Jewish Deaf Association hosts special Seder for hard of hearing

“At family Seders, everyone often speaks at once, and it can be easy for someone with hearing loss to lose track of the discussion and feel left out of what is happening.”

JDA chair Trudy Kling (left) and CEO Sue Cipin OBE serve the Seder meal (Photo: JDA)[Missing Credit]

Seder participants from all over the UK travelled to north-west London for the event, with one guest coming from as far as Liverpool.

As well as the JDA Haggadah, at the Seder, which was held before Yom Tov, there was a big screen at the front of the room with a visual display that participants could follow.

“It’s very interactive, with people coming to the front to sign blessings and take part in the rituals themselves, and the songs are signed together,” Cipin said.

“We acted out the ten plagues and ended by dancing, signing, and laughing our way through an extremely raucous version of [traditional Pesach song] Echad Mi Yodea.”

Instead of asking the youngest participant to lead the Ma Nishtana, organisers invited their oldest guest, Miriam Solomon, 99, to sign it using BSL.

The service was led by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lister from Barnet Synagogue. He was supported by Vicki Ashmore, who is the only interpreter in the UK who can interpret from Hebrew to BSL.

Despite not being deaf herself, Ashmore is very involved in the UK deaf Jewish community through her project DeafShul, which aims to make Jewish services and resources accessible for people who use BSL.

“[It gave] our members the chance to celebrate Pesach together as a community, in their own language, in their own unique and wonderful way,” Cipin said.

Father and daughter Anna and Ross enjoyed the four glasses of wine at JDA's signed Seder (Photo: JDA)[Missing Credit]

It was no surprise that the Seder was a sell-out. In 2025, JDA recorded its highest-ever level of demand, supporting 4,829 people.

That was a 93 per cent increase on the previous year, and it took their annual spending to more than £1.1 million.

Cipin said: “With one in three people now living with hearing loss… more people and families are needing help than ever before.”

Deaf people should be able to “access the education, community services and support they need. They should be fully included in their family life, their work and in the wider community.”

Plenty of JDA’s work takes place in schools too. For instance, in the classrooms of Immanuel, five, and Emily, seven, who both have hearing impairments, “acoustic clouds” have been fitted.

They are sound-absorbing panels suspended from the ceiling, which reduce echo and background noise, making listening in class easier for children with hearing loss. They are portable, so can move between classrooms when necessary.

Immanuel’s mother, Ayala, said: “The clouds really soften the noise in the room”, making it easier for him to follow along in lessons.

And Emily’s mother said: “JDA has gone above and beyond to make Emily’s school work for her, improving and growing inclusivity of deaf children within our community.”