I LOCAL NEWS 1 YOU'RE COVERED With Our New T-Shirt! Ex-Detroiter Helps Israeli Deaf Students JENNIFER TAUB Jewish News Intern Overcoming a language barrier is a typical challenge faced by foreigners who choose to immerse themselves in another culture. For volunteers on the Sherut La'am — Service of the .People — program of the World Zionist Organization, the three month intensive Hebrew language training provides them with the necessary communication skills for their primary goal, the donation of their time in Israel's Development Towns. Terry Bittker, a graduate of Lahser High School in Bloom- field Hills and Gallaudet University, Washington D.C., entered the program in last October facing a double challenge. Bittker was diagnosed hear- ing impaired at age nine. With 75 decibels needed at the high frequency range she has an 86 percentunderstan- ding hearing level. Fluent in American Sign Language(ASL), she has ap- plied her B.A. in social work toward teaching the deaf, handicapped and mentally impaired in Southfield, Washington D.C. and Maryland where she now resides. She learned of the Sherut La'am program while atten- ding a lecture at the Jewish Community Center in Washington D.C. "I was so im- pressed I decided to apply. I didn't think I was going to be accepted," she said. After two months of great difficulty learning spoken Subscribe Today To The Jewish News And Receive Our New T-Shirt With Our Compliments! From the West Bank to West Bloomfield — and all points in between — The Jewish News covers your world. And now with our new T-shirt, we cover our new subscribers, too. It's durable, comfortable, easy to care for and attractive. And it comes in an array of adult and children's sizes. But most important, your new subscription will mean 52 information- packed weeks of The Jewish News, plus our special supplements, delivered every Friday to your mailbox. Hebrew in Tiberias, she said she begged the supervisor to allow her to forgo the last month and set off directly to Beersheva where she planned to teach at the Niv School for the Deaf. More frustration followed when she arrived in Beer- sheva, where nobody knew English or ASL. Only when a friend introduced her to the Deaf Club in the area did her spirits pick up and did she learn Hebrew Sign Language. Exempt from the life-time membership fee, Bittker was offered free attendence on outings to archeological digs, folk dances, parties, art classes and much more with the local members. She also gave two lectures on "Con- trasting Deaf Cultures" and "Adventures Through Kenya." Bittker taught ASL to deaf high school students and HSL to deaf kindergarten students. There are differences in Israel's education for the hearing impaired. She said two systems exist. Deaf students can attend classrooms with hearing students and a sign language interpreter, or they can at- tend a school exclusively for the deaf. Unlike the U.S., Israel lacks a university for the deaf, thus preventing the hearing im- paired to get an advanced degree. she believes such an institution is essential. Bittker is currently work, ing with Becky Pepkowitz- Tabor, a Jewish chaplain at Gallaudet University, on a documentation of her ex- perience teaching Jewish and Bedouin students in Israel. A great newspaper and a complimentary T-shirt await you for our low subscription rates. Just fill out the coupon below and return it to us. We'll fit you to a T! Jewish News TShirt Offer Please clip coupon and mail to: Yes! Start me on a subscription to The Jewish News'for the period and amount circled below. Please send me the T-shirt. JEWISH NEWS T-SHIRT 20300 Civic Center Dr. Southfield, Mich. 480764138 NAME This offer is for new subscriptions only. Cur- rent subscribers may order the T-shirt for $4.75. Allow four weeks delivery. ADDRESS CITY (Circle One) STATE ZIP 1 year: '24 2 years: $45 Out of State '26 Enclosed $ (Circle one) ADULT EX. W. ADULT LARGE ADULT MED. CHILD LARGE CHILD MED. CHILD SMALL • 14 FRIDAY, AUG. 14, 1987 Bar-Ilan workers treated themselves to a Tiger ballgame after finalizing plans for the university's annual dinner Sept. 2. Pictured with honoree Emery Klein, center, are, from left: Larry Jackier, Sharon Hart, Beverly Liss and Alan Yost.