(lubavitch.com) This weekend, May 16-17, Chabad of Pinellas County will be hosting the Orthodox Union's Our Way program for a Shabbaton for the deaf in Palm Harbor.

Geared to Jewish deaf and their families, the Shabbaton, is planned to meet their specific needs for an inspiring Shabbat experience.

"We are delighted to be hosting this weekend," said Rabbi Shalom Adler, director of Chabad of Pinellas County, who will be hosting the weekend at Young Israel-Chabad of Pinellas county. 

"It is our mission to expose every Jew to the beauty of the Sabbath. It will be wonderful to celebrate with people with different abilities, and to include everyone in the services and the experience. I am particularly looking forward to the sermon in sign language," said the rabbi.

Scholar-in-Residence at the Shabbaton will be Rabbi David Kastor, who is deaf. Rabbi Kastor graduated from Gallaudet University with a BA in Computer Science and received his rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel in Baltimore. While in Maryland, he started the Ahavas Israel School of the Deaf, located in Frederick, and taught there for two years. Rabbi Kastor has worked for Our Way as Regional Representative of Maryland for more than 18 years.

The Shabbaton Host is Daniel Goldberg, who is deaf and is a fluent American Sign Language signer. Goldberg was active in Our Way New England for four years. "I am excited to see a deaf Shabbaton coming to the Tampa area, where there have not been interpreted temple services or events in the past 15 years that I have lived there. I welcome all Jewish deaf to come and share in this special event," he said. 

The Shabbaton offers a rare opportunity for Jewish people from the deaf community to live and learn about Judaism. 

To learn more about the Shabbaton, readers may contact Mr. Goldberg by TTY relay telephone at 813-960-7978 or video phone at 813-249-1659. Mr. Goldberg can also be reached by email at djgpatroits05@verizon.net.

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