Another worthwhile project to help Israel at this time of need.
I can tell you that this is not a trivial matter. Having taught ESL
and French (b'zmano) in Israeli schools, it is crucial that the flow
of good text books be made available. One year, when I lived in the
north of Israel, in the town of Katsrin, someone noticed that I was a
certified French teacher, and so they begged me to teach a 9th grade
French class. It was a small town without the greatest budget, at
that time. There were no text books available for this French
class!! I made worksheets on my computer in Hebrew and French.... A
textbook would have been a mighty useful tool !!! grin
This looks like a great project to undertake!!
Ilana Rosansky
Books For Israel Project Launched
Heightened Security Situation Drains Israel's Budget
Over Two Million Israeli School Children Without English Books
The Books for Israel Project Launched to Help
ROCKVILLE, MD, October 11, 2002 ? This Saturday, October 12th, First
Lady Laura Bush will lead the United States in celebrating National
Book Day. In November, Jewish community organizations will celebrate
Jewish Book Month. But for Israel's public school children "Jews,
Christians and Muslims alike" this is a year without the money needed
to buy English books for their libraries and language programs.
Volunteers in the Greater Washington DC area hope to help ease this
crisis and build a bridge of learning between America and Israel.
Although English is taught as a second language in the Israeli school
system, the drain on Israel's budget caused by the threat of terror
attacks has forced the government to make a choice between more
security fences and guards for the country's school children and
buying books.
The Books for Israel project was jointly inspired by Israeli and
American educators. Rena Cohen, organizer of the Magen David
Sephardic Congregation Israel Action Committee, which is ing
the Greater Washington DC Books for Israel Project, explains, "We
plan to collect donated 'beloved books' (good quality literature) and
the money needed to ship them for distribution to Israel's schools."
Meanwhile, educators on in both countries are working on a parallel
effort to promote love of learning and increased communication
between our school children through a web-based educational book
sharing project. Ari Sherris, Research Associate with The Center for
Applied Linguistics in Washington, DC, adds, "The Israel Book Project
is a celebration of freedom, and an important symbol of our shared
sense of human rights and dignity."
Synagogues, community centers, churches, and mosques are asked and
encouraged to contribute good quality books to this campaign,
selected for their educational value, special meaning or fine
quality. Schools and teachers who are interested will be encouraged
to join in web-based book exchange discussions and other educational
projects. Jade Bar-Shalom, Lecturer at Israel's Haifa University,
says, "It is anticipated that other regional Books for Israel
campaigns will be launched in the U.S. and possibly other countries
as well. As long as the Israeli government is forced to choose
between books and security, we hope to minimize the harm to the
education of Israel's children by providing books. We hope that the
need for the crisis intervention aspect of the project will be short
lived, but that the educational bridges we can build through this
effort will enrich the experience of students in every country where
The Books for Israel Project flourishes for years to come."
For further information contact:
Rena Cohen
MDSC Israel Action Committee Organizer (202) 255-5959,
IsraelActionMDSC@hotmail.com
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Don't forget:
3rd Fridays at Temple Shalom
Temple Shalom Singles' Shmooze
A continuing Oneg Shabbat program welcoming area singles.
Pray, sing, eat and shmooze. Join us!
Services begin at 7:30 p.m.
And 2nd Fridays
Early service - 6 pm, followed by Shabbat Dinner
Call the office to reserve your place
Are you a woman who has always wanted to have an aliyah to the Torah?
Contact Cheryl Jacqueson about our Shabbat October 26th B'not
Torah/B'not Mitsvah opportunity...
The next Temple Shalom Healing Service is
6:30 pm Sunday October 27th
To submit a reading or participate with an assigned reading,
contact Suzie Cheatham.
Check out our web-site: http:www.templeshalomsalem.org
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