The Kinus banquet took an extraordinary turn when Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff addressed the crowd, not with words but through American Sign Language (ASL). His speech, simultaneously translated for all shluchim, emphasized how everyone, regardless of ability, deserves to feel a true sense of belonging.
One of the most heartfelt moments of the banquet came when Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, the Rebbe’s shliach to the Jewish Deaf community, took the stage. Addressing the crowd in American Sign Language (ASL), his words were simultaneously translated so everyone could understand.
“For a deaf Yid, finding a place within the community can be challenging,” Rabbi Soudakoff expressed through his interpreter. “But we’re here to change that.”
He shared personal stories about the isolation many deaf Yidden feel within the broader Jewish community, emphasizing the importance of creating an accessible environment to include everyone.
“Our mission is to ensure that every Yid, regardless of ability, feels a sense of belonging,” he expressed. “Let’s continue our holy work to reach every single one of them and inspire them, just as I was once inspired.”
Rabbi Soudakoff’s organization, the Jewish Deaf Foundation, has been instrumental in creating resources and programs for deaf Jews worldwide. From providing accessible shiurim to organizing events where deaf and hearing Yidden can connect, his efforts are bridging gaps and building communities.
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