46 deaf children sign ‘Mazel Tov’ in Israel

They came from Beerhseva in the south through to Haifa in the north. They came to celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs and their Bat Mitzvahs, to commit themselves to their people and to their heritage.

What made this celebration unique was that each celebrant was born deaf. Today they still have major hearing and educational issues.  

The event at the Young Israel of North Netanya (YINN) was organized by the International Young Israel Movement (IYIM) in close partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the National Deaf association.

The celebrants and their parents were addressed by Dr. Avital Laufer, Deputy Mayor of Netanya; Rabbi Natan Morowitz, YINN Rav Emeritus; and Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, Director, Deaf programming, IYIM.

After receiving gifts of Tallitot, Shabbat candles, and watches presented by YINN Chairman Gordon Weinberg and his wife, the boys were called for aliyot to the Torah and the girls were called up on the bimah to recite Shema. This was followed by dancing and a seudat mitzvah held in the shul hall.

The large group then continued on to Beit Hatfusot — the museum of the Jewish people — where they learned about Jewish history and Jewish continuity in the diaspora.

“The amount of emotions and tears in the synagogue underlined the importance of this event,” said IYIM Executive Director Daniel Meyer. “For the parents, it was a day many could not have believed would happen when these special children were born. For the children, it was an opportunity to experience an important Jewish milestone just like their hearing peers and siblings. We wish them all a big Mazal Tov.”