JDA Magazine May 2025 Paperturn - Flipbook - Page 28
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What is DeafShul?
Vicki Ashmore is a wonderful, quali昀椀ed BSL interpreter. As far as we know,
she is the only interpreter in the UK who can interpret from Hebrew to BSL.
She has started DeafShul to give Deaf people regular access to synagogue
services and Jewish learning.
Vicky writes:
I grew up in the
Orthodox Jewish
community and worked
as the Head Teacher
at Bromley Reform
Synagogue before
I became an interpreter.
Once I quali昀椀ed, I met Deaf Jewish people who
would tell me that they had never had access to
services or a Jewish education. I thought to myself,
“That needs to be 昀椀xed!” And so DeafShul was
born.
I used the Yiddish word for synagogue, “Shul”,
because it’s also the word for “School”. This is
because, traditionally, Jews would pray and learn
in the same place.
Similarly, DeafShul is not just about having
accessible services. It’s about making sure that
BSL users have access to Jewish education, our
culture, our languages, even our food! Deaf Jews
have long been sidelined, and it’s time to end that
injustice.
I am not doing this by myself. Owen Power,
a Deaf Jewish activist, is supporting me.
But we both know that the project will only
succeed if other Deaf Jewish people want it to.
So please, if you’re a BSL user and want access to
services, or just want to learn about who we are
— please come and support DeafShul.
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JDATogether — Issue 50 — May 2025
You do not have to be Jewish — anyone who
would like to learn about Judaism is welcome.
DeafShul is only a pilot. I’m hoping the Deaf Jewish
community will support this project by coming
to our online services on the 昀椀rst Friday evening
of each month, which will run for 6 months.
All are welcome and I hope DeafShul will have a
long, long life ahead!
JDA is working with Vicki to create an
exciting new Jewish cultural programme.
From April 2025, we will be consulting with
the Deaf community to get your feedback,
so we can plan the events you want.
