Being Jewish and deaf is a double dilemma. It is difficult trying to be Jewish and meet your communication needs at a Jewish day school. No special education programs are currently available for Jewish deaf students in the Greater Los Angeles area. Many of us were taught the oral method, so resources were even more limited. Sunday School at Temple Beth Solomon of the Deaf in Arleta was always the only option.
Sign language is used there.
In my personal situation for example, my parents wanted to enroll me at Hillel Hebrew Academy. The Academy wouldn't take me in because they did not have the resources for my needs, so I never had the opportunity to participate in a Jewish day school. To my surprise while researching, however, seven Jewish deaf people did attend Jewish day schools here in Los Angeles. I interviewed all seven students about their experiences and it will be featured in the next issue. To this day, only one Jewish day school for the deaf students exists.