Jewish Advocates for Deaf Education
The Macks Center for Jewish Education administers Jewish Advocates for Deaf Education, known as JADE, to support local Jewish schools that have deaf people among their parent body. Through JADE, schools can book an interpreter for deaf parents at school-related events such like orientations, parent-teacher conferences, school plays and other milestones. JADE can also provide a free in-service for teachers and school support staff to educate and sensitize them about the best ways to communicate with a deaf individual.
JADE also strives to raise the level of awareness about the deaf community. JADE accomplishes this through deaf awareness workshops for children and adults, including sign language.
Through JADE, congregations learn important and practical methods to include deaf people in religious communal life, making their programs more accessible to the deaf community.
JADE was instrumental in spearheading the planning and implementation of the first known shabbatonim for the Jewish Deafblind community in the U.S. Each summer JADE runs Jewish education workshops at Deafblind Camp of Maryland.
Watch our Video! (coming soon)
410-735-5023.
Special Needs

The following are interpreters knowledgeable of Jewish culture.
Jon Barad - 410-258-0912
Sheryl Cooper - 410-935-4427
Elyse Schochet - 443- 570-2894
Shifra Steinberg - 410-764-2142 or 443-739-4730
Yael Zelinger - 410-764-3097 or 410-735-5023
Barbara Hirschman - 410-740-1136
