, and become inspired.

The Jewish Deaf Foundation, led by deaf Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, organized Chanukah events in Washington, D.C. at Gallaudet University, hand in hand with American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad); in Rochester, NY, at the Rohr Chabad House at the University of Rochester; in New York City at the Park East Synagogue; and in Los Angeles at the Nessah Educational & Cultural Center.

Each event was graced with the striking presence of the nine-foot high De’VIA Menorah, created by Ellen Mansfield, a Jewish Deaf artist in Frederick, MD. De’VIA stands for Deaf View and Image Art, and the menorah – with its countless stones and gems arranged in Deaf motifs – is a beautiful representation of this genre of art.

The largest event, in New York City, attracted a strong crowd of three hundred, and was honored with the presence of deaf lawyer Howard Rosenblum, the CEO of the National Association of the Deaf. Hollywood star SuperDeafy also joined in the fun with a few shenanigans of his own.

Many other personalities joined in the festivities, including celebrated actor Bernard Bragg, artist Hinda Kasher, and long-time community leader Rabbi Fred Friedman. Students at Gallaudet University and the Rochester Institute of Technology lit up each event with fun entertainment.

The events would not have been made possible without the tireless efforts of two event coordinators, Irina Normatov and Diana Abayeva, members of the Bukharian community in Queens. After participating in a trip to Israel organized by Rabbi Soudakoff in 2014, they have ever since been committed to giving back to the community.

Chanukah has never been so celebrated in the Deaf community as it was this year. A new hashtag, #DeafChanukah, brought together hundreds of people on social media as they posted pictures of themselves lighting the menorah or attending one of the #DeafChanukah events.

The Jewish Deaf Foundation is an emerging and fast-expanding organization that serves the Deaf community with various programs, including annual international summer camp programs for deaf boys and girls around the world. As the only organization serving deaf people on an international scale, they seek financial partners to further their vision of bringing Judaism to the Deaf community. To learn more about the Jewish Deaf Foundation, visit their website at www.jewishdeaffoundation.org.