Our Way, the Orthodox Union’s program for the deaf and hard of hearing, will present a Shabbaton in Plainview the weekend of February 6-7 at the Young Israel of Plainview, 132 Southern Parkway.
Our Way is dedicated to providing resources, services, and social programming for the Jewish deaf and hard of hearing. It is a division of the OU’s National Jewish Council for Disabilities.
The Shabbaton will feature Deaf Torah Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi David Kastor; Deaf Coordinators Youssef (Joe) and Shoshana Suissa and Deaf Hosts Barry and Deborah Spindel.
Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi David Kastor graduated from Gallaudet University with a BA in Computer Science. He is married to an Israeli deaf woman, Tchia. He received his rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel in Baltimore, three years ago. He started the Ahavas Israel School of the Deaf in Fredrick, MD and taught there for two years. He has worked for Our Way as a Regional Representative of Maryland for more than 22 years.
Youssef Suissa is vice president of the Brooklyn Hebrew Society of the Deaf. His wife Shoshana was born in Israel and has lived in the United States for 18 years. Their daughter Miriam is a student at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County’s high school division.
Barry and Deborah Spindel, reside in Plainview and have two sons. Michael, a student at Yeshiva University and Jonathan, a senior at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County.
Cost of Shabbaton is $40 per person. Discounts for families and scholarships are available.
To make reservations, send an application and check, payable to Our Way Shabbaton to Our Way C/O Barry & Deb Spindel, 22 Forest Dirve, Plainview, NY 118303. For more information, email debspin@verizon.net or video phone 516-342-3711.