A Board of Deputies exhibition educating non-Jews about the Jewish way of life was displayed in a special one-day event at the Jewish Deaf Association last week.
British Sign Language interpreter Vicki Ashmore organised for the Jewish Living Experience Exhibition to be displayed at the JDA centre in Finchley for Jewish and non-Jewish members of the deaf community to view.
The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition is made up of banners illustrating Jewish culture and practice, accompanied by tables of objects that can be handled. Vicki, supported by Anna Silver, the Board’s Education Officer were on hand to chat and answer questions around the exhibition.
Vicki also delivered an engaging and inspiring talk in BSL to a room filled with both Jews and non-Jews,. She spoke about her background, Jewish rituals, and food, followed by a though provoking discussion and finishing with the opportunity for attendees to eat challah, wine, rugelach and hamantaschen!
A highlight of the day was a deaf boy who is preparing, (supported by Vicki) for his Bar Mitzvah in April, demonstrating how to sigh the Hebrew alphabet. Currently, Vicki is the only interpreter able to translate between Hebrew and BSL.
Vicki said: “I was so glad the JDA decided to host the JLEE. For years I’ve been meeting both Jewish and non-Jewish Deaf people with almost no idea of what Judaism is. People fear what they don’t understand, and that’s what makes the JLEE so great: it explains Judaism, our culture, language, holidays and traditions in an accessible way. I hope more people will host this brilliant exhibition.”