Our Way, an Orthodox Union program for the deaf and hearing impaired, together with Congregation Adas Yeshurun, 3050 Touhy Avenue, invite the Jewish deaf and their families to a Shabbaton (Sabbath experience) March 24-25.
Highlights of the weekend include the presence of Deaf Scholar-in-Residence Mordechai Weis of New York City. Mr. Weis, who is deaf, was raised Orthodox, and studied at Yeshiva Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD. He is currently studying architectural technology at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, NY.
The Deaf Resident Couple, Karen and Yossi Alkoby, are a deaf Jewish couple living in Chicago. Yossi is a native of Israel, and Karen is a native of Chicago. The couple met, in the mid 1980’s, when Karen volunteered at Niv, a deaf school in Tel-Aviv. After they got married, they moved to Chicago where they raised two hearing daughters, Judy and Leah. The Alkoby family maintains strong ties with Israel through family and friends.
Along with special programming, the Shabbaton will provide three delicious meals and snacks; an interpreted synagogue service; a beginner’s prayer service; child care; and an opportunity to join together with others from the deaf community to live and learn about Judaism.
To attend, send an application and check for $25 by March 18 to Our Way of Illinois, c/o Karen and Yossi Alkoby, 6730 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645.