[NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices

Wed Aug 26 18:15:59 UTC 2026

I will pass this on to Lauren, as I don't know that she is following the list. Her input here would be invaluable.

Sarah Blake LaRose, D.Min.
sarah at sarahblakelarose.com
http://www.sarahblakelarose.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBJ <nfbj-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of mlevy--- via NFBJ
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 2:03 PM
To: NFB in Judaism <nfbj at nfbnet.org>
Cc: mlevy at verse-onality.com
Subject: Re: [NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices

Some thoughts

-1.  There has to be one standard International Hebrew Braille Code.  That is a JBI tradition that goes back to the  1940's if not farther.  One can read it in braille in any extant   copy of any book of the Hebrew Braille Bible.

A Tip from the Sighted

-2. When a rabbi or lay leader is preparing before an actual service, s/he uses a very detailed trope, perhaps with his or her notes penciled in as a reminder of unusual word pronunciations like "hawt-pawq-cu" or -eey-yeem."

-3.  But even a sighted person at an actual Temple service couldn't be reading all the private reminders--too much                                                                                                                     taking too long.

Lauren Tuchman, what's your take on this.

We're trying to do to much at once.

Per what I mentioned before, work on Megilat Esther for Purim 5787. 

When readers use it, evaluate what worked and what didn't work.

Modify for 5788 an so on.

Here in America JBI is the Keeper Of The Code.  We should work through them, advocating for equal User Input.  

A person who has no finger-knowledge of Hebrew Braille should not have the sole authority to decide what JBI will use.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBJ <nfbj-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daveed Mandell via NFBJ
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 12:53 PM
To: in Judaism NFB <nfbj at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices

I’m dictating. I’m waiting for my synagogue right now and I just wanted to let you know that I’m more used to the Israeli Hebrew code grown up however when I was very young and still in the state before making Aaliyah, I did use the American code. I really think it is not necessary to use the dash and even the medic They just had to making things even longer than they already are and if you’re going to use the medic, then it must be placed before the affected continent not after it. I noticed that in the conservative door, there are many places with our extra and where there is no need for them. I’m just wondering who proofread the transcription I’m willing to do it, but I’d have to be paid. There’s a lot to go through. I’m also wondering who works with JBI with regard to Hebrew that is if there are other blind people who are involved because I think what’s really needed is standardization and unification of the code business of heavy three Hebrew code is ridiculous. Ridiculous And of course it makes it even harder because it’s a slightly different code but not but it’s different enough to make it a little strange for America sorry that in the 1970s we didn’t come up with grade 2. I did see some suggestions for contractions when I was living in Israel, but it was decided not to go ahead with adopting them For the most part where we write without power that’s fine but when you write with a lot of people, especially here that I complained bitterly about how long the words are I would like to see a lot more. Hebrew and I would like to find more Hebrew transcribers in America and countries But all the hard work that you’re putting into. It is really great. We need more people like you.
Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 26, 2026, at 9:29 AM, Sarah LaRose via NFBJ <nfbj at nfbnet.org> wrote:

It depends on the device/screen reader that you are using and what version of LibLouis it is using. For instance, Iphones and JAWS are both behind the current version of LibLouis. So even though the Hebrew tables have been improved, they may not have made it to your device for some time.

Sarah Blake LaRose, D.Min.
sarah at sarahblakelarose.com
http://www.sarahblakelarose.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBJ <nfbj-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daveed Mandell via NFBJ
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 5:27 AM
To: in Judaism NFB <nfbj at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>; in Judaism NFB <nfbj at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices

hello, Stewart

At the time that I requested this, Hims was not interested. Neither the office in Austin, Texas, nor its headquarters in South Korea, were willing to assist in this matter. They also didn’t think it would be easy to install the Israeli firmware in a unit that was purchased elsewhere, such as in North America.

Sarah says that the LibLouis tables aren’t very reliable. However, I’ve been led to understand that many LibLouis tables have recently been substantially updated and improved. I’m wondering how we can test them to find out.

Daveed

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 20, 2026, at 2:19 PM, Stewart Prost via NFBJ <nfbj at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Daveed,
You were asking good questions. One thought I had is maybe directing your questions to the NFB‘s computer science division. You might find people there that are technically advanced enough to be able to offer solutions.
I’m wondering if there’s a way to, for example, buy a braille sense six or the current model from Selvas In the US and have the Israeli firmware installed on it. Just some thoughts.

*Stewart Prost*
Phone: 757-572-6891
Fax: 757-210-7504
Email: sprost82 at gmail.com

On Thu, Aug 20, 2026 at 2:33 PM mlevy--- via NFBJ <nfbj at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I think we should all unite behind Duxbury and work with them.
> 
> It's not just how good their software is.
> It's also that they listen to us.
> 
> JBI doesn't.
> 
> Davka doesn't.
> 
> CSBCARE has too many other projects going.
> 
> Eventually
> 
> WE THE USERS
> 
> Should start our own tech Hebrew braille support company.
> 
> That's down the road a few years.
> 
> Also, nowadays een Torah scholars look to modern Israeli heroes and 
> poets for support.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBJ <nfbj-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sarah Blake LaRose 
> via NFBJ
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2026 2:04 PM
> To: in Judaism NFB <nfbj at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sarah Blake LaRose <sarah at sarahblakelarose.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices
> 
> It depends on what the devices are using for braille support. For 
> instance if they are using LibLouis the tables will be moderately 
> useful but different from if they are using Duxbury. Duxbury has both 
> American Hebrew and Israeli Hebrew support. But the device may not be 
> set up to allow you to switch between the two. Most devices are using 
> LibLouis which does not have both American and Israeli Hebrew support.
> The Hebrew tables in Lib Lewis are in my opinion rather messy and may 
> not give the results you are used to.
> Sarah Blake LaRose, D.Min.
> http://www.sarahblakelarose.com
> 
> The Lord bless you and keep you.
> 
> On Aug 20, 2026, at 12:56 PM, mlevy--- via NFBJ <nfbj at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Consult CSBCARE and any Israeli blind people you know.CSBARE
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBJ <nfbj-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Daveed Mandell via 
> NFBJ
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2026 12:02 PM
> To: nfbj at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Daveed Mandell <daveedmandell at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBJ] Hebrew braille on refreshable braille devices
> 
> 
> Shalom:
> 
> Does anyone use a refreshable Braille device to read and write Hebrew 
> Braille? I am not talking about reading BRF files. I'm talking about 
> reading and writing Hebrew Braille from scratch.
> 
> For instance, devices manufactured by Selvas have incomplete Braille 
> tables for Hebrew. I noticed that the input table contains fewer signs 
> than the output table. I also noticed that US computer Braille appears 
> to be required to read and write Hebrew, which is ridiculous.
> 
> For several years I have reached out to this company asking them to 
> work with the Israeli developers of firmware provided with their 
> devices sold in Israel. The firmware provides complete tables for 
> Hebrew, in addition to English, Russian and Arabic.
> 
> Incidentally, Selvas devices sold elsewhere, such as the BrailleSense 
> 6, do not provide Arabic. However, I have just discovered that Arabic 
> without vowels appears to be included in the Hebrew braille output 
> table, which is really strange. One can read Arabic without vowels, 
> although I don't think the representation is completely accurate. One 
> cannot write uncontracted Arabicboth with and without  vowels, and 
> contracted Arabic, because there are no actual Arabic tables.
> 
> The only way one can write Hebrew on these devices is without vowels.
> Hebrew with vowels can be read, but it does not conform at all with 
> the Hebrew braille code. Because Hebrew is my second language, I am 
> able to figure it out, but frankly, it is a mess!
> 
> I would like to hear about other people's experiences reading Hebrew 
> on various refreshable Braille devices, such as Braille BT, or any 
> other devices, such as those from Humanware and Orbit. One should be 
> able to easily read and write Hebrew Braille, both with and without 
> vowels. One should also be able to write bilingual and/or multilingual documents.
> 
> For instance, writing two Drashot (sermons) for my Congregation this 
> year took hours to accomplish, because of the awkward way in which 
> Hebrew is represented. At first, I had to write the English in 
> computer Braille and add the Hebrew as an afterthought. I then figured 
> out that I could write the English in contracted UEB, and then switch 
> codes to Hebrew. Still, the process was clumsy at best. I had to send 
> the sermns to the Congregation's collection afterward, and the format 
> was awful. I had to get sighted assistance to fix it.
> 
> One of my big concerns is that language support on refreshable Braille 
> devices is one of the weakest links, as far as refreshable braille 
> devices are concerned. All refreshable Braille devices should contain 
> all Braille language tables, so that anyone could choose the
> language(s) they wish to use. There are literally hundreds of tables 
> in both Duxbury and  LibLouis Braille translation software. They 
> should all be available on every refreshable Braille device. Humanware 
> now provides them. I would also like to see manufacturers of 
> refreshable Braille devices come up with a way to allow for automatic 
> detection of various languages, so that one could read bilingual or multilingual documents with ease.
> 
> Kol tuv,
> 
> Daveed
> 
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