It also helps break down barriers between ethnic, religious and income groups. The local chapter is a joint project of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and the Jewish Community Relations Council. Fein hopes that San Francisco Jews can emulate the success of the program in other parts of the country. He drew the biggest laugh of the evening when he recalled that after pledging 100,000 Jewish volunteers for President Clinton's nascent literacy program, he received a call from Richard Riley, the secretary of education. For Natalie Berg, the JCRC's secretary and chair of Tuesday's event, the reasons for the literacy program were multidimensional.
Education is ingrained in Jewish families and culture.
Both of my parents came to this country unable to speak English, and with little formal education. My parents placed a high premium on education, and consequently, each of their four children earned graduate degrees. The people who are the most ignorant are the ones who are the most prejudiced and the most hateful. Look at the people committing hate crimes. Most of them are lucky if they've had a high school education.