I’m not deaf, but very hard-of-hearing. One of the most painful struggles of my childhood was not being able to learn to read Hebrew. I began to despise Hebrew School and all things having to do with it.

To me being raised Jewish, is about so much more. During my college years, learning sign language gave me an opportuntiy to finally compete academically.

I worked at Hillel and taught a class in Sign Language.

Through the years, I have had many coversations with G-d and we haven’t always seen eye to eye. But no matter what — I am a Jew down to my last gene.

My daughter born to a Gentile father and me, her obviously Jewish mother, — choose in 5th grade to actively pursue a Jewsih Day school Education. She brought me and others in our family back to our roots. I prepare to say goodbye, as my daughter will be in Israel for the 3rd time. This time is different, she will be spending a year at Hebrew Union College.

While I am not a convert, who are we to deny those who quest for our natural brith right, the same opportunities.

We are a much different world, with different needs, we can learn so much from those who want to join us at Temple and Torah.

We are dwindling and many customs are dying out, we need to extend a hand and welcome those who deeply feel a Spiritual Need to join us.

A. lubow
LA, CA

Yea! I could not think of “Bar Mitzvah” back this Wednesday morning.

More and more deaf boys finally be allowed to take the Bar Mitzvah due to the re-interpretation fo the Torah.

I am really thankful of the Jews and Muslims for their contribution to the entire world with the “kosher foods” practice. Same thing with the real intellectual contributions from many Jewish people over centuries

Robert L. Mason (RLM)

My parent was gone, and the Rabbi recognizes me as one of the minyan and anytime I had to say kaddish, they waited until I finished it. Respect for me as a deaf man is there.

I am not Jewish and respect Judaism as a historic religion; one with solid, culturally based and ethical values and emphasis on humanity just as importantly as other religions.

Hopefully your blog awakens the Orthodox rabbinical courts to the losses happening in their own midst and to revise their mindsets.