This month I wanted to share with you some of the questions and issues that have been posed to me in recent weeks. I would appreciate your response, so I know how you feel about these topics. Next month, I will summarize how other readers felt about the issues raised.
I think the major issue revolves around “professionalism vs. reciprocity”, i.e., how much should a Jewish interpreter give of him/herself.
Jewish interpreters are often asked to make great sacrifices. Do you feel these requests are reasonable and fair? For example, should a Jewish interpreter be asked to work on Shabbat, Passover, and the High Holidays? This means s/he gives up spending this time with his/her family and cannot pray in his/her home synagogue. Deaf consumers and synagogues sometimes seem annoyed when an entire list of interpreters turns down a job for these same reasons.
Secondly, how far should an interpreter be willing to travel for a Jewish interpreting job? In some parts of the country, there are very few Jewish interpreters. An interpreter may be asked to drive two or three hours to interpret a Bar Mitzvah. In these cases, should the interpreter be paid extra? Should the requesting family arrange for lodging with friends/relatives?
Male interpreters may be under even greater pressure. In some Orthodox synagogues, only a male interpreter is acceptable to stand in the men s section of the shul. As you probably know, there are very few male interpreters. Here on the East Coast, this would mean bringing in an interpreter from Washington, DC or New York.
Lastly, is always the issue of money. We Jewish interpreters often know the people we are interpreting for. This is different than secular, freelance interpreting, where the “consumers” are often strangers. In this case, do we feel comfortable charging a fee? How much is reasonable? Should we be compensated with higher fees than secular work, due to the preparation time necessary and our specialized skills and background?
I hope I have provoked you to respond (smile!). Please write back to me c/o JDCC, or by e-mail [[email protected]] or by fax [215-849-7647]. Until next month. . . Shalom!
