20 | JANUARY 9 • 2020
Jacob Blumenstein, center, with the help of his siblings, Reuben and Alana, started KidsRead2Kids.
Young Jews
Making Moves:
Jacob Blumenstein
J
acob Blumenstein’
s
educational path hasn’
t
always been the easiest.
“Growing up, I struggled
heavily in school because I
couldn’
t read,”
Blumenstein says.
“My teachers
didn’
t understand
dyslexia and I
didn’
t even know
I had dyslexia
until I was
diagnosed in fifth grade.”
With the help of his
parents, Carol and Richard,
and resources provided by
his school, Blumenstein
was able to realize his full
potential.
“In the beginning, I felt
humiliated and stupid,”
Blumenstein says. “But
as I grew up and learned
how to take control of my
dyslexia, I realized I could
excel at many things besides
reading.”
Blumenstein discovered
many students were unaware
of their learning disabilities
or didn’
t have the same
support system.
In 2017 with the help
of his siblings, Alana and
Reuben, Blumenstein
launched a free educational
nonprofit, KidsRead2Kids,
designed to help children
with learning disabilities
learn to read.
“We use YouTube videos
where we read abridged
classic novels and decodable
books chapter by chapter so
anyone can follow along at
their own pace,” Blumenstein
says. “Because I was ashamed
for being different, I wanted
to be very open about my
dyslexia on our website
because I wanted our readers
and listeners to know they
are not alone.”
Blumenstein attended
the International Dyslexia
Association (IDA)
conference in Portland,
Ore., this year where he
had applied for the Remy
Johnson Certificate of Merit.
He felt the award description
represented him because he
does not make excuses due
to his dyslexia and doesn’
t let
it define who he is.
Blumenstein unfortunately
lost by one point but received
a call from the CEO of the
IDA, Sonja Banks, who had a
different position in mind.
“She read my application
and was upset that I didn’
t
win the award,” Blumenstein
says. “She was inspired by my
story and wanted to offer me
the position as president for
the Youth and Young Adult
Advocate Program that she
was creating.”
Blumenstein accepted
the role as president at the
IDA Annual Conference in
November. In this role, he
is responsible for program
development and educating
students, parents and
teachers about dyslexia.
“I have two goals for this
position: My first goal is
to spread my message of
empowerment and to change
the narrative of dyslexia,”
he says. “The second part
revolves around us acting
as a consultant group to
different businesses to help
make technology easier for
dyslexics.”
Blumenstein also gave a
speech at the IDA annual
conference where he shared
his story.
“I may always have to work
harder, but that’
s not such
a bad thing,” Blumenstein
says. “In fact, working
harder has pushed me to be
better and become a more
compassionate person.”
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
Jews in the D
JACOB BLUMENSTEIN
Jacob
Blumenstein
The Detroit Jewish
Community Center is among
eight communities and local
organizations selected to par-
ticipate in the first strand of
a three-part research project
addressing the recruitment,
retention and development of
educators working in Jewish
settings in North America.
The research is led by CASJE
(Consortium for Applied
Studies in Jewish Education)
and conducted by Rosov
Consulting.
“Through our partnership
with these eight communities
we will gain deeper insight
into the lived experiences
of Jewish educators in the
United States,” says Arielle
Levites, managing director of
CASJE.
The local partner organi-
zations in each community
will play a critical role in the
study’
s first phase, known
as On the Journey (OTJ),
helping researchers connect
with Jewish educators from a
variety of sectors — includ-
ing day schools, supplemen-
tal schools, youth groups,
camps, adult education and
more. The partner organiza-
tions also will assist research-
ers in getting as accurate a
count as possible of the total
number of Jewish educators
in each community.
Detroit JCC Selected for Major Study on Jewish Education