BETH DIN UPDATES RULING ON HEARING AID USE

The London Beth Din has a policy on the wearing of hearing aids on the Sabbath and festivals.

Congregants with hearing aids will be able to participate fully in the service, if the synagogue has a loop system in operation, by ensuring that their aids are switched to the joint 'M/T' position - or the 'M' only position if there is no loop - prior to the commencement of the sabbath/festival. The aids should not then be adjusted until after the termination of the sabbath/festival.

People without an M/T joint switch on their aids should contact the JDA on Tel: 0208 446 0214 (voice/text phone) or the Lotus Hearing Centre on Tel: 0208 455 4210 for more detailed advice.

Synagogues of any affiliation that are not yet offering the vital facility of a loop system to help their hard of hearing congregants should contact the JDA for further information and advice about how installation and financial help for the process can be arranged.