Bella’s Vietnam Adventure by Stacey Zolt Hara

By Lisa Niver Rajna
Published on May 25, 2012

Can someone tell me why our scholars aren’t as smart as the Jews?

By JewishJournal.com
Published on July 30, 2007

‘Dumb Jews’ react, more politics, more Israel

Published on October 26, 2006

Reaction to "Dumb Jews" cover story and other letters to the Editor

JCRC’s Schwartz-Getzug picked to head Jewish World Watch

By Marc Ballon
Published on October 26, 2006

Tzivia Schwartz-Getzug has been named executive director of Jewish World Watch (JWW).

Jewish literacy Is a mitzvah—and not fulfilled with phonetics

By Richard Wagner
Published on October 19, 2006

In the Jewish schools of today, Jewish literacy can have new and special meaning. It calls for a refocus on the linguistic, textual and ethical dimensions of learning, which will be the legacy we leave our students.

It takes a shul: programs target Jewish literacy via congregants

By Iris Petroff
Published on October 19, 2006

A few years ago, the leadership of Temple Society of Concord, decided that we were doing many programs and activities, yet we were not sure where they were heading and whether we held the same vision of Jewish learning.

American Jews are learned in everything—except Jewish texts

By Rabbi Yosef Liebowitz
Published on October 19, 2006

The American Jewish community is one of the most learned and sophisticated communities in Jewish history - in everything except Jewish texts. As Jews, we are illiterate.

Judaism 101: everything we need to know

By Jo Kay
Published on October 19, 2006

What do we need to know to function in or create a Jewish home, to function in the synagogue, to function in Jewish communal life and to function in the world as a knowledgeable Jew? What should we know, feel and be able to do to be considered a literate Jew?

Emotional Bond Revs Up Reading

By Sharon Schatz Rosenthal
Published on August 21, 2003

Isabella Van Etten, 3, began her journey of learning to read before she was even born. "I got a book when I was pregnant called 'Oh Baby, the Places You'll Go: A Book to Be Read in Utero,'" recalled the child's mother, Celeste Russi of Newbury Park.

Community Briefs

Published on May 8, 2003

It's not every day or even every year that a Jewish organization honors a Catholic nun -- but naming her Community Mother of the Year seems odd for a Jewish organization.

The Downside to Literacy

By Viva Hammer
Published on October 31, 2002

I honestly thought my daughter, Bruria, would never learn how to read. My nieces learned how when they were 3, and so I assumed that if I got in early, say around 2, Bruria would be in full swing by 3.

So I dutifully started with letters and sounds, labeling every item in the house, in a constant education mode. Nothing happened. Bruria loved listening to stories, but when I paused before a word to see if she could work it out herself, there was just silence.

The Circuit

By Michael Aushenker
Published on September 20, 2001

Dustin Hoffman was one of many stars to kick off the third year of KOREH L.A. Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC)'s literacy program at the Downtown Central Library.

Torah Portion:The Holiness of Literacy

By Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Published on June 8, 2000

For many years, the Allen School was the worst in the Dayton, Ohio, system. Located in the dilapidated inner city, the dropout rate was astronomical.

Chanukah Calendar

By Rob Kutner
Published on December 2, 1999

When the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles celebrated the launch of its anti-illiteracy program KOREH Los Angeles in September, the focus was on educators and celebrities to read children's books to kids.

Four for Chanukah

By Michael Aushenker
Published on November 25, 1999

When the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles celebrated the launch of its anti-illiteracy program KOREH Los Angeles in September, the focus was on educators and celebrities to read children's books to kids. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the spotlight at that event were some local women who are equally vital in the campaign against illiteracy: the creators of the children's books themselves.

Making Reading a Star Attraction

By Michael Aushenker
Published on September 16, 1999

In a corner of downtown Central Library's Children's Literature Department, actor Elliott Gould is reading "Arthur's New Puppy."

Opening New Chapters

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on July 1, 1999

Today, the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy has more than 3,500 participants, including doctors and teachers, teenagers and retirees who volunteer to tutor one child at least one hour per week. The program has reconnected assimilated Jews to the Jewish community and Jewish suburbanites to the inner-city.

A Crash Course in Hebrew

By Jolie Greiff
Published on September 24, 1998

Lorraine Anishban, 38, has been trying to learn how to read Hebrew for years.