NCJW is teaming up with other
organizations so visually impaired subscribers
can read The Jewish News.
Above:
Hakol's Judy Edelstein
reads "For Seniors."
Project Chair Ruth
Littmann (right) shows
reader Doris Seifert
how to select articles to
be taped.
mornings, when more vol-
unteers are available. After
recording is completed, the
master tape is taken to the
Oakland County Reading
Library in Farmington
Hills, where copies are made
and the tapes are
distributed.
The library is a tax-
supported service that
operates with Oakland
County and federal govern-
ment funds. It is free for
subscribers.
Reading criteria for vol-
unteers is fairly simple.
"The requirement for
reading is a clear voice,"
said Ruth Littmann, Hakol
board member and project
co-chair.
Hakol member Julie
Schwartz, a law student who
reads to the blind nearly
every Thursday night, is
quick to point out volunteers
needn't sound like WJR
Radio host J.P. McCarthy.
"It is supposed to be very
natural, just like you are
talking to somebody," she
said.
Volunteer Florence Wedes-
Citarel reads because "I feel
like I am doing a mitzvah."
Reader Stephanie Dorf-
man, an English teacher
who tutors and works at the
Jewish Community Center
summer camp, was looking
for a volunteer task that fit
into her hectic schedule.
"I just wanted to help in
some way," Mrs. Dorfman
said.
The project enables busy
people like Mrs. Dorfman,
Ms. Schwartz, and the others
to make a small time com-
mitment with a large im-
pact.
"It is a wonderful, rewar-
ding program," said project
co-chair Janelle Miller,
NCJW vice president of
membership and programm-
ing. She said response has
been overwhelming, adding
that NCJW has more vol-
unteers than articles to read.
Project organizers want to
extend the scope of the pro-
ject to include those who
can't hold a book, and to
others whose handicaps
make reading a difficulty.
As word of the project
spreads, organizers hope
more people sign up. In addi-
tion, the organizing team is
considering reading Jewish
books on tape.
"A project like this enables
me to realize how important
eyesight is in our daily
lives," Ms. Littmann said. "I
want other people, who
aren't so lucky, to have a
chance to pick up The Jew-
ish News and learn." 0
To volunteer, call NCJW at
258-6000. To inquire about
receiving JN On Tape, con-
tact Carole Hund at the Oak-
land County Reading
Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped at
553-0300.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
55