Our Way, the OU’s program for the Jewish deaf and hard of hearing, will have its annual shabbaton for deaf and hearing-impaired young professionals, including singles, married, widowed, and divorced, at the University of Pennsylvania the weekend of March 19-21. Early bird deadline, as well as the deadline for reserving a hotel room, is Monday, February 15.
Our Way of Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD) is dedicated to providing resources, services, and social programming for the Jewish deaf and hard of hearing.
Batya Jacob, Program Director for Our Way, stated, “Our Way’s singles program, which is dedicated to helping the Jewish deaf and hard of hearing marry within the Jewish religion, has expanded this year to include deaf and hard of hearing young professionals and those within the hearing community. To this end, we will be working with the Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania to plan programming to include both graduate and undergraduate students as part of our singles event.”
The weekend will include a Saturday night activity; a tour of Philadelphia including visits to the Liberty Bell and Franklin Museum; workshops; games; and great food.
Housing is available in private homes nearby for no fee on a first come, first serve basis, or at Hilton Inn at Penn, an area hotel, for an additional fee of $175 a night. The fee for the Shabbaton, with meals and activities included, is $110 for members and $125 for non-members before February 15; $140 for members and $160 for non-members after February 15. Registration is closed on March 11. Transportation to the University of Pennsylvania is easily accessible via inter-city train or bus.
For more information on transportation, the weekend, or to register for the retreat, contact Batya Jacob or Michelle Goldberg at 212-613-2127 or jacobb@ou.org.