OUR WAY WELCOMES JEWISH DEAF TO NEW YORK FOR OU SHABBATON OBSERVANCE, MARCH 16-17
The Jewish Center
131 West 86th Street
New York, NY 10024
March 16-17, 2007
The Orthodox Union’s Our Way, a program for the deaf, hearing impaired, and their families will present a one-of-a-kind Sabbath experience, March 16-17, in Manhattan. It will be held at the Jewish Center, 131 West 86th Street.
The program will provide their families an excellent opportunity to join together with others to live and learn about Judaism, and to experience Shabbat,” declared Rabbi Eliezer Lederfeind, Director of Our Way.
Shabbat will be hosted by Allon Yomtov, a deaf individual, who lives on the Upper West Side and only recently became involved with the Jewish community. He holds a BS in Applied Mathematics and a MBA in Finance from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He serves as the Treasurer of the National Jewish Deaf Congress, Inc. and of the local Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kaleidoscope, Inc.
“With a wonderful committee, we are working hard to make this Shabbaton a pleasant and a memorable experience for all Jewish deaf,” Mr. Yomtov said.
Highlights of the weekend include interpreted Sabbath services and the presence throughout of Deaf Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi David Kastor. Rabbi Kastor holds a BA in Computer Science from Gallaudet University (for the deaf) and rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel in Baltimore. He started the Ahavas Israel School of the Deaf in Frederick, MD, and worked for Our Way as Regional Representative of Maryland for almost 18 years.
Along with special programming, the Shabbaton will provide three delicious meals and snacks; an interpreted synagogue service; a beginner’s prayer service; and child care.
To attend, send an application and check for $30 to Our Way Shabbaton, c/o Allon Yomtov, 215 W. 95th Street, Apt 11K, New York, NY 10025. For more information contact him, TDD/Relay, at 212-749-3528, or allony@yahoo.com.
For information on Our Way national programs, contact Rabbi Lederfeind, at 212-613-8234 or email ourway@ou.org.