Past Events and Workshops
Chanukah Book Drive 2006
Please join us at the Book Drive Kickoff Party near you:
Peninsula
Thursday, December 14, 2006
4 – 7 pm
Books Inc.
301 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA [Google Maps]
East Bay
Sunday, December 17, 2006
12 noon – 3 pm
Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA [Google Maps]
With any purchase of a book from Books Inc. at one of the Chanukah Book Drive Kickoff parties, 20% of the sale will go to JCL!
Thank you!
 11 am – 6:30 pm
An annual one-day festival celebrating the best of today’s Jewish literary landscape.
Enjoy a day-long festival with today’s most talked about authors. Featuring Gary Shteyngart (Absurdistan), Rebecca Goldstein (Spinoza) and Ayelet Waldman (Love and other Impossible Pursuits). E.L. Doctorow (The March, Ragtime) kicks off the day with a featured dialogue with Adam Hochschild (Bury the Chains).
Learn about three JCL workshops that took place February 2006. These workshops will rotate throughout the regions, and upcoming dates will be announced soon!
- Tutoring Session Time Management in the East Bay!
- Fluency Instruction in San Francisco!
- English Language Learners in the Peninsula!
Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco
Thank you to everyone who attended!
Leonard Fein: Literacy, Tikkun Olam, and Jewish Values — March 26, 2004
 “Avadim Hayinu — we were slaves.” We read these words each year during the Passover Seder, but what does it truly mean to feel as if you personally had come out of Egypt? What joys and responsibility does it evoke? These are the questions Leonard Fein, founder of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy, challenged us to think about when he addressed members of JCL, JCF and others at the Jewish Community Federation Building on Friday, March 26. As a longtime social activist, Mr. Fein sees the work of ending illiteracy as a liberation movement, allowing people to be free to access knowledge and opportunity in society. Mr. Fein spoke to the importance of infusing old words and rituals with new meaning, turning Jewish values into Jewish actions, and thanked JCL volunteers for living the values of tikkun olam through their work as reading tutors.
Bringing Literacy to Life — Sunday, March 21, 2004
 Sunday, March 21, brought lovers of literacy and learning to San Francisco’s new JCC for Bringing Literacy to Life: the 3rd annual JCL Literacy Conference. Volunteers from all three regions began their day with schmoozing and coffee before being warmly welcomed by Roberta Rothman, JCL’s new Bay Area director.
The sixty volunteers in attendance had six workshops from which to choose, including: working with students on basic sight words; choosing books that interest children and working with English language learners. The presenters were experts from around the Bay Area, including JCL’s own Natalie Bivas.
While dining on delicious Middle Eastern cuisine provided by Dina’s Kosher Catering, volunteers got to share more with their colleagues about their experiences in the workshops and with their tutees. JCL’s Keynote Speaker was Ron Berman, author of The Adventures of Sasha the San Francisco Sea Lion. Mr. Berman shared stories about his life growing up as a young Jewish man in San Francisco, amusing anecdotes about his grandson, Sam, and how he was influenced by his grandson to write his book. He encouraged the participants to expand children’s imaginations through the world of storytelling and books.
The day ended with a bang as participants joined in the Literacy Café, led by Marilyn Nebenzahl. This was an opportunity for everyone to discuss some of the ins and outs of tutoring, as well as a chance to get to know one another. People exchanged contact information and created new support systems through this process.
Overall, everyone had a great day. As one volunteer put it, “It was very helpful with lots of new ideas and very inspiring.”
JCL would like to offer special thanks to the organizing committee members and presenters who made this event so worthwhile: Jody Silver, Jerilyn Gelt, Marilyn Nebenzhal, Ellin Klor, Debra DiBenedetto, Joan Green, Deann Landers and Ron Berman. Our appreciation also goes to Peets Coffee for their generous donation and to Books Inc. for their participation throughout the day.
Sharpening our Skills — October 28, 2001
The JCL Back to School Conference on October 28th brought tutors from all over the Bay Area to City College to participate in a day of learning and fun. The participants enjoyed training workshops, shared personal stories and tutoring tips, and discussed some of the social and political issues affecting our students.
 The morning began with breakfast and a talk by Ted Lempert, whose organization, EdVoice, gives citizens a chance to take part in helping to pass legislation that will reshape California’s public education policy. Three workshops were offered after breakfast, and tutors honed their knowledge of the Reading Recovery Program, sorted through stacks of exciting, innovative children’s books, and explored the spiritual connections between Judaism and volunteerism. According to one tutor, the sessions were “great—very helpful and enlightening.” Later, Lynne Juarez, the former Site Director of Tule Elk Park, spoke about the challenges facing today’s educational system, and stressed JCL’s invaluable role in helping students overcome those difficulties.
The day ended with three more exciting sessions, including a presentation on the “science” behind a child’s language development, suggestions for working with English language learners, and a teacher’s personal perspective on the Latino immigrant experience. The day was a success, and we look forward to next year’s conference! A special Kol Ha Kavod to all of our presenters: Barbara Heil, Toni Bernardi, Phyllis Mintzer, Mandy Flayer, Michelle Weissman, and Gloria Goldblatt! Also, thanks to Starbucks Coffee, Ambrosia Bakery, Anat Feinstein from Stacy’s Books, Pasta Pomodoro, and City College for their generous contributions.
Igniting the Spark 2000 — September 11, 2000
 JCL marked the beginning of the new school year and its second year in the Bay Area with an annual kickoff event, hosted this year by the JCC of San Francisco. The event featured speakers Leonard Fein, NJCL founder; Arlene Ackerman, Superintendent of Schools, SFUSD; and Earl Raab, Executive Director Emeritus, JCRC. Peet’s provided the excellent coffee; Borders, Barnes & Noble and individual donors provided the books which were used as centerpieces; and Washington High School’s marvelous acapella group, Guys & Dolls, provided the music. Their first song, appropriately enough, was “Who Wrote the Book of Love?” JCL volunteers Janice Shapiro, Jack Leibman, and Laura Stillman ended the evening by speaking movingly about their experiences with their students.
JCL Wine & Cheese — May 11, 2000
JCL celebrated the end of our first school year with a wine and cheese at the home of one of our advisory board members. Hors d’oeuvres were served, and wine donated by Plump Jack’s was enjoyed. A very talented high school jazz band provided wonderful entertainment. Many volunteers took advantage of the art supplies available to create end-of-year gifts, such as cards and journals, for their students. As always, books were available for tutors to take back to their sites and students. Tutors and site reps reflected over the past school year and shared their challenges and successes. Great food, drink, and conversation were enjoyed by all!
JCL 101: A Workshop for Tutors — April 5, 2000
JCL 101 was a great evening of learning and sharing. Rabbi Henry Shreibman presented a fascinating talk about the history of literacy and its importance to the Jewish community. Bill Honig, founder of CORE (Consortium on Reading Excellence), presented information about the stages of reading development, and answered questions about the needs of particular students. Shawna Smith, a teacher and reading specialist at Anna Yates Elementary School, facilitated a wonderful workshop that gave tutors many ideas for new activities and strategies. Volunteers especially enjoyed breaking into discussion groups-so much so that they stayed overtime!
Igniting the Spark, Kickoff Event — October 5, 1999
100 guests were present to kick off the Jewish Coalition for Literacy in the Bay Area. The event featured speakers including San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown; Dianne Talarico, Associate Superintendent and Head of Elementary Education, SFUSD; and Leonard Fein, founder of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. The Herbert Hoover Middle School Singers provided entertainment. Attendance was high, the speakers were inspirational, and many volunteers signed up on the spot! The centerpieces at each table were wrapped children’s books donated by Barnes & Noble, Houghton Mifflin, Scholastic, and Stacey’s Bookstore, and served to jumpstart JCL book drives.
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