West Essex Students Craft 'Tactile' Holiday Cards For People Who Are Blind

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Temple Sholom of West Essex. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Temple Sholom of West Essex is getting an early start on Chanukah with a hands-on lesson in inclusion, accessibility, and the power of a personal connection. Sixth- and seventh-grade students have partnered with JBI Library to create tactile Chanukah cards for people who are blind or have low vision, helping ensure that everyone can share in the joy of the holiday.

The project grew from a simple but meaningful idea: everyone should be able to experience the joy of receiving a Chanukah card. Traditional greeting cards often rely on visual designs, leaving some recipients unable to fully appreciate their decorations. By incorporating raised textures and tactile elements, the students are creating cards that can be experienced through touch as well as sight.

JBI Library provides free Jewish books, liturgical materials, and other resources in braille, large print, and audio for people who are blind, have low vision, or have a print disability. The organization launched its Chanukah Card Project last year to foster “a direct, personal connection between community members who may never otherwise meet.”

JBI supplies the cards, which feature Chanukah greetings pre-printed in braille. Students then bring them to life with puffy paints, raised stickers, gems, and foam menorahs and dreidels, creating colorful, textured designs that are both meaningful and personal.

“Jewish communities talk often about inclusion: creating spaces where everyone can participate, making programs accessible, and ensuring that people with disabilities are fully part of Jewish life,” JBI Library explains. “But sometimes the most meaningful lessons come not from a policy or program, but from a simple act of connection.”

Cara Moroze, TSWE’s Education Director, shared how her students loved exploring both the English and Hebrew Braille alphabets using JBI’s resource materials. “Creating these cards gave the children a meaningful way to bring Jewish values to life by turning what they learned into an act of kindness for others

Sixth-grader Vivian Stone, who decorated her card with ribbons and hearts, said she appreciated being able to do something that promotes inclusion. “Rather than a flat card, this will mean more because they can read it and won’t have to have someone read it to them,” she said.

Fellow sixth-grader Bodhi Masor said the project helped him think about including others during the holiday season. “We need to include others and make others understand how important inclusion is,” he said.

The project made a significant impact in its first year, when synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Federations, schools, groups of friends, and community organizations created more than 4,000 tactile Chanukah cards featuring holiday wishes in large print and braille.

This year, JBI is challenging the Jewish community to more than double that number, with a goal of creating more than 10,000 tactile Chanukah cards. Through their participation, Temple Sholom of West Essex students are helping spread holiday cheer while learning that even a small, thoughtful gesture can make Jewish life more welcoming and accessible to all.

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