CBI Blogs

Shalom Chaverim,

Every time we celebrate one of our young adults being called to the Torah, I am overwhelmed by the miracle I have the honor and privilege of witnessing. Sometimes I have known the students since their youngest days in our Child Development Center. Sometimes we begin our journey together in third grade when Hebrew school begins. Sometimes, a child begins later for as many different reasons as there are children or self-selects and pushes their parents to “get on it” and reach out to the synagogue. No matter the beginning, I never discount how lucky we – our greater temple community – are to celebrate with these families.

Over the past several years our b’nei mitzvah program has stretched and grown and adapted to welcome all our learners. I am grateful for the support of my clergy team partners over the years: Rabbi Folberg, Rabbi Rose, Rabbi Epstein, Rabbi Levy, and Rabbi Young along with our Director of Youth Education and Engagement Carly Cera who have all supported this growth. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend deep gratitude to Ellen Sable, our B’nei Mitzvah Tutor, who has been our right hand on this journey, adapting and adjusting students’ materials to best fit their learning needs. With this support, comradery, and invention we no longer move celebrations outside of our community’s usual worship schedule. Here at CBI, we read Torah at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning (sometimes on the 4^th Friday evening), and when you attend, you also bear witness to the miracle playing out in front of you.

Knowing this background helps you understand why, when new members to our CBI family, who are also members of our deaf community, came to meet with me in the fall expressing their desire for their son to be called to the Torah it made sense for us to respond to their request with “yes and…”

I was immediately introduced to Rabbi Darby Leigh at Kerem Shalom, a Reconstructionist Synagogue located in Concord, Massachusetts. Rabbi Leigh is hearing impaired and speaks fluent ASL. He had officiated the parents’ wedding many years ago and was working with their son on his bar mitzvah studies. He would also be able to come to Austin on Saturday, March 8^th, to co-officiate Shabbat Morning services. Let the meetings and planning begin!

Now you might be wondering, what does it take to give this young man and his family the joy, and stress, and wonder of bringing their child to the Torah?

• No less than three planning meetings for the clergy team with a google folder of shared information from cue sheets to slide decks.
• Many meetings for the student with a teacher who knows ASL & ISL (Israeli Sign Language) and the Rabbi as he prepared to be our shaliach tzibur (prayer leader) for the morning.
• Many ASL interpreters – 6 to be exact. Four in the room on the day – two to sign for the attendees as most of the community in attendance were also deaf, two to sign for those participating on the bimah, and two to voice for those using ASL so the hearing members of the kahal knew what was being said. Two were online in a Zoom room for those who would be joining online. (A shout out here to former member, Sharon Ploeger, whose two sons became b’nei mitzvah here at CBI and are now grown, and who runs her own ASL interpreting business. Sharon came in from Colorado for the service and it was wonderful to reconnect with her.)
• One four-hour rehearsal with the clergy team, bar mitzvah, family, all four ASL interpreters and our Technology Coordinator, Aaron Perchonok.
• Cue sheets for everyone to keep us all on the same page, slides adapted for a split screen, etc.

All the planning came together. All the bar mitzvah’s hard work paid off. His nervous and excited parents got to experience all the usual things that come with this life cycle event. I had the privilege of connecting with a colleague who, I must admit, I was fangirling a little bit over getting to meet as I have used his YouTube videos to teach our kindergarten and first grade students the proper ASL when we pray the sh’ma. Most importantly, everyone’s cheeks were sore from all the smiling during the beautiful service.

In this week’s Torah portion, we read: “And let all among you who are skilled come and make all that the Eternal has commanded: … And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit was moved came, bringing the Eternal an offering…” (Exodus 35:10 & 21)

As we enter into this Shabbat I pray that our community never gets in the way of our young adults bringing their abilities and talents into our spaces. May we continue to welcome all whose spirits are so moved to be called to the Torah in exactly the way that suits them best.

Finally, if you believe in this work, then I encourage you to consider donating to the Zach Avner Inclusion Fund. On Saturday, March 29^th Jonathan and I will light the Yahrzeit candle to mark year 11. Zach couldn’t attend religious school without an aid in class with him and your generosity immediately following his death is what created this Fund guaranteeing financial support for inclusion in all our spaces. Fidgets, ear protection, ASL interpreters at events, and our inclusion specialist during Sunday school are all supported by the Zach Avner Fund. Thank you in advance for your continued support!

Sending you wishes for a peaceful Shabbat.