JDA_Magazine_PaperTurn_Sept 2025 - Flipbook - Page 29
Josh’s family say:
Vicki Ashmore said:
“Preparing for the Bar Mitzvah has enabled us to
connect with our Jewish heritage for the 昀椀rst time.”
“It’s a very powerful experience to reintroduce a
Jewish family to their cultural roots, teaching them
why Jews do what they do, like why we eat challah
on Shabbat.”
Tina, 48, grew up in a Deaf Jewish family and
“always felt and always knew” she was Jewish.
But, despite marking major holidays, she had
never felt able to fully engage with Jewish services
or embrace the community.
Josh’s Bar Mitzvah was a learning experience for
the whole family, through which they started to
engage more with Jewish customs.
Vicki attended a seminary before moving to the UK
in 1995. Here she worked in a Cheder in Bromley,
south-east London, eventually becoming Head
Teacher and Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor at Bromley
Reform Synagogue. Josh was her 昀椀rst Deaf Bar
Mitzvah student!
Vicki is also the creator of DeafShul, a recently
launched monthly Friday Night synagogue service
on Zoom, enabling Deaf people to participate and
learn about di昀昀erent aspects of Judaism.
▼ Josh with his parents Daryl and Tina
and sister Eve
23
