Oct. 7, 2023, was a terrible and difficult day for every Israeli. For those who found themselves at the Nova music festival and the surrounding kibbutzim in southern Israel, it was even more difficult. And yet it was even harder still for those who weren’t just present at the atrocities committed by Hamas, but who suffer from disabilities that made it nearly impossible for them to be able to react to the events and the accompanying help by Israeli officials.
Shirly Pinto Kadosh, the first deaf member of the Knesset, is looking to remedy that. Following the Oct. 7 attacks, Pinto Kadosh founded the Purple Vest Mission, an organization that aims to help those with disabilities to safety in emergency situations, as many can’t hear sirens or see flashing lights, let alone threats that cause these emergency services to react.
And on Jan. 19, Pinto Kadosh visited Baltimore with the Hadassah of Greater Baltimore chapter, which presented a program called “Advocating for Israel: Hearing the Needs of Deaf and Disabled Communities in Israel.”
For Aileen Bormel, who serves in a variety of positions within Hadassah and helped organize the event, Pinto Kadosh’s message should be heard by communities everywhere, not just in Israel.
“First of all, she is the only deaf person to ever be elected to the Knesset. And so that is interesting in and of itself, and then the advocacy she [does] for Deaf rights, but also all disabled rights in Israel, was really important, too,” Bormel said.
Bormel first learned of Pinto Kadosh while in Israel, where the latter served as a member of the Knesset in 2021 and ‘22. Today, Pinto Kadosh works mostly as an activist.
“I was leading a trip to Israel for Hadassah,” Bormel said. “She came and spoke to our group, and they said she was touring the US, and they asked me if we thought Baltimore Hadassah might be interested in this program.”
That discussion of disability rights in Israel was well-received by the Hadassah members, so much so that Bormel knew that an event in Maryland would be a hit, too. The event on Jan. 19 had around 60 people in the crowd, many of whom have disabilities like Pinto Kadosh.
“The event in Baltimore is going to be very interesting because we have a lot of deaf people that are coming to it. We also have deaf-blind people, and we have our Hadassah members that are coming to it. So, I think it’s going to be a very interesting program because I think she’s going to tell us a little bit about the connection to Knesset and a little bit about her organization that she began,” Bormel said before the event.
For Pinto Kadosh, an event like this is not easy. In fact, for it to even happen, assistance is required, said Bormel.
“She speaks through a sign-language interpreter. So, she has a sign language interpreter that uses Israeli sign language with her — not the American sign language that we use here,” she said. “She’s using Israeli sign language, and then the interpreter will speak when she’ll sign it to Shirly, and then she will speak English to the audience or Hebrew, depending on your audience.”
For Bormel, the event means something special because of her background as a former teacher of deaf students.
“I’ve always been interested in a Deaf world and how it’s different here in America versus Israel,” she said.
Before the event, Bormel said she thought the Baltimore community would enjoy it. She also said it would exemplify the values of Hadassah.
“I’m excited for everyone to see the program, to meet Shirly and see what she has done through the Knesset and through her organization, and also to hear how Hadassah is very supportive of many disabilities,” Bormel said.
