Jewish Deaf Congress
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Many Jewish Deaf people have struggled to find their place in a hearing world. Jewish Deaf people tried to assimilate and blend in with the hearing society. In the past we lost many Jewish Deaf members. Jewish Deaf Congress preserves and expands knowledge of our Jewish Deaf cultures/history/values. Now we are creating new and innovative ways to provide accessible resources & services and inspire Jewish Deaf communities. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 1. Pre COVID-19, JDC meetings were conducted on person or by email 2. Now since COVID-19 restrictions precludes face to face meetings, JDC held frequent Zoom meetings of the Board and the JDC Fundraising committee 3. Summit in 2021 with representatives of local organizations; now postponed to October 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic 4. During the 2022 Summit, JDC mission, goals, & bylaws will be discussed and aligned with modern/future needs and new officers.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Support Accessible ASL Resources & Services
Jewish Deaf Congress (JDC) is committed to enhancing the Jewish Deaf experience with educational and spiritual programs and technology. Jewish Deaf people and families want to access their rich heritage via American Sign Language. JDC needs funds to create videos of stories, traditions, and prayers, ensure access to Zoom services with interpreters and captions for families, upgrade its website with more resources and videos, and advocate and support local Jewish Deaf groups.
1. Support Virtual ASL Shabbat Services.
2. Create educational and spiritual modules for families, homes and communities.
3. Create ASL videos on Jewish holidays, prayers, traditions, stories and rituals.
4. Do zoom holiday celebrations, panels and weekly Torah discussion groups.
5. Strengthen community Jewish Deaf organizations and groups via social/spiritual networking and services.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Average age of first-time, full-time, first-year registrants in direct entry programs continuing to the following year
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Artists and performers, Teachers, Jewish people, Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Support Accessible ASL Resources & Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total revenue earned to support advocacy efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Support Accessible ASL Resources & Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of program/model/intervention innovations
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Support Accessible ASL Resources & Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
A group of attendees formed a Jewish Deaf Congress (JDC) Ad Hoc Committee on Future Success. This committee has been busy since then with many activities and “behind the scene” planning – strategic planning, finances and organizational matters. Everything listed below is possible only with your support, both volunteer time and financial.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
1. Review past and develop plans to strengthen JDC & Developed a strategic plan based on two national surveys
2. Worked on a strategic plan to revive, revitalize and update JDC to meet the needs of modern-day Jewish Deaf Americans
3. Reviewed and updated the JDC mission and vision statements
4. Developed mission statements to inspire and mobilize the Jewish Deaf community
5. Renamed JDC ad hoc committee the JDC Board
6. JDC co-chairs held online sessions with local Jewish Deaf Organizations to determine mutual needs and desires regarding networking, collaborations and resources
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Updated and upgraded the JDC website (still in progress)
2. Disseminate information via E-Blast & Facebook “Jewish Deaf Congress” which now has nearly 1,000 followers
ACTIVITIES
1. Collaborated with the Washington Society of Jewish Deaf (WSJD) in hosting a virtual ASL Passover Seder
2. Formed a Virtual ASL Shabbat Coalition with WSJD, Gallaudet University Hillel Club and Jewish Deaf Resource Center (JDRC of NY) to plan monthly zoom Shabbat services
3. As part of the Virtual ASL Shabbat Coalition, co-hosted monthly zoom Shabbat services in ASL, led by Deaf people, with voice interpretation and captions, which attracts about 150 attendees
4. Hosted a panel discussion “High Points of the High Holidays” featuring 5 Deaf Rabbis and Leaders
5. Named JDC historical records belonging to the Brenner’s dating back to 1956 the “Stephen and Dorothy Brenner Jewish Deaf Collection.” Now exploring how this Collection may be best archived and electronically accessible to the public.
6. Co-hosted, with WSJD, a three-part series of panel discussions on Anti-Semitism
7. Host a national Hanukkah Menorah Creation contest for DHH Kids and KODAs, https://www.jewishdeafcongress.org/currentevent to generate awareness and
enthusiasm, and a zoomparty
8. Lead a Virtual ASL Shabbat / Second Night of Hanukkah service, cosponsored by the Virtual ASL Shabbat Coalition
9. Identified Jewish themes to develop for the JDC Virtual Resource Library: Jewish Life Cycle events, holidays, traditions/spirituality and virtual Torah discussion sessions
FINANCES
1. Established a JDC Fundraising Committee (JDCF) with eight members
2. Raised almost $30,000 in donations to develop resources, improve networking and support operations and plans
3. Created a video “Jewish. Deaf. Proud” & 6. Started a JDC “Light up Lives” fundraising campaign to achieve 6 goals – https://www.jewishdeafcongress.org/donate/
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
Now since COVID-19 restrictions precludes face to face meetings, JDC held frequent Zoom meetings
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
STRATEGIC PLANNING
1. Review past and developed plans to strengthen JDC.
2. Developed a strategic plan based on two national surveys
3. Worked on a strategic plan to revive, revitalize and update JDC to meet the needs of modern-day Jewish Deaf Americans
https://www.jewishdeafcongress.org/about-us/strategic-plan
4. Reviewed and updated the JDC mission and vision statements for approval at next business meeting
5. Developed mission statements to inspire and mobilize the Jewish Deaf community
https://www.jewishdeafcongress.org/about-us/our-mission
6. Renamed JDC ad hoc committee the JDC Board
7. JDC co-chairs held online sessions with several local Jewish Deaf Organizations to determine mutual needs and desires regarding networking, collaborations and needed resources
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We just started a JDC “Light up Lives” fundraising campaign to achieve 6 goals – https://www.jewishdeafcongress.org/donate/
– ASL Judaism Education
– Community and Advocacy
– Jewish Lifecycle Events
– Virtual Shabbat & Holiday Services
– Weekly Torah Studies
– JDC Website
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Whether it is at schools, synagogues, offices, or even at community events, almost every day, most Jewish Deaf people have struggled experienced limited accessibility. It’s a major oversight, and one that is easily fixed. The big change that Jewish Deaf Congress seeks to bring is the revolution of technology in the Jewish Deaf world. Jewish Deaf Congress is close the hearts of an extremely diverse range of Jewish Deaf organizations and Deaf people. The goal of improving Jewish Deaf life in the Jewish world is achievable. In accomplishing this goal, Jewish Deaf Congress has received countless positive feedback from a number of organizations to strengthen community Jewish Deaf organizations and groups via social/spiritual networking and services. We are moving forward rapidly creating educational and spiritual modules for families, homes and communities, ASL videos on Jewish holidays, prayers, traditions, stories and rituals and maintain zoom holiday celebrations, panels and weekly Torah discussion groups.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Jewish Deaf Congress
Board of directorsas of 02/11/2023
Dr. Roz Rosen
Jewish Deaf Congress
Term: 2016 -
Marla Berkowitz
Jewish Deaf Congress
Vicki Lowen
Jewish Deaf Congress
Tracey Rattner
Jewish Deaf Congress
Elliott Richman
Jewish Deaf Congress
Roz Rosen
Jewish Deaf Congress
Ellen Roth
Jewish Deaf Congress
Sofia Seitchik
Jewish Deaf Congress
Dot Brenner
Jewish Deaf Congress
Steve Weiner
Jewish Deaf Congress
Liz Tannebaum
Jewish Deaf Congress
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/01/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.