Darby Leigh
Darby Leigh, 35, became the first deaf rabbi ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College last week and one of the few hearing-impaired rabbis in the country. The Jewish Week says this is "a milestone that points to the increasing diversity being found within all pockets of Judaism today."
“The acceptance/inclusion of Jewish Deaf by the Jewish community has been progressively [better] since 1990 when the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was signed,” said Steve Brenner, president of the Washington Society of Jewish Deaf. “More and more local Jewish agencies are providing interpreters for lectures and meeting. The same thing applies with synagogues ... [that are] more empathetic to the needs of Jewish Deaf people.”
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati also ordained its first deaf rabbi in 15 years, William Tepper, 50, last weekend. Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe became the first deaf woman ordained there in 1993.
“It’s incumbent upon Jews to demonstrate compassion, understanding, be accommodating and give the best of themselves, not just to other Jews but to all people with whom we share God’s earth and our streets, parks, stores, schools and everything,” Rabbi Tepper says.
“The Jewish people have a responsibility to embrace and welcome, so every constituency, young, old, able-bodied and challenged, have access to the most meaningful Jewish experience, so he or she can live the most meaningful Jewish life.”
