The Deaf Rabbi | R' Yehoshua Soudakoff

Meaningful People

In this powerful interview, we sit down with Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, a trailblazing deaf rabbi, to discuss his journey, the challenges he has faced, and the impact he is making in the Jewish Deaf community worldwide. He shares his experiences growing up deaf in a hearing world, his path to becoming a rabbi, and the work he is doing to make Torah and Judaism more accessible. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Deaf and hard-of-hearing Jews in Israel and around 40,000 to 50,000 worldwide, with communities in the U.S., Europe, and Russia. Many face limited access to Jewish education, Torah learning, and religious services due to a lack of sign language resources. Organizations such as the Jewish Deaf Foundation and The Israel Deaf Community Center are working to bridge this gap and create more inclusive opportunities. This conversation is both inspiring and eye-opening, offering a glimpse into the resilience, faith, and dedication of Rabbi Soudakoff and the broader Jewish Deaf community. 

כתוביות