OLD AND NEW; DEAF CELEBRANTS PUT SPIN ON SEDER.Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer About 90 deaf Jews shared the meaning and spirit of Passover on Wednesday in a unique and innovative way through the experimental use of multimedia projectors at a Seder. The two towering projection screens allowed the group to follow the prayers, songs and readings together, where in the past they would have struggled to watch a sign language interpreter while trying to read along with the Haggadah prayer booklet. ``It's amazing. Deaf people This is an incomplete list of notable deaf people. Important historical figures in deaf history and culture The idea that a person who was deaf could achieve a notable or distinguished status was not common until the latter half of the 18th century, when Abbé Charles-Michel de need the visuals so there's no miscommunication, no misunderstanding. That way they get accurate information,'' said Evylyn Zola, 76, who is deaf and communicated through an interpreter. Several deaf actors attended the dinner Wednesday, including Marlee Matlin Marlee Beth Matlin (born August 24 1965) is an Academy Award-winning American actress who is almost completely deaf. Biography Early life Matlin was born in Morton Grove, Illinois to Libby and Donald Matlin, an automobile dealer. , who won a Best Actress Oscar for ``Children of a Lesser God.'' ``In the past we didn't feel like we could pray together all at the same time. Each table prayed separately and the timing was off,'' Matlin said through interpreter Connie Schultz Connie Schultz (born July 21, 1957), of Cleveland, Ohio, is a columnist for The Plain Dealer newspaper for which she won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, beating Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times and Tommy Tomlinson of The Charlotte Observer. . ``It's very exciting. Now we can pray together.'' Zola said she traveled from her home in Concord, Calif., to Burbank's Temple Emanu El specifically to see the Jewish Deaf Community Center, a national organization based in Burbank, try this new technology. Her daughter, Tarzana resident Sue Carol Zola, said the projectors gave her mother an opportunity to better follow the symbolism of Passover and participate in its sense of community. ``Now she gets to understand what the customs are, why we celebrate this holiday and its historical impact,'' said Sue Carol Zola. Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, started at sundown Wednesday. The first of the eight nights is treated as a feast to God, with family and friends gathering to remember and celebrate the Israelites' freedom from slavery and their exodus from Egypt. Traditionally each person takes turns reading from the Haggadah, a ritual that deaf people found difficult. ``I didn't know what page they were on or what words they were following,'' said Gary Sidansky, a deaf 11-year-old from Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . In past years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time Jewish Deaf Community Center used sign-language interpreters at its local Seder dinners. With the projectors, there was no need for a print version of the Haggadah, although two interpreters were hired to sign along with the colorful graphics on the screens. The projectors were made possible by a $5,600 grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Organizers hope to repeat this event in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. next year and be the model for other deaf Jewish groups. ``One thing that's nice about this technique is that it's run by computers, which means we have the ability to distribute a copy of the program on CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). to other deaf Jewish groups around the country to use,'' said David Rosenbaum David E. Rosenbaum (March 1, 1942 – January 8, 2006) was an American journalist. After receiving first a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, Rosenbaum worked for a number of publications including the , a board member at the center. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Robert Sidansky signs to his son Gary during a Jewish Deaf Community Center Seder at Temple Emanu El in Burbank. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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