The group in Jerusalem
A Birthright Israel group that isn't bothered by our noisy country
An IDF soldier writes of her first-hand experience as the only hearing person in the first group of Birthright Israel intended exclusively for the deaf and hard of hearing.
As part of my military service, like thousands of soldiers, I joined a Birthright Israel trip—but it wasn't a normal trip. I joined a special group in which all its participants—young Jews from across the United States—are deaf or hard of hearing.
For five days, I was the only hearing person in the group. Practically, I helped them to communicate with others, and I also would explain to interested passersby who they were and what we were all doing. Like everyone, I was very excited before the beginning of the trip in Israel, but I didn't realize how big an impact it would have on me and how significant it would be.
In my military position, I'm a teaching-assistant soldier in a very small group called "Shema" ("Hear") that is intended for the deaf and hard of hearing, and so I already knew Israeli Sign Language. I work every day with hard of hearing people in the army, but meeting the Americans was different and special.
When I joined the group, the Americans were very open and friendly and made a connection quickly. Their being deaf did not keep them from communicating. For them, it was their first visit in Israel and an exceptional opportunity to cross the world and visit a place that they had only "heard" of in sign language and principally dreamt of. Of course, deafness is not a limitation that makes it hard on them to travel, but the very fact that they were together, as a group, where everyone suffers from the same problem, on a trip that is especially accessible for them, gave them the rare opportunity to connect to each, to us the Israelis, and of course to their Judaism.
Our trip was in some ways very similar to other regular trips of Birthright, but it also incorporated unique sites connected to the group: We went to the Na Laga'at Theatre in Jaffa where all the actors are deaf or blind, we visited the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons in Tel Aviv and other places connected to the deaf world.
We went with them to the north of the country, the Tiberias and Safed areas, and up to the border with Lebanon. From there, we went to the center of the country, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. They continued without us to the south of the country for five extra days. At each location, the guide explained to them in sign language about the heritage, the culture, the wide connection of Israel to Judaism, history and today.
The group at Masada
I got a lot out of the experience. I learned a new sign language, in English (which, it turns out, is a completely different language than Hebrew). I met people that I really wouldn't have the opportunity to meet in my life elsewhere, and I was privileged to show them our beautiful country. While I have the ability to hear, I did manage to connect to their quiet experience, to see Israel through their eyes, without all the noise in the area (We are a noisy people, after all…) , and understand how much beauty is here and how excited people are to visit here and how proud they are of their Judaism.
I have kept in contact with some of the participants, and I hope that they will visit here again and that we'll meet. It was an experience that I won't forget, and I am grateful for every moment that I was with them and that I experienced with them. I think that they provide to all of us that deafness doesn't keep them from living, meeting cultures and being part of the global community.
Danielle Lieberman is an IDF soldier who participated in the first group of Birthright Israel intended exclusively for the deaf and hard of hearing.
