Deaf in West Bank / Gaza

Introduction / History

In the West Bank, the social stigma of being Deaf is a lot less than it once was. Education has improved for Deaf children and when they learn they learn well. Deaf schools are usually funded by NGOs and charities. More well-trained staff is needed.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are more opportunities for education for the Deaf in Gaza than in the West Bank. The Mustafa Sadeq School gives free education and travelling help for the Deaf in Gaza.

Opportunities for education in primary and secondary schools are improving but university education and finding work is very difficult for the Deaf. Employment chances are improving however and there are now workshops for the Deaf. They use Arabic Sign Language in Palestine.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.

Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, they need to allow the loving Savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for sin.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Deaf in Palestine will be given good care.

Pray that God gives them dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead the Deaf to the only Savior.

Pray for workers.

Text Source:   Joshua Project