<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Greetings Ohio communities of Fay please read this article from Mrs. Honey Joy.<br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Honey Massey <honey_joy@sbcglobal.net><br><b>Date:</b> April 15, 2021 at 9:44:26 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Carolyn Peters <drcarolyn-peters@att.net><br><b>Cc:</b> Cheryl Fields <cefields55@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Judaism and the Blind</b><br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><div class="ydpa48a63a7yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div id="ydpa48a63a7yiv1168198225"><div class="ydpa48a63a7yiv1168198225yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%">:Dear
Carolyn, Cheryl Fields asked me to write about Judaism and the Blind. <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 106%;"> N</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ational </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Federation for the Blind</span></p><p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%">From: Honey
Massey, Client at Cleveland Sight Center</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%">Re: How
Judaism accommodates the Blind and Visually Impaired </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%">In
Leviticus, the third book of the Bible (Old Testament), Chapter 19, Verse 14,
it states “<span style="color:#001320;background:white">Do not curse the deaf
or put a stumbling block in front of the blind but fear your God. I am the
Lord.”</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white">One can interpret this literally, but metaphorically it is
quite profound. We are commanded not to mislead those who perhaps would have
less opportunity to know what is correct. It requires us to try to be as clear
as possible in our guidance of others and not lead them on the wrong path. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white">This sounds very enlightened and there is no doubt that the
Bible is sensitive to those with disabilities. However, it is also clear that
there were some religious restrictions placed on blind people at that time.
Because the Torah reader must not make a mistake and he reads for the entire
community, and since there were no Braille or large print books, the blind were
not allowed to be public readers before the community. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white">A blind person could not be a Kohen or of the priestly tribe,
because the priestly tribe had responsibility for the ritual animal sacrifices.
The animal had to be </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;color:#001320;background:white">inspected</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white"> to be
ritually pure with no blemishes and slaughtered in a prescribed way, so this
position could not be carried out by a blind person. While today animal
sacrifice seems harsh and cruel, at the time it was considered acceptable, and
even required. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white">Judaism gives <span> </span>a path
to follow God’s commandments. We know we are not there yet, but we are always
seeking ways to get closer to being the holy people that God demands </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;color:#001320;background:white">us to be</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;color:#001320;background:white">. So, Judaism has taken the
steps necessary to accommodate the blind. Our Rabbi told us a story of a blind
Rabbinical student who received his ordination after the prescribed years of
study. This is because the Bible in now written in Braille, as are all our holy
books.</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.15pt"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">Most Synagogues
have prayer books in large print* and/or Braille. I focus on the Cleveland
community, but I think this works for all Jewish community organizations across
the country.</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">Other community organizations, such as the Mandel
Jewish Community Center and Bellefaire JCB, offer services/support on a case-by-case
basis. An example would be at the Mandel JCC Day Camp having a companion
counselor. This allows blind and visually impaired children to attend summer
camp. Children of all faiths are welcome. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">Menorah Park (senior living) has large print* books
available and services for those who are visually impaired and living on their
campus. This holds true for most senior living dwellings. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">Jewish Family Service Association: (JFSA) provides
support to help people live as independently as possible in the community. However,
that is defined for each person, they will try and assist. The JFSA services
are not limited to those of the Jewish faith. </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">*Large Print and Braille prayer books can be purchased
online on Amazon and other websites, such as those listed below:</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span class="ydp438c093dMsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#0563C1">https://www.alljudaica.com/Large-Print-Prayerbooks-s/1042.htm</span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span class="ydp438c093dMsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#0563C1">h</span></span><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://www.artscroll.com/Categories/PE6.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#0563C1">ttps://www.artscroll.com/Categories/PE6.html</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="http://www.jewishheritage.org/braille.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#0563C1">http://www.jewishheritage.org/braille.html</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"></span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://www.jbilibrary.org/BrailleLibrary/braille_library3.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_8565203245">JBI International</a></span></p><div><br></div><div id="ydp69960c5aenhancr_card_8565203245" class="ydp69960c5ayahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp69960c5aymail-preserve-class ydp69960c5aymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.jbilibrary.org/BrailleLibrary/braille_library3.php" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.jbilibrary.org/BrailleLibrary/braille_library3.php" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp69960c5ayahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp69960c5acard-wrapper ydp69960c5ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp69960c5acard ydp69960c5ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp69960c5acard-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/I35zYfvrHWHonBtpHymhHQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.jbilibrary.org/images/index_sliced_03.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/I35zYfvrHWHonBtpHymhHQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.jbilibrary.org/images/index_sliced_03.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp69960c5acard-overlay-container-table ydp69960c5ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp69960c5acard-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp69960c5ayahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp69960c5acard-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp69960c5acard-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp69960c5acard-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp69960c5acard-info ydp69960c5ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp69960c5acard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(38, 40, 42); max-width: 314px;">JBI International</h2><p class="ydp69960c5acard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 155, 167);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><span style="color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I belong to a traditional synagogue where I have been
on the board, served as an usher, and been called to the Torah. Although
electronic devices would not be allowed , I use my magnifier and light
throughout the service. The goal is to allow people to pray and if this means
disregarding the prohibition on using electricity , then that is the case. If
you have any</span><span style="color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(29, 34, 40); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">other questions, I will try
to respond.</span><br></div><p></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228">‘Honey Massey </span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#1D2228"> </span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dyiv7783596054msonormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman"> </span></p>
<p class="ydp438c093dMsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:106%"> </span></p></div><br><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>