Jewish Deaf Congress

### Context Profile for Jewish Deaf Congress

1. **Organization Mission & Cause**:
   - The Jewish Deaf Congress (JDC) is dedicated to empowering Jewish Deaf individuals and fostering a sense of community among them. Their mission is to advocate for the rights and needs of Deaf Jews, ensuring they have access to resources, support, and opportunities to engage with both the Deaf and Jewish communities. The organization aims to strengthen Jewish Deaf identities and communities through education, advocacy, and social connection.

2. **Type of Activities**:
   - **Events**: JDC hosts various events, including educational summits, social gatherings, and community outreach programs. The most recent event, "JDC Summit 2.0: Ignite & Imagine Our Future!", focuses on discussing the future of Jewish Deaf identities and communities.
   - **Fundraising Campaigns**: They engage in fundraising efforts to support their programs and initiatives, as seen in their email campaigns and event registrations.
   - **Community Programs**: JDC offers resources and support for Deaf Jews, including networking opportunities and educational workshops.

3. **Tone of Voice**:
   - The tone of the JDC's communications is **friendly**, **inclusive**, and **inspiring**. The language used is accessible and welcoming, aiming to create a safe space for the Deaf Jewish community. They often employ a conversational style that encourages participation and engagement.

4. **Emoji Usage**:
   - The organization uses emojis sparingly but effectively in their communications. For instance, they include calendar (📅) and location (📍) emojis in event reminders to make the content visually engaging and to highlight important information.

5. **Key Facts**:
   - **Founding Info**: The specific founding date is not mentioned on the website.
   - **Scale**: JDC has a total of 7 forms and has sent out 109 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with their community.
   - **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization emphasizes community engagement and support for Deaf Jews.
   - **Volunteer Info**: There is no explicit mention of volunteer opportunities on the website, but community involvement is a key aspect of their events and programs.

6. **Writing Guidelines**:
   - **Personalization**: Use first names in communications to create a personal connection (e.g., "Hi {{firstname}}").
   - **Clarity**: Keep language simple and direct, ensuring accessibility for all readers.
   - **Engagement**: Use questions to encourage participation and feedback (e.g., "What do you see as issues, needs, and priorities for Jewish Deaf people?").
   - **Visual Elements**: Incorporate emojis where appropriate to enhance engagement without overwhelming the text.
   - **Call to Action**: Use strong, clear calls to action (e.g., "Register now? Yes, space is limited.") to prompt immediate responses.

This context profile provides a comprehensive overview of the Jewish Deaf Congress, focusing on their mission, activities, tone, and communication style to assist AI in generating tailored content for the organization.

Beginning ISL Course

Course DetailsIn this 5-week course, Israeli Sign Language with Israeli Culture, students will learn the foundations of Israeli Sign Language (ISL) while also gaining a window into Israeli culture and everyday life. The course is designed to build vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural awareness through interactive lessons, games, and practice.Over the 5 weeks, students will learn approximately 250 new words in ISL, while also practicing real-life conversations and cultural expressions. Dates: November 2, 9, 16, December 7, 14 (5 classes)Time: Sundays, 4:00&ndash;5:30 PMWhere:&nbsp;Zoom (link provided by JDC)Cost:&nbsp;$175 per courseLength: 5 weeksMaterials:&nbsp;Provided after each classThis is the first of three progressive levels that will be offered throughout the year. What You&rsquo;ll LearnWeek 1 &ndash; Questions, Colors &amp; EmotionsLearn to ask and answer simple questions, use numbers and colors, and talk about clothing and emotions through interactive activities.Week 2 &ndash; Family &amp; RelationshipsBuild vocabulary for family members, relationships, and feelings. Create family trees and explore cultural expressions used in Israel.Week 3 &ndash; Home &amp; Daily LifePractice describing your home, rooms, and routines. Learn numbers up to 99 and strengthen your conversation skills.Week 4 &ndash; Food, Animals &amp; HobbiesLearn signs for Israeli foods, pets, and hobbies. Share your interests and practice with games that make learning fun.Week 5 &ndash; Review &amp; SkitsBring it all together with review games, creative skits, and cultural reflections to build confidence in communication. Meet Your Instructors Shelly GuyShelly Guy is a Deaf educator, performer, and cultural advocate whose work bridges language, identity, and community. With extensive experience teaching both American Sign Language (ASL) and Israeli Sign Language (ISL), Shelly brings a unique perspective that blends linguistic skill with cultural depth. She has created programs in the U.S. and Israel, including workshops, community classes, and cultural events that celebrate the richness of sign language as both communication and art. Her teaching style is dynamic, accessible, and rooted in the belief that learning a language also means embracing the history, values, and lived experiences of its community. In addition to teaching, Shelly is a writer and performer, using storytelling to amplify Deaf voices and foster greater understanding between Deaf and hearing worlds. She also represents Unlearning Words, founded by Seth Gore, an initiative exploring language and culture through creativity, critical thought, and the beauty of sign expression. Eti KeidarEti Keidar is a Deaf woman born into a fully Deaf family, with parents, a brother, and a sister who are all Deaf. Eti currently works as an educational support professional at Geula High School, where she mentors Deaf and hard-of-hearing students with care and commitment. Alongside her schoolwork, she teaches sign language and runs her business, Siman B&rsquo;Click (&ldquo;Sign in a Click&rdquo;), which provides creative sign language learning experiences. An active member of Moed Mochshi, she advocates for Deaf teachers and the recognition of their expertise in Israel. Eti is also pursuing social sciences and special education, and she volunteers with Pinat Shelanu, serving Deaf youth across Israel. Passionate, professional, and community-minded, Eti inspires her students with language and heart. Learn Israeli Sign Language through culture, community, and hands-on experience. This is a course offered in partnership between Unlearning Words and Jewish Deaf Congress. Paid JDC members have access to a discount code on the JDC website for this course.&nbsp;

Dear <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you for registering for the Five-Week Israeli Sign Language Course with Shelly Guy, hosted by &nbsp;Jewish Deaf Congress. We&rsquo;re so excited to have you join us on this journey into Israeli Sign Language. The course will take place live on Zoom. Your Zoom link &nbsp;will be sent to you closer to the start date so you&rsquo;ll have everything you need to participate fully. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime. We can&rsquo;t wait to see you in class and share this experience with you! With appreciation,Jane JonasProgram DirectorJewish Deaf Congress

Course DetailsIn this 5-week course, Israeli Sign Language with Israeli Culture, students will learn the foundations of Israeli Sign Language (ISL) while also gaining a window into Israeli culture and everyday life. The course is designed to build vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural awareness through interactive lessons, games, and practice.Over the 5 weeks, students will learn approximately 250 new words in ISL, while also practicing real-life conversations and cultural expressions. Dates: November 2, 9, 16, December 7, 14 (5 classes)Time: Sundays, 4:00–5:30 PMWhere: Zoom (link provided by JDC)Cost: $175 per courseLength: 5 weeksMaterials: Provided after each classThis is the first of three progressive levels that will be offered throughout the year. What You’ll LearnWeek 1 – Questions, Colors &amp; EmotionsLearn to ask and answer simple questions, use numbers and colors, and talk about clothing and emotions through interactive activities.Week 2 – Family &amp; RelationshipsBuild vocabulary for family members, relationships, and feelings. Create family trees and explore cultural expressions used in Israel.Week 3 – Home &amp; Daily LifePractice describing your home, rooms, and routines. Learn numbers up to 99 and strengthen your conversation skills.Week 4 – Food, Animals &amp; HobbiesLearn signs for Israeli foods, pets, and hobbies. Share your interests and practice with games that make learning fun.Week 5 – Review &amp; SkitsBring it all together with review games, creative skits, and cultural reflections to build confidence in communication. Meet Your Instructors Shelly GuyShelly Guy is a Deaf educator, performer, and cultural advocate whose work bridges language, identity, and community. With extensive experience teaching both American Sign Language (ASL) and Israeli Sign Language (ISL), Shelly brings a unique perspective that blends linguistic skill with cultural depth. She has created programs in the U.S. and Israel, including workshops, community classes, and cultural events that celebrate the richness of sign language as both communication and art. Her teaching style is dynamic, accessible, and rooted in the belief that learning a language also means embracing the history, values, and lived experiences of its community. In addition to teaching, Shelly is a writer and performer, using storytelling to amplify Deaf voices and foster greater understanding between Deaf and hearing worlds. She also represents Unlearning Words, founded by Seth Gore, an initiative exploring language and culture through creativity, critical thought, and the beauty of sign expression. Eti KeidarEti Keidar is a Deaf woman born into a fully Deaf family, with parents, a brother, and a sister who are all Deaf. Eti currently works as an educational support professional at Geula High School, where she mentors Deaf and hard-of-hearing students with care and commitment. Alongside her schoolwork, she teaches sign language and runs her business, Siman B’Click (“Sign in a Click”), which provides creative sign language learning experiences. An active member of Moed Mochshi, she advocates for Deaf teachers and the recognition of their expertise in Israel. Eti is also pursuing social sciences and special education, and she volunteers with Pinat Shelanu, serving Deaf youth across Israel. Passionate, professional, and community-minded, Eti inspires her students with language and heart. Learn Israeli Sign Language through culture, community, and hands-on experience. This is a course offered in partnership between Unlearning Words and Jewish Deaf Congress. Paid JDC members have access to a discount code on the JDC website for this course.

Jewish Deaf Congress

Add a donation for Jewish Deaf Congress

Israeli Sign Language & Culture: Connect, Learn, Experience

Online: Zoom

Beginning ISL Course

$175