It is such an obvious connection: the Jewish community and literacy. Historically, Jewish people have placed a high value on education. They are aware of how important education is to success especially in North America. The Jewish tradition of striving for social justice and the requirement that we participate in tikkun olam, in repairing our broken world, makes Jewish involvement in literacy a natural step.

The National Jewish Coalition for Literacy (NJCL) is the Jewish community's answer to the challenge of increasing literacy for children throughout the country. Research shows that up until third grade, children learn to read. Beginning in fourth grade, children read to learn. Students reading below grade level at that time begin a downward spiral, which is difficult to correct. If children receive even a small intervention by third grade, their chances of success increase dramatically.

Since his 1996 re-election campaign, President Clinton and the Department of Education have urged America's volunteers to tutor and read to students in kindergarten through third grade to improve their literacy skills through the America Reads initiative. Leonard Fein, the founder of NJCL, saw the natural connection to the Jewish community. "It was obvious that we could do something with this effort. If the Jews have a surplus of anything, we have a surplus of literacy. Let's spread it around," Fein explained in a recent interview with www.SocialAction.com.

The NJCL sets up local grassroots mobilizations in cities throughout the United States. Working through the organized Jewish community, local affiliates attract volunteers who, in most cases, join literacy programs already in place in local schools, typically working with a particular student for one hour a week. The NJCL shares successful recruiting strategies and helps sell the notion of literacy as a cause for the community. "The greatest challenge is getting people to believe they can create coalitions within the Jewish community," comments Craig Sumberg, Executive Director of NJCL. "People fear they will not be able to convince their organizations to do it. Ultimately, someone understands that this is a great project for [the Jewish community]. They make the connections, and the coalitions take off."

"It is the breadth of the coalitions which is most remarkable," says Fein. "In Los Angeles, we have everyone from [traditional Orthodox to Reform] working in the schools. We have ninth-graders in Boston and retired senior citizens--many are retired school teachers." Adds Sumberg, "This is a cause which really excites the Jewish community." While bigger cities like Boston and Los Angeles have mobilized large numbers of volunteers, even in smaller cities, there has been an outpouring of energy. "In Louisville, Kentucky, we have 200 volunteers; it is truly a community-wide effort," Sumberg says.

In Atlanta, Georgia, the program has been met with unprecedented enthusiasm. Allison Harris, Project Coordinator of the Atlanta Jewish Coalition for Literacy, notes that "60% of the literacy volunteers had never had an association with any other Jewish Federation of Atlanta project in the past." She believes this effort really strikes a chord with her constituency. "People want something that's hands on and that can work into their hectic lives and schedules. Most importantly, volunteers want a way to connect with another human being and to feel they can make a difference in someone's life. They recognize that a child will go nowhere without basic skills, and most people feel passionately about creating opportunities for kids." The results have been wonderful. She adds, "The comment I frequently hear from the tutors is 'I never expected that I would get more out of this than the child.' There is nothing like the feeling of having your 'reading pal' grab you on the leg and hug you when you come for the lesson."

The NJCL currently has approximately 30 local affiliates, with a goal of increasing that number to 35. Each affiliate takes its own path in getting the organs of the Jewish community to work together on behalf of this issue. Harris describes her own technique, "I believe that if you hock [nag and cajole] them to death, they will come." She attends any meeting or gathering where volunteers may lurk. "This is our challenge," she says, "it only takes one hour a week to change the world--one child at a time."

More information about the NJCL, including a list of its local affiliates, is available at www.njcl.net or contact the local Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) in your area. This is a unique opportunity to put into action on a large scale the Jewish obligation to strive for social justice and equality. As Fein says, "We like to think we are a compassionate people. That remains an idle boast until we do something about it."