• 2007
  

• JDA Seder 2007
  

• 2005
  

• 345 Deaf Quiz Night
• Foresnic Talk
• JDA Outing to Uxbridge - The Pavillions Centre
• Our wonderful trip to Emerald Isle
• JDA Outing to Bletchley Park
• JDA Outing to Broadstairs
• 345 First Event - Summer Barbecue
• 345 Group Launched
• JDA Purim Party
• JDA Grand Bingo, Hear! Hear! Fundraising Event
• Peter Moss 'Wandering Jew' Visits the JDA
• JDA Seder 2005
  
• JDA Visit to Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor
  
• JDA Outing to see Lily Savage in Panto
• Guest Speaker on Healthy Living
• Lots of laughs at Baker Street Lost Property Office
• Wintry Walk in Dickens' London

• 2004
  
  
• Journal of a Silk Mill - JDA Outing
• Why? Why? Why? Talk by Rabbi Kleiman
• The wonder of the Antarctic
• 'Yankee Doodle' Talk by EJ Cohen
• Guts and Garters in the East End; Jack the Ripper Walk
• JDA Outing to Prague with comments from JDA Members
• JDA Paultons Leisure Outing
• Late Night Launch for LIPSINC New Group for young people
  
• Summer Outing Family Day on the Farm 'Woodhall Wonderland'
• Deaf Awareness Course culminated in JFS's first 'Signed Hatikvah'including a special report written by Myer Solomon
  
• JDA Signed Seder
• JDA Members Outing to Holiday on Ice
• JDA Members Outing to Sunny Isle of Wight
  
• JDA launch book 'Sign Language in Judaism'
  
  
  
• 2003
  
  
• Parents and Childrens' Group: Summer Outing to Fire Station
• Summer Course: 'Introduction to British Sign Language' (14-18yrs)
• House of Lords Fundraising Event
• JDA Seder Lunch
• Shakespeare Globe Outing
• Parents Evening Talk with Dr Peter Hindley
• Toddlers Tea Party
• World's only Deaf Female Rabbi visits the JDA
• Shalom Attic Quiz Night
  
  
• 2002
  
  
• The Launch of The Chat Room
• Ask The Rabbi
• MADD Day
• Official JDA Minibus Launch

Have you Heard?

Summer Sign Language Course 2003
for Teenagers age 14 - 18yrs old

Written by Course Attendee Roise Abrahams aged 14.

In the week of the 28th July 2003, about 10 others and myself attended a short course of sign language for four days.

By the end of it most of us acquired a basic knowledge of the language. The ages ranged from 14 - 19 but we still worked at the same pace.

On Monday we learned finger-spelling which is for names and things that don't have signs. Each day we revised what we had learned the day before.

By Tuesday we studied question words and sentence structures in BSL. We also acted out role-plays regularly using our new vocabulary, which were clothes and colours. Wednesday was our day off.

Rosie Abrahams second from the right

Thursday we learned numbers and ages with actions to describe the characteristics of the face. Then a few members of the group left to go to an optional trip to the theatre. They went to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to see a performance of an all woman cast of 'King Richard The Third'.

This show was a sign language interpreted show and it was very interesting to see how the signer managed to relay the script to the deaf members of the audience, in addition to using body language and facial expressions to bring life to the performance. The rest of the students who stayed behind learned how to inform people of the time and to ask other people the time.

The next day was Friday, which was our final day of the course. We gained knowledge of how to express food. Those of is who attended everyday received a certificate of recognition for our efforts.

In my opinion it was a success and should be repeated. Our teacher was Barbara who was very understanding and easy to understand. It worked to our advantage that she was deaf as we communicated in sign the entire time. The majority of the class enjoyed it and some wish to take it further. Thank you to JDA and Hand-in-Hand for organising this for us.

JDA HOUSE OF LORDS LUNCHEON
A SELLOUT!

The Hear!Hear! fundraising committee of the Jewish Deaf Association raised nearly £14,500 at its lunch held at the House of Lords on May 13, where Guest Speaker David Shilling - hat designer and sculptor - made a rare London appearance as the Guest Speaker.

To view our photos of the event click here

David Shilling has his own website www.davidshilling.com with information about his creations and his biography.

The lunch, which was hosted by one of the charity's patrons, Lord Janner, was attended by over 120 people, including 25 JDA members, for whom all the proceedings were translated into British Sign Language. A lip speaker helped hard of hearing people to understand the announcements and speeches more clearly.

The money will be used to finance two much-needed projects at the JDA; the first project is to help with the cost of the organisation's first-ever resident sign language interpreter, who will be on hand throughout the week to interpret meetings, speakers and outside events, such as funerals, etc. The second project will be to purchase a video camera, which will be used to bring JDA events to Deaf people who are housebound or cannot travel to the organisation's Community Centre in North Finchley. The idea is to record sign interpreted events, such as the yearly communal Passover service, as well as interesting sign interpreted talks about world events, politics and health matters, and send them to anyone who needs them, via the JDA's video lending library.

Both Lord Janner and David Shilling congratulated the committee on their success and praised the Jewish Deaf Association for its untiring work with deaf, hearing and hard of hearing people.

Photographs of David Shilling and JDA Vice President Myer Solomon, together with Executive Director Sue Cipin, which were taken on the Green opposite the House of Lords, are available upon request.

JDA SEDER - SUNDAY 20 APRIL 2003

To see photos of this event click here

To me, this year's JDA Seder showed that we have come a long, long way in recent years. Gone are the days of hearing people running the Seder for Deaf people - this year, under the guidance of our dear friends, Rev Avrami Freilich and Douglas Silas, (with adorable interpreter, Peter Abraham, alongside to rescue them when needed) … for the first time, the Jewish Deaf community carried out the Seder themselves.

The event was held on the Sunday afternoon at Stamford Hill Community Centre, and round tables were set with individual Seder plates, wine and matzah. The chairs were arranged so that everyone faced the raised platform at the front so that they could see everything going on.

The Seder started with Avrami telling the story of Pesach. He told it so clearly, so descriptively, that it felt as though he had transported us all back to the days when we ourselves were slaves in Egypt. He took us through a range of emotions, from sadness and hopelessness as we learned about the Jews' years of bondage … to great joy and triumph as we crossed the Red Sea and made our exodus from slavery. By the time he finished telling the story, I was exhausted!!!

The Jewish Deaf Association is a unique organisation - the only community of Anglo-Jewish Deaf people. Therefore, we need our own Haggadah. Before the Seder, I set to work on this. It was not possible for me to write this in British Sign Language, so instead I created a JDA Haggadah written in plain English with BSL grammar, so that people could understand and sign it easily.

Jack Hart started the service by signing Kiddush and, as the Seder progressed, every prayer was signed by a different JDA member. Douglas and Avrami explained the meanings behind the Pesach customs and I was so, so happy to watch so many friends coming up to the front and participating in their own service. This is how it should be!

There were a couple of "songs" when everyone joined in together. To look around the hall and see it filled with Jewish Deaf people all signing a Pesach chorus together was something so wonderful that will stay in my memory forever.

Avrami brought three of his lovely children with him, who were an absolute delight and followed the Seder with great interest. He had taught his little girls to sign "Ma Nishtanah?" which is the song usually sung by the youngest child in the family, asking "what is different about this night from all other nights?". It was beautiful to see these two cute hearing children stand up with such confidence and sign their song. Everyone really appreciated this and the girls got ENORMOUS applause at the end!

It was an afternoon of developing our understanding of Pesach and participating in our very own Anglo-Jewish Deaf culture. It gave a real sense of Jewish and Deaf pride and a feeling of belonging to a very special community.

I think I saw Eva Fielding-Jackson wipe away a tear at one point. I understand. This year's JDA Seder was an important event in the history of the Jewish Deaf community and an emotional and unforgettable experience for many of us.

Sue Cipin

Shakespeare Globe Outing on May 8th

Shakespeare's' Globe Theater

About 25 people from the JDA set out for the Globe theatre in the morning of May 8th. We had a welcoming guide who showed us around the theatre, which was purposely constructed to resemble the original theatre built in the early sixteenth century. Inside the theatre we felt we were transported back in time in the sixteenth century (that was quite unforgettable) as the building was so convincingly built for that era! The interpreter, Maria Economcu relayed very clearly and expressively in sign language what the guide was saying and many members asked a lot of questions. A great deal of interest was generated about Shakespeare and his plays and the theatre of his time.

We sat down on the benches facing the stage and had the unique opportunity to see some actors rehearsing one or two scenes of Richard II for the evening performance. The tour took about an hour and half.


Millennium Bridge

Afterwards we went round the interesting exhibition and
some of us had lunch at the theatre's cafe overlooking the Millennium Bridge and the River Thames. Following our lunch We all had the chance to walk along the Millennium Bridge nearby, very firmly built now and not wobbly at all!!

It was an enjoyable day.

PARENTS EVENING:
THURSDAY 3rd APRIL 2003

Special Guest Speaker: Dr Peter Hindley

JDA in conjunction with NLDCS were delighted to welcome a prominent speaker Dr Peter Hindley, a consultant with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for deaf children and deaf families to the JDA The title of Dr Hindly's talk was: Peter will talk on 'Deafness and well-being for deaf children and their families - what do we know and how can we ensure it?'

Dr Peter Hindly with Mrs Braha Teacher of The Deaf

This was a very interesting and though provoking evening, many questions were asked relating to the education of deaf children in schools, and the differences between mainstream and non-mainstream schools. Parents of deaf children,teachers of the deaf, speech and language therapists and staff from the NDCS attended the talk.

Dr Peter Hindly went on to talk about the psychological effects of some deaf children's behavior and how to ensure that they are getting the best possible care, he gave us examples of some cases that he has worked with and provided all the parents and professionals invaluable information and a very positive insight into the benefits of his work.

Our interpreter with an NDCS Staff member

Toddlers Tea Party
Monday 17th February 2003

The JDA's Community Centre in North Finchley was the scene of 'mayhem and madness' last week when group of young deaf children, aged one to eight years old, and their hearing parents, were the star guests at a tea party aimed at bringing them together and introducing new families to the group. It was a wonderful afternoon and provided a unique opportunity for parents of deaf children to meet each other and share experiences and information.

Creative activities such as cooking with chocolate! was provided for the children, whilst the parents chatted with the JDA staff and each other.

This kind of contact is highly important, as many hearing parents of deaf children are concerned with the lack of information elsewhere and benefit greatly by joining our Parents Link as they are able to relate and learn from each other.

Due to the overwhelming success of the afternoon it was decided that there would be another parents and toddlers get together in May 2003. All new parents are welcome and anyone interested in either the tea party or becoming part of the Parents Link can contact Mira Goldberg or Jacqui Press at the JDA.

Click on this link to find out more about the services we offer deaf children and their families

FRIDAY 17th JANUARY 2003

JDA WELCOMES WORLD'S ONLY DEAF FEMALE RABBI TO ITS FIRST-EVER SIGN-INTERPRETED FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICE AND SUPPER

Click here to see photos from this memorable event

The JDA celebrated a double-first on Friday when it welcomed the world's only female deaf rabbi at its first-ever member's Friday night service and supper.

The event was one of a number to be held recently in response to research conducted by the JDA into the needs of its members. Many felt that they missed out on synagogue services on Shabbat and High Holy Days because they could not follow the proceedings.

In response, the JDA has organised a number of highly successful sign interpreted services at various synagogues throughout the year - but this is the first time that a Friday night service has been attempted.

'The event coincided with a short visit from the USA of Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe, the world's first and only deaf female rabbi,' explains Sue Cipin, Executive Director of the Jewish Deaf Association.

'It was too good an opportunity to miss, so we approached Finchley Reform Synagogue and asked if a sign-interpreted Shabbat evening service could be conducted for our members. Rabbi Lee Wax was delighted to arrange it and around 150 congregants, including 35 deaf people, were captivated by the sight of two interpreters, working together, who so movingly translated the words and music of this special Shabbat Shira into both ASL (American Sign Language) for the rabbi and her husband and BSL (British Sign Language) for the JDA members.

After the service, the members returned to the JDA Community Centre nearby and were treated to a wonderful Friday night supper, served by volunteers from the JDA's staff.

The meal was followed by a very heartfelt and intensely personal sermon by Rabbi Dubowe, where she stressed the need for everyone to overcome the obstacles life places before them in order to follow their dreams.

Many of the members were overwhelmed by the evening, telling Sue afterwards that it represented a landmark in their religious lives - never having been able to understand or feel included in a Friday night service before. 'Something very special happened last Friday night,' says Sue Cipin, 'and we want to make sure we don't lose the momentum of the occasion. We will be planning more events like this in the future and I urge any synagogue within travelling distance - and of any affiliation - to contact us with an offer to host a Shabbat or High Holy Day service in the future. I promise that the experience will enrich the experience of every congregant that attends.'

JANUARY 4th 2003

SHALOM ATTIC QUIZ NIGHT Shalom Attic celebrated the New Year 2003 with a Quiz Night, it was a good turnout, around 15 turned up for the fun and action packed quiz night and a delicious dinner!

The quiz, organised by Fifi Garfield was based on general knowledge, knowledge of cities, celebrities, well known members of the deaf community and many more.

Everyone teamed up into pairs and were given an overall time limit which most of them managed to meet! But in the end, the best team won, this was James Kelberman and his girlfriend! So Well Done to these two!!!

After this, they relaxed and chatted whilst browsing the internet and some played games on the Xbox. It was generally a fantatsic evening and it definitely rattled their brains!

Click here to see photos of the evening ...

Shalom Attic Quiz Night Photos

THURSDAY 5th DECEMBER 2002 - 6pm

The Launch of The Chat Room
To see the photos of this event click on this link:
Chat Room Launch Photographs

After months of planning and preparations, the Jewish Deaf Association finally launched their brand new venue The Chat Room on December 5th, 2002. Once the funky invitations were sent out and the overwhelming number of replies received, it was apparent that it was going to be an eventful evening.

The opening of The Chat Room also coincided with the launch of the JDA's new website. It is : www.jewishdeaf.org.uk

The evening started at 6pm followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony at 6.30pm. Once the guests flocked into what gradually became a very packed hall the speeches commenced. Firstly Jacqui Press introduced our special guests who were three presenters from Channel 4's Vee TV programme for the deaf, Rebecca Tadman, Nikki Stratton and Ahmed Mudawi. They had the honour to officially open The Chat Room.

Jacqui then went on to explain the brand new facility, which provides a contemporary social lounge with Internet café for deaf people - and which the JDA hope will particularly appeal as a meeting base for the younger, 'missing generation' of deaf people, aged 18 - 35. This was then concluded by Mira Goldberg who explained about the history of the project and how it came about.

The Chat Room has taken over a year to plan and create and boasts a new, funky mauve and lilac décor, comfortable sofas and chairs, and a bank of computers for use as an Internet café and for classes in computer literacy, which are held in sign language by a deaf tutor. The room is completely self-contained with vending machines for snacks and hot and cold drinks and has a state of the art Hi-fi with surround sound system.

It will be available to all Jewish Deaf Association members and will eventually be in use for various activities up to five days a week.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony the guests and visitors enjoyed a gourmet finger buffet and drinks. Everyone toasted to the new venue (with a glass of ice cool bubbly of course!) and stayed on till the late hours of the evening socialising and chilling out in The Chat Room using the pool table and the internet facilities. It was obvious from the reactions of the visitors and the guests that this venue will become a popular one for many years to come.

The JDA went on to explain that in the year 2003 many exciting activities and events will be taking place!

Due to public demand the JDA will hold open evenings to allow for members of the public to view this contemporary new venue.