Canine visitors to Radlett Reform Synagogue

In addition to sign language interpreters, Radlett Reform Synagogue had two very well behaved canine visitors attend a recent Saturday morning Sabbath service  – the Hearing Dogs were present to help mark a Deaf Awareness service. Senior Rabbi, Paul Freedman spoke about the ancient role of the translator, which was particularly appropriate as the weekly portion from the Torah (scroll containing Genesis to Deuteronomy)  was chanted phrase by phrase in Hebrew by Rabbi Celia Surget interspersed by Rabbi Freedman chanting the translation in English, whilst  the English in the whole service was signed in British Sign Language by Esther Rose Bevan and the Hebrew in American Sign Language by E J Cohen. Rabbi Freedman said “whilst our quadrilingual service was particularly accessible, it also served as a useful  reminder of how difficult life can be for those in the Deaf community”.