What started as a computer program to help his blind friend became Rabbi Nachum Lehman’s groundbreaking organization. With the Braille magazine, “we realized we’d stumbled on an awesome way to help our clients once again”

With Shabbos ending well past 9 p.m. in the summer, there’s a long afternoon to fill – and as the People of the Book, many of us are happy to have the extra time to curl up on the couch with some good reading material. But what about the visually impaired? During the week, they can now read or listen to just about anything off a computer with the help of special refreshable Braille displays (a sort of keyboard connected to the computer, with hundreds of tiny pins that rise and fall as they convert text from the screen into Braille letters) or audio programs. On Shabbos, however, the computers and those books and tapes are shut off.

“For years, we’ve had a void of reading material for Shabbos, despite the books we print,” says Rabbi Nachum Lehman, creator and director of Computer Sciences for the Blind (CSB Care), which prints seforim (including some ArtScroll and Feldheim titles) in Braille. CSB Care has also created custom-designed audio Torah software, allowing access to an entire library of seforim for the visually impaired. “We have hundreds of volumes of learning material for men and boys, but for the women, it’s harder because they’re not learning Gemara. But even the men can’t learn nonstop; they need some relaxing reading material as well.”

All this has just changed, though, with the introduction of a breakthrough Braille edition of Mishpacha. We at the magazine are so excited about this new venture that we just had to share some of the background with you.

FAMILY READING

Rabbi Lehman is always on the lookout for new state-of-the-art ways to help his clients, and about eight months ago a generous supporter from Boro Park asked if there was anything CSB Care needed to enhance the lives of its blind clientele. Lehman replied that he needed new Braille display devices, which cost upward of $3,000 apiece. The donor purchased 50 of them, resolving the problem with a wave of the checkbook. A few months later the donor asked again: “What else can I do to help your clients?”

Rabbi Lehman hesitated. “Well, we really need a new Braille embossing machine. We’re sending out hundreds of Braille seforim every year, and we keep having problems with our current Braille embosser. But those machines are expensive — around $16000.”

“Good. Buy it l‘zecher nishmas a family member,” he replied immediately.

Lehman bought a new model that was much larger and more efficient than the previous machine they’d been using. “When I saw the specs of the machine, I saw it could print an 11 x 17 magazine format, which is perfect for a Braille magazine.” Rabbi Lehman says. “Furthermore, a magazine only has to be folded and stapled, not bound like a book, so it would be easier for us to produce. That’s when we realized we had stumbled upon an awesome way to help our clients once again.”

He contacted his cousin, Mishpacha columnist Rabbi Avrohom Neuberger, and suggested that perhaps he could approach Mishpacha for permission to print the magazine in Braille. The response was swift and enthusiastic. “Some things transcend business,” says Mishpach CEO Avi Lazar. “As the word spread around the employees, the reaction was amazing.”

It all began with a request from Rabbi G., a talmid chacham learning in a Brooklyn kollel who had become blind. While his chavrutot would read the gemara, Rashi and Tosafot to him, Rabbi G. missed the invaluable opportunity to review the difficult passages independently. Then he recalled that a fellow kollel member, Rabbi Nachum Lehman, was exceptionally proficient in computer programming. Rabbi G. asked for his help. Rabbi Lehman designed an innovative program that allowed Rabbi G. to listen to passages in the Gemara and Chumash displayed on the computer screen. “He could press a few keys to hear Rashi, Tosafot or the Rosh, which is, of course, impossible with a tape recorder,” says Rabbi Lehman. Rabbi Lehman began enlisting the aid of fellow kollel members to record entire masechtot (tractates of Talmud), which would then be programmed into the computer.

In 1997, Rabbi Lehman’s efforts spawned Computer Sciences for the Blind (CSB), an organization dedicated to opening up the world of Torah texts to the observant blind and low-vision population. Currently, CSB’s best-selling product is The Metsudah Chumash, Seligsohn Edition, a set of three CDs
that encompass the entire Chumash with Rashi as well as linear translations of both. Users can simply ask the computer to begin parashat Balak, for example, and the program reads the chapter, verse by verse, in a pleasant human voice. Hundreds of users, of all ages, in Australia, England, Holland, Israel and North America currently find the program priceless. Rabbi Lehman takes particular pride in CSB’s refreshable Braille display program. A device with electronic pins, a Braille display attaches to a standard computer and converts the text on the computer screen into Braille. Unfortunately, there was no software that enabled a Braille display to “read” Hebrew text. harnessing the wealth of Torah sources found in Torah CD library programs, Rabbi Lehman created a program that allows a Braille display to convert Hebrew text on the screen into Braille. This has revolutionized Torah learning for Braille users who were, until recently, forced to contend with the scant Torah literature available in Braille. Thanks to the program, says Rabbi Lehman, one blind talmid chacham is able to deliver a daily shiur. Blind from birth, Rabbi Michael Levy, director of Travel Training at the MTA New York City Transit, marvels at Rabbi Lehman’s accomplishments. “To me, the true definition of access is helping a person achieve his potential as a Jew,” says Rabbi Levy. Individuals with severe physical disabilities can also access the CSB system. “Two individuals who are paralyzed and blind can learn Chumash by puffing on a straw,” says Rabbi Lehman, who designs custom-made tongue and breath switches. CSB constantly receives phone calls from Jewish blind and visually impaired individuals who are eager to use the programs, which are available to users free of charge. Additionally, children with various learning disabilities are experiencing phenomenal success with products such as The Metsudah Chumash. The Chumash enables students with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning difficulties to benefit from a multisensory learning experience. They get to see the Hebrew text on one side of the computer screen and the English translation on the other, with the computer highlighting each word as it is read. CSB, which holds annual conferences for the observant blind community, continues to work on projects that open up the vast world of Torah learning to Jews with disabilities. Rabbi Levy closed a recent CSB conference with poignant words that speak for all the grateful CSB users: “Thank you for increasing my portion in morashah kehillat Yaakov, the inheritance of the Jewish people.” All the Jewish people.

The world is replete with vivid color. The deep red of a rose, the bright blue of the sky, and the radiant yellow of a sunflower. But for the blind there are no colors, there is no light. How then is it possible for the “light of Torah” to shine upon their otherwise dark world? just a few months ago, I merited seeing how the light of Torah penetrates all barriers. A young man was sitting in front of a computer no larger than a Mishnayos. He told the computer” Chumash;’ and the computer started saying the first verse of the Torah. He then commanded “Rashi,” the computer began reciting the Rashi on that verse. “English,” and, yes, the computer began translating the Rashi. “Next Parsha.” “Next Aliya:’ “Previous Perek.” “Where am I?” “Read Faster.” “Read Slower.” 1’Stop Talking.” Whatever the user said, the computer responded faithfully. I thought I was dreaming. For the thousands of visually impaired in our midst, it is indeed a dream come true. The Chafetz Chaim once remarked that the technological advances of his times were for the purpose of increasing Torah study and avodas Hashem. Without a doubt, the inventing of the computer and its associated technology has achieved one of its primary purposes in helping bring Torah to people who cannot read with their eyes. Indeed, a shining light has burst into the dark world of the blind with the founding of a truly unique organization called Computer Sciences for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CSE), “Meor Eynayim,” founded in 1997 by Rahbi Nachum Lehman.

IT STARTED IN A KOLLEL

It all started several years ago in a small kollel. Reb Yitzchok M., a talmid chacham and pillar of the kollel, was stricken with an incurable eye disease. Day after day, month after month, his eyesight deteriorated. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, Reb Yitzchok eventually suffered a complete loss of vision. Reb Yitzchok heroically overcame the logistical hurdles, as he learned to deal with his blindness. Fortunate to possess a sharp mind, he retained his learning partners while continuing to be an integral and inspirational part of the kollel. Despite Reb Yitzchok’s efforts, though, his level of learning was compromised due to the nature of Torah study and his disability. Although his chavrusos would read the Gemora, Rashi and Tosafos aloud, there was no independence and no second chance to review difficult passages. Anybody who has been involved in Torah study knows that it entails much more than recitation of text. The scholar must be able to interpret the nuances of the text and contemplate the meaning of each and every word. Such study requires constant and independent review, an ability Reb Yitzchok was not afforded. Even tapes and telephone shiurim, which helped immeasurably, were still no substitute for the text-based learning that allows for contemplation and digestion of the written word of a sefer. When limited by the material presented by another person, or on a tape, the interactive factor.

It seemed that the Hashgacha elyona, Divine Providence, saw Reh Yitzchok as the appropriate emissary to trigger what can be called, without exaggeration, the beginning of a technological revolution for the visually challenged. Reb Yitzchok asked one of his chavrusos, Reb Nachum Lehman, if he could help and help he did. With his knowledge of computer programming, he spent many months researching the technologies available to the blind community, but was unable to find a workable solution for Reb Yitzchok. Reb Nachum came to the unavoidable conclusion that custom-1nade software would be necessary to allow Reb Yitzchok to learn freely and naturally. With the help of two professional programmers and several volunteer readers, Reb Nachu1n commenced the seemingly insurmountable task of giving those unable to read with their eyes, the ability to read with their ears! Through indexed computer recordings of the Gemora, Rashi, Tosafos, several Rishonim (early coinmentators) and Acharonim (later commentators), along with custom-made MP3 software, Reb Yitzchok was given the ability to once again learn independently. With the press of a key on the keyboard, Reb Yitzchok could simply access any part of the Gemora. He could choose to have it read faster or slower. He could go backwards or fonvards, repeat words, or press a button for Rashi, Tosafos, or one of the many other commentaries that were recorded for him by his peers. Reb Yitzchok was like a fish back in water, as he tackled the Gemora with gusto for the first time since he had been struck by blindness.

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