Inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the very fabric of our religious communities and congregations has been a passion of mine for many years. This stems in large part from the fact that I just happen to be someone who is blind, but it also stems from my deeply held belief that all of us, regardless of ability, have much to learn and much to contribute and that it is our sacred duty to allow ourselves to grow and be enriched by those around us.

Although my interest in the integration and inclusion of people with disabilities into all facets of religious, communal, and congregational life is wide in scope, I shall be focusing on an issue of particular personal import to me—the accessibility of sacred text.

As the only student with a visual impairment at JTS, I was daily asked to explain how I accessed everything from the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), rabbinic literature and everything in between, and I was always happy to share with others how Braille, the writing system used by individuals who are blind, works generally and how Hebrew Braille works specifically.

By way of a brief overview, Braille is a writing system used by individuals who are blind. Braille characters are formed using combinations of six dots which form a cell, three dots high by two across. Nearly every language has a corresponding Braille code. It is important to note that Braille is not, as many erroneously believe, a transliteration schema of any sort but rather is a system by which characters in languages are represented tactually. There are no differences in spelling, grammar and syntax between how a language is written in print and how it is written in Braille.

My passion for text began when I started my MA and realized that there were very few people working on issues of accessibility in this realm. While I was incredibly fortunate to have access to an embosser–a printer which allows me to emboss whatever I wish into hard copy Braille–as well as access to several organizations which provide Hebrew texts in Braille, I have learned through my numerous conversations with communal leaders as well as interested individuals that these resources are often not well publicized. There is no central place one can go to find information pertaining to learning Hebrew as a blind rabbinical student, seminarian, scholar, or interested layperson, nor is there a central clearinghouse of accessible texts.

As my personal passion for text study increased, I became determined to ensure that others who are blind or visually impaired would be able to have complete access to their traditions. The accessibility of the Tanakh is of critical import. Additionally, having access to text has allowed me not simply to be included in my community but an integral part of it. Without an accessible siddur, I would not be able to participate fully in the life of the many synagogues and independent minyanim I frequent, nor would I be able to, as I often do, serve as shlichah tzibur—prayer leader. Were I not able to access rabbinic literature, including the Talmud and Midrash, I would not be able to take my place in the chain of tradition which links us from generation to generation and contribute my voice to the voices that have come before me, nor would I know the joy of sitting in a beit Midrash with a chavruta—study partner, as we learn a text together.

Having accessible texts in Hebrew Braille has opened up the vast world of Jewish learning and growth that would have otherwise been closed to me and it is my deeply felt belief that this should be open to all. To that end, there is much work that needs to be done. We may not necessarily complete the task, but we are neither free to desist from it. Although the going can often get tough, I believe with just the right amount of awareness, passion and resources, we can make a real, tangible change.

As I was beginning my graduate studies, I was incredibly fortunate to stumble upon the work of Sarah Blake, who compiled a wealth of incredibly useful information on her personal web site pertaining to text and language accessibility for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. I truly believe that were it not for her vital and pioneering work, I would not have been able to accomplish all that I was able. Through my many conversations with her over the years, I learned that the issues I was encountering were not unique but were experienced by many and that she shared the same passion.

I am deeply honored and privileged to be co-presenting a paper at the Society of Biblical Literature’s annual meeting this weekend in San Francisco with her, in which we are going to be discussing best practices for making text, as well as the study of Biblical languages accessible to those who are blind. I believe that with increased awareness, much can be accomplished and I am very much looking forward to this incredible opportunity.

This photo was obtained by way of Creative Commons. It was taken by Chajm Guski and licensed for free commercial use via Flickr.