Making the High Holy Days Accessible for People Who are Blind, Low Vision, or Print Disabled
by Livia Thompson, JBI Executive Director
The shofar sounds and the month of Elul begins this August, kicking off the start of the High Holy Days season and nearly two months of joyous celebration, deep reflection, solemn repentance, and spiritual inspiration for the Jewish people.
Encompassing the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah, it’s a time for families and communities to come together, pray together, and fast and feast together. For roughly 8% of Americans (and 18% of those over the age of 65) who live with a visual impairment, however, something as simple as following along in their machzor, or High Holy Day prayer book, can pose a unique challenge to full participation in Jewish life. JBI (formerly known as the Jewish Braille Institute), a nonprofit organization serving people who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled, is committed to changing this.
Last year, JBI sent out an estimated 4,500 liturgical, biblical, and lifecycle texts, in English, Hebrew, and other languages in braille, large print, and audio formats, including machzorim for the High Holy Days—all completely free of charge and delivered directly to people’s doorsteps.
JBI, which is an associate agency of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) has a vast circulating library of fiction, history, biography, short stories, periodicals, humor, poetry, Jewish studies, memoirs, cookbooks, and more available to borrow. However, religious materials like those requested for High Holy Days observance are given as permanent “gifts” and are, as one recent recipient of a large print Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur machzor said, “a blessing” for JBI patrons.
“JBI means so much to me all year round, but especially during the High Holy Days,” said Rabbi Martin Cooper, who has been a registered user of the library for four years. “I used to volunteer at JBI, recording audiobooks, and when my vision began to deteriorate because of macular degeneration, I became a ‘customer.’ JBI’s large print materials enable me to participate. Last year, I was given the honor of reading Haftorah on Rosh Hashanah. Thanks to JBI, I knew that I could see the words clearly.”
JBI also creates customized materials upon request and fulfills special orders for organizations, schools, and synagogues: a reading translated into braille for a wedding, an accessible songbook for a camper who was blind, a script for a religious school play. These, too, are provided for free to all.
“A few years ago JBI brailled the Yom Kippur haftorah for my son Michael,” said Randi S., a patron from Dallas, Texas. “It has become a tradition for him to chant it every year, which he is very proud of, as is our entire congregation.”
Livia Thompson, Executive Director of JBI, noted, “Our mission is to enable people who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled to participate in Jewish life alongside their friends and family. Older adults, in particular, may unexpectedly find themselves forced to adjust to severe vision loss and dealing with unique challenges as they try to reconnect to the world of reading, Jewish culture, and social and communal activities. But no matter a person’s age, whether they are an individual born with vision impairment or someone adjusting to vision loss later in life, and no matter their background, if they have an interest in Jewish life and culture, we are here to provide them access to the written word for pleasure, information, or religious observance.”
To request a machzor, Selichot, Taschlich prayers, Yizkor prayers, a 16-month holiday calendar, and much more, all in accessible formats, visit www.jbilibrary.org/highholydays. To learn more about JBI visit www.jbilibrary.org, email library@jbilibrary.org or call (212) 889-2525 or (800) 433-1531. Follow JBI on Facebook and Instagram at @jbilibrary.
6 JBI Recommended Reads for the HHD Season
“The Shofar Must Go On” (in partnership with PJ Library)
Written by Lina Schwarz, illustrated by Yong Chen
Formats: “twin vision” book (braille transparency over printed picture book), large print version to accompany picture book, or audiobook version to accompany picture book
On Rosh Hashanah, the person who blows the shofar has a very important job. What happens when that person gets the sniffles? Just as the show must go on, so must the shofar...somehow.
“Beni's Family Cookbook for the Jewish Holidays”
Written and illustrated by Jane Breskin Zalben
Format: audiobook
What better way to celebrate the holidays than to cook—and eat—the delicious foods so important to Jewish tradition. Each section of the cookbook features a different holiday and includes notes on its religious and cultural importance. Here's a sumptuous collection of recipes for every Jewish holiday through the year.
“This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation”
Written by Alan Lew
Format: audiobook
Rabbi Alan Lew has marked out a journey of seven distinct stages, one that draws on rituals to awaken our soul and wholly transform us. Weaving together Torah readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables and stories from his own life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this ancient Jewish passage. He reveals the path from terror to acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt to belief, and from complacency to awe.
“High Holiday Sutra”
Written by Allan Appel
Format: audiobook
In a heartbreaking and hilarious Yom Kippur sermon, Jonah, the protagonist of this satiric novel, tells a tragicomic Jewish-Buddhist love story that takes on the critical religious question: Can we stay true to tradition and keep our faith relevant to our everyday lives?
“Elijah’s Tears: Stories for the Jewish Holidays”
Written by Sydelle Pearl
, illustrated by Rossitza Skortcheva
Format: audiobook
Although he is traditionally associated with Passover, Elijah is commanded by God to search for piety and good deeds all through the year. This anthology for the whole family consists of five original tales, each linked to an important Jewish holiday and featuring the prophet Elijah. In each tale, Elijah comforts those who are generous, wise, and fair, while challenging those who are faithless.
“Uninvited Guest: And Other Jewish Holiday Tales”
Written by Nina Jaffe
, illustrated by Elivia Savadier
Format: audiobook
A collection of folktales about the major Jewish holidays that features stories of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and the Sabbath with a brief historical introduction to each.
For more information on requesting these or other JBI materials, please contact JBI at library@jbilibrary.org or (212) 889-2525 or (800) 433-1531.