Jewish Festivals

Another successful Seder 2008 for the JDA.

To see photos of this event click here 

This year, on Sunday April 13th 2008, Passover was celebrated again at Brenner Centre, Stamford Hill and I led the service at the Seder.

There were almost 100 people for the Seder, not only Jewish people but also non-Jewish people came.  Father Cyril Axelrod and Father Paul Fletcher attended the Seder as they both liked to experience what the ‘Last Supper’ was like. Agnes Dyab and her dad were there for the first time and they both enjoyed the event very much. It was very sad to know that Thomas Pilkington, who attended, died peacefully in his sleep the morning after the Seder. For him, this was the Last Supper, too.

The service was fully accessible, delivered in BSL, while Peter Abraham voiced over. Thanks to Susie Lithman-Romeo, palantypist transcription was also available for lipreaders and hard of hearing people.

The whole story of Passover was told over PowerPoint presentation which also included a short film telling the story of Exodus - about Jewish people leaving Egypt, from slavery to freedom.

Many members of the JDA took part in reciting the various prayers. Givona (Sharon Ridgeway and Noel Traynor’s daughter) and Chantelle (Jeremy & Ravit Freeman’s daughter), sang the Ma Nishtana  (the 4 questions as to why this night was different from all other nights). They are both deaf, yet they sang it with such sweet voices. Reverend Avromi Freilich’s four hearing children signed the Ma Nishtana. It was a truly inclusive event.

After I delivered the service, the 4 courses of the Seder meal were served, delicious as ever. After the meal, members were able to ask Reverend Freilich various questions about Passover. There were so many questions and not enough time to answer them all! It was a very popular session.

Georges Lehrer from Belgium wrote and signed his own explanation of the phrase ‘Next Year in Jerusalem’. The song ‘Ehad Mi Yodea’ (Who knows one?) was totally interactive. Everyone took part and had to stand up displaying their posters with their numbers in turn whenever the number was sung. A funny and popular song!

At the end of the service, we had the Prize Draw in which the first prize was a holiday for two in Eilat. Jeremy Freeman’s brother in law won the top prize.  Lucky winners!  (Unfortunately, not for me!)

Votes of thanks were given to all the people involved in organising the Seder. There were too many to name here, but my heartfelt thanks go to everyone who helped, and a special mention to Ann Clements, who arranged and co-ordinated the Seder event asisted by Danielle Singer.

Next year in Jerusalem and if not… come and join us at the JDA at anytime.

Eva Fielding-Jackson

---

Ma Nishtana?
JDA Seder Celebration 2007

To see photos of this event click here

This year, the Seder celebration took place at Stamford Hill Community Centre, on Sunday 1st April afternoon, just before the real Seder starts. This enabled a huge turnout of more than 100 people!

This year, the usual question of ‘Ma Nishtana Halayla Hazeh?’ (Why is this night different from all other nights?) had double meanings. Not only it was different because we could lean as free people, not only because we were eating bitter herbs and Matzos (unleavened bread), but also because for the first time ever, a Deaf person delivered the service. That Deaf person was me, together with EJ Cohen, the American
interpreter and Jewish Educator.

EJ and I met a few times before the Seder. We prepared, designed, timed and shared the service delivery together.

At the Seder, when EJ spoke, Peter Abraham interpreted in sign language. When I signed in BSL, Peter voiced over.

Among the guests were a mixture of hearing, Deaf /deaf, partially deaf and hard of hearing people. With the support of the interpreters, the palantypist, relay interpreters for the Deafblind and the lipspeaker, no-one was left out. Everyone could take part fully in the service. We also had the Haggadah (prayer book) with pictures on a PowerPoint presentation. We were fortunate to have Daniel Clements’ help with this.

The Haggadah was read and signed by most members in both Hebrew and English. People of all ages and with different types of communication came to the stage and took part - a true inclusive Seder.

It was particularly lovely to see Chantelle, the four year old daughter of Jeremy and Ravit Freeman, singing quietly the ‘Ma Nishtana.’
The Seder was a huge success and members said how good it was to be finally delivered by a Deaf person in BSL, with all the songs that involved all the members. They particularly liked the Passover counting song ‘Ehad Mi Yodea?’
(Who Knows One?) where each table had to wave the number in the air when we sang, causing roars of laughter.

For me, despite the hard work and preparation involved, I enjoyed every minute of it. I would like to thank the JDA for giving me the opportunity to deliver the Seder. I also want to
thank EJ for all her hard work with me before the event. Despite being very ill on the week before the event, it did not stop EJ from coming and doing her part very well.

I also would like to thank all the guests for being patient. It was a long afternoon, and many were hungry. The look in some eyes begged us to shut up and let the meal begin!
Nevertheless, they all participated and made this Seder so special.

I also want to thank Sue Cipin for encouraging me to do the Seder and for the lovely present I received, which was so unexpected.

We usually say at the end of each Seder “Next Year in Jerusalem”. I would like to add: “But if not in Jerusalem, then let’s have it again the same way with the JDA”

Thanks to you all.

Eva Fielding-Jackson

---