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sign language

Doron Levy, head of the Department for Israeli Sign Language at the Academy of the Hebrew Language, holding a poster explaining the basic signs of Israeli Sign Language on March 24, 2025. (Rossella Tercatin/Times of Israel)
May 1, 2025, 2:13 pm
For hearing-impaired, recognition of Israeli Sign Language speaks volumes
Academy of the Hebrew Language’s establishment of Department of Israeli Sign Language seen as major move promoting development and codification of unique system of communication
By Rossella Tercatin
Screen capture from video of a Metropolitan Police officer using sign language to communicate with deaf Israeli tourists outside Buckingham Palace on October 3, 2021. (Facebook)
October 6, 2021, 9:35 am
UK cop thrills deaf Israeli tourists at queen’s front door
Mounted officer PC Hounsome displays sign language skills as she explains to visitors about Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace
By Stuart Winer
Shirley Pinto, the first deaf Knesset member, during a swearing-in ceremony of new Israeli parliament members at the Knesset on June 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
June 16, 2021, 2:20 pm
Shirley Pinto, the first-ever deaf MK, is sworn into Knesset using sign language
PM Bennett lauds ‘one of the most meaningful moments for me,’ as Yamina lawmaker joins parliament under the ‘Norwegian law’ following resignation of a party minister
By Amy Spiro
A model gesturing a hooked nose on the website if the University of Ghent, Belgium. (University of Ghent via JTA)
September 20, 2019, 3:00 pm
Belgian sign language center defends hooked nose gesture for ‘Jew’
Government-recognized group says goal is to offer ‘descriptive’ definitions not ‘normative’ ones, says gestures for Africans, Asians could also be ‘viewed as derogatory in 2019’
By JTA
A model gesturing a hooked nose on the website if the University of Ghent, Belgium. (University of Ghent via JTA)
September 18, 2019, 6:15 pm
Israeli embassy in Belgium condemns anti-Semitic sign language gesture
Belgian university posts hooked-nose gesture meaning ‘Jew’ in video, drawing condemnation from European Jewish Association
By ToI Staff and JTA
Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson, of Iceland's Hatari, sings at the May 18 finale of Eurovision 2019, while a sign language interpreter gives a spirited translation of his vocals. (Courtesy Twitter screen grab)
May 19, 2019, 11:20 pm
Clip of Eurovision sign language interpreter rocking out goes viral
Enthusiastic rendition of Iceland techno band Hatari’s ‘Hate Will Prevail’ at Saturday night’s final show has fans cheering for translator
By Jessica Steinberg
The Shalva Band performs during a rehearsal for their guest appearance at the second semifinal of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, May 15, 2019 (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
May 17, 2019, 7:13 pm
Shalva inspires broadcasters to offer more accessibility for Eurovision viewers
Broadcasts, including Saturday final, available with sign language, extra narrative for visually impaired, simple language for cognitively impaired
By Melanie Lidman
In this May 23, 2016 photo, Maryland School for the Deaf government and history teacher Keith Nolan, left, stands at attention with school Cadet Corps members, left to right, Jennida Willoughby, Maverick Obermiller, Blake Brewer and Kiser Holliday, and school audiologist David Alexander in Frederick, Maryland. Nolan wants the Defense Department to allow deaf people to enter the armed services. (AP Photo/David Dishneau)
June 26, 2016, 9:41 am
Taking cue from IDF, US Army activist fights to enlist deaf soldiers
‘I want to show there are no barriers,’ says Maryland teacher lobbying for inclusion of hearing impaired in military
By AP and ToI Staff
'I am with you' in Israeli Sign Language (Image from the Signs in Crisis smartphone app)
August 10, 2015, 12:29 am
When a siren can never be loud enough
For Israel’s hearing impaired, first-responders are learning how to say ’emergency’ without making a sound
By Ramona Tausz
Thamsanqa Jantjie, the man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial, during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, South Africa,Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
May 7, 2014, 1:28 pm
Israeli start-up hires phony interpreter
Livelens says it helped Mandela-funeral ‘signer’ Thamsanqa Jantjie get out of psychiatric hospital for a day to shoot ad
By Spencer Ho
Thamsanqa Jantjie, the man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial, during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, South Africa,Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Photo credit: AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
December 13, 2013, 3:47 pm
‘Mandela signer faced murder rap’
Thamsanqa Jantjie, schizophrenic interpreter who stood feet away from Obama, reportedly has extensive criminal record including kidnapping, rape
By ToI Staff and AP
Thamsanqa Jantjie, the man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial, during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, South Africa,Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. (Photo credit: AP/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
December 12, 2013, 1:44 pm
Interpreter at Mandela event: I was hallucinating, saw angels
Hiring of Thamsanqa Jantjie, who baffled sign-language readers with his wild gesticulations, was ‘a mistake,’ South African official says
By AP
South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein speaking at Nelson Mandela's memorial ceremony on December 10, 2013. (screen capture: Sky News, YouTube)
December 11, 2013, 6:27 pm
Mandela ceremony signer called ‘fake’
Deaf Federation of South Africa says man on stage next to world leaders made meaningless gestures, didn’t translate to sign language
By AP and ToI Staff
Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon speaks with deaf instructors as part of a promotion for Deaf Day at the Knesset, October 23, 2013 (photo credit: Ariel Hermoni/Ministry of Defense/Flash90)
November 14, 2013, 2:48 pm
Turning deaf ears to politics
Newly released sign language dictionary pokes fun at leading politicians — literally
By ToI Staff
IDF Ofek volunteer soldiers signing 'Hatikva,' the Israeli national anthem. (photo credit: screen capture/YouTube)
October 15, 2013, 1:39 am
IDF soldiers perform national anthem in sign language
Trainees in special course for disabled volunteers learn ‘Hatikva’ in solidarity with deaf comrades
By Lazar Berman
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