Megillah for the Deaf

From: The Jewish Journal - Los Angeles,CA,United States - Mar 5, 2004

It is a mitzvah on Purim to hear the reading of Megillat Esther, the scroll that tells the holiday's story. In fact, some rabbis say that if you miss hearing one word of the megillah, then you have not fulfilled your obligation.

Certainly, deaf people would have a hard time fulfilling this mitzvah. The Orthodox Union has responded with a way that deaf people can "hear" the megillah.

The Orthodox Union's National Jewish Council for the Disabled (NJCD) came up with the "PowerPoint Megillat Esther Program," a CD-ROM that can be loaded into a computer and then projected to the front of the synagogue. A hearing person operates the equipment, following along with the cantor and pointing out the words being read using the mouse of the computer, which are the highlighted, karaoke-style, on the screen. Every time the name Haman comes up, the word is clicked and a graphic of stamping appears on the screen to simulate what should be going on in the synagogue at that moment.

Frank Duchoeny, the Montreal coordinator of Our Way for the Jewish Deaf, a division of the NJCD, developed the program two years ago. This year the CD-ROM, which is available to synagogues for $100, comes with a number of additional features.

"This year's version has new graphics for Haman and the blessings recited before and after the megillah reading, and it also highlights the psukim [verses] that are recited by entire congregation," said Batya Jacobs, Our Way's program director. "The mitzvah of hearing Megillat Esther is a requirement for every Jew. Using our PowerPoint program will facilitate the inclusion of our fellow Jews who are deaf or hard of hearing within the community in this mitzvah."

For more information or to place an order, call (212) 613-8127 or send e-mail to arielib@ou.org . — GW

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