The day school movement is embattled. After significant growth over the past two decades, overall enrollment at non-Orthodox day schools has taken a slight downward turn in the past several years. Complaints that day-school education is just too expensive have surged. Leading philanthropists insist they get more bang for their buck from Birthright Israel, or from funding Jewish camping, than from offering more costly day school tuition assistance. Highly visible Hebrew charter schools have been started to provide a publicly funded alternative to day schools. And new programs have been launched to rehabilitate supplemental religious or Hebrew schools/Talmud Torahs, so they can serve as better educational options for parents.
I, too, wish there were a cheap, effective alternative to day schools — but there is not. Modern America is the most sophisticated, dynamic general civilization ever inhabited by Jews. Every way of life and value system is available to everyone, and they are often offered in highly attractive packages. Only when Judaism is experienced in a form as satisfying and fulfilling as these alternatives will Jews embrace their identity and tradition. And only day schools offer the tools to make a mature embrace of Judaism plausible for many of our young people. As the research demonstrates, a day school education makes its recipients much more likely than their peers who do not receive this form of education to choose to be active members of the Jewish people, committed to Jewish marriage and family life.
The non-Orthodox, who are more exposed socially and more integrated in American society, need day schools more than the Orthodox. Thus far, however, the Jewish community has not been serious enough about making day school education accessible and affordable to non-Orthodox populations — which is why their rates of assimilation are higher.
There is an alternative. Six months ago, the Jim Joseph Foundation committed a record-level $11 million to five communities for scholarships and tuition subsidies for children attending Jewish day and high schools, early childhood school programs and Jewish residential camps. This historic gift is premised on the recognition that parents cannot pay the full costs of quality schools, just as public schools could not survive without the support of all taxpayers. (Nor, for that matter, could colleges and universities offer quality education funded by tuition alone.) Thanks to this gift, more kids are now able to attend or stay in day schools when their families could not otherwise afford it.
Thankfully, there are other organizations now taking up the challenge as well. The Legacy Heritage Fund has begun helping families at schools in small- and medium-sized communities in the United States. In New York, the UJA-Federation’s Rose Biller Fund is distributing $1 million in need-based scholarship money largely to high school and transfer students. And the Philadelphia-based Kohelet Foundation has begun disbursing tuition aid to area families. Similar local efforts are afoot in Milwaukee, Chicago and New Jersey.
These initiatives are spot on. It is time for heroic increases in support for Jewish education — with day schools at the head. I am not blind to the destructive impact of the economic crisis: The mood in Jewish philanthropy has shifted to retrenchment, not bold new initiatives. But assimilation will not wait until we recover our nerve. The next generation will be harder to reach than this one. The community must muster its will to live and step up to pay the price — whatever it costs — for the highest level of Jewish education for its young. The Jewish mega-foundations and our community federations — even with depleted resources — remain best positioned to help. They should raid their reserves and spend down for the next few years if necessary. This is like the cost of a war for survival.
Our immediate goal should be a massive increase in scholarship and tuition-subsidy money. There is little prospect of American government vouchers comparable to the support offered by the British and Canadian governments to parochial schools. So our community must “self-tax,” with foundations, federations and individuals taking upon themselves the obligation to fund Jewish education at a level that would generate the hundreds of millions of dollars needed. The long-term goal should be a comprehensive, community-supported system of intensive formal and informal Jewish education. The Jewish future demands nothing less.
Rabbi Irving Greenberg is past president of the Jewish Life Network and was the founding president of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.
Great article. We all need to step up our support. It is vital to our survival. I am donating to the David Stone Hebrew Academy of Sylvania/Toledo, Ohio.
Vince--
I actually attended the Hebrew Academy of Toledo, Ohio until I was 12--and then went to yeshiva in Brooklyn. Talk about a contrast! Still, the Academy was a wonderful school that gave me a core of Jewish knowledge and culture (it didn't hurt growing up in an observant family). Rabbi Edward and Sara Garsek, as well as the inimitable Hindea Szper (Holocaust survivor and bubby-figure to all her students), deserve an extra mention. Did you attend? When? Anyone else out there from Toledo? Let our voices be heard and our numbers counted!
The Alternative to American Day Schools - Day Schools in Israel
The US - $5000 to $25,000 per child per year. Israel - Free to $1000 per child per year.
Orthodox Jewish birth control = day school tuition bills.
They have all types of Day Schools in Israel - very modern to very haredi.
The only future for our children in in Israel.
Day Schools do indeed provide the maximum exposure to Jewish daily living (as far as it can be replicated in a school environment) and, depending on he emphases of The non- Orthodox Day School child is still faced, however, with priorities in the home, in the local synagogue, and in the general community where he or she seeks those aspects of American culture that are not replicated in the schools. All of these strong forces lead some Day School graduates to be learned observers standing, nevertheless, on the outside of Jewish communal life. One needs also to take into consideration the desire of the student himself or herself, in terms of pre-school through high school segregated Jewish learning institutions. The open society of the university can reverse all of the qualities and behaviours learned in the day schools. In terms of percentage of "success stories," universal day school will gaurantee a higher percentage than not. But even with complete scholarships for every child, there will be a significant number of strongly identifying Jewish students who will seek a school with the diversity that exists in American life in general. Thus, we must never give up on life-long alternatives to Day Schools. Furthermore, the alternatives deserve communal or private philanthropic support as well. PS Regarding Day Schols and yeshivot in Israel: THere is more likelihood that Israeli religious Say School students will find social environments conducive to the Jewish values and behaviors learned and practced in Day Schools. Even in Israel, however, secularization and self removal from Zionist and Jewish identification happens. This is true of the Modern Orthodox and Hareidi world, as well as the Tali School communities. A diversity of gateways into Jewish life is critical for people at all stages of life.
Dr. Stephen R. Simons Director of Education Congregation Mishkan Tefila Chestnut Hill, MA
"But assimilation will not wait until we recover our nerve. " Whether or not there are day schools is not necessarily related to assimilation and to suggest so is irresponsible. I know plenty of folks who did the day school, the camps, etc. and they were just as likely to have interfaith relationships as those that didn't. So let's stick with the topic, shall we?
If you want to make a shift towards more affordable schools, then there has to be a commitment on the part of synagogues and organizations to provide schools to congregants and encourage those without children to donate money for the betterment of the youth.
Our shul, which had a school many years ago, does not and because of this, membership is affected. As a person that will have children in the very near future, I have no incentive to stay because it would be much to much to travel to a bunch of different places if I can find a place that has everything I need in one (place for worship, education, etc.). The Orthodox have managed to figure out how to do this, the rest of the Jewish population has to get on board.
I live here in Los Angeles. If you want to live as a "Jew" then you need to make about $200,000 a year just to survive. The cost of a mortgage in a Jewish area and the cost of tuition is staggering. I have a friend sending their son to Torath Emeth, and he's paying $15,000 a year for Kindergarten! This on top of a monthly mortgage of about $7,000 a month. It is just undoable for the middle class. On top of this the rabbis get their kids in for free. I'm fed up, unless I move out, my kids will most likely assimilate.
Many are pulled towards it for their children, but the high cost of it simply makes it impossible. This is where the solution lies: affordable Jewish day schools will go a long way to guarantee our continuity
3 kids in elementary day school in LA is nearly $60,000 per year. From 7th grade on it's almost $100,000. Someone with 3 kids in elementary school TODAY can expect, with an average current 11% annual increase in tuition, to spend around $2million to get them through high school.
How is that supposed to be affordable to the middle class?
The day school idea is based on two assumptions: (1) There is a public that can afford the cost; (2) There is a public that regards the day school as essential. The second assumption is particularly important in order to understand the behavior of the Orthodox. They understand that the day school is a vital tool in the preservation and cultivation of Orthodox Judaism. Moreover, they understand the place of the American public school in the advancing of assimilation. Hence, nearly all Orthodox children go to the day schools, despite the burden. Others send their children to the day school, because they can afford it. Such people also identify with the aims of the Jewish day school - but if it would become unaffordable, they would return to the public school system.
However, there are many American Jews for whom (1) and/or (2) are not relevant. If they do not see quality Jewish education as a central goal of their family, they may not wish to spend their money on a Jewish private school. And, of course, many families simply cannot afford the costs. Here, the new idea of the Hebrew charter school fits in. It would seem obvious that those who cannot afford a private school - but wish to send their children for Hebrew education - would choose the Hebrew charter school. Moreover, those who could afford a private school - but don't regard Jewish education as essential, and so wouldn't agree to spend the money - might also go for the free Hebrew charter school.
In short, the American Jewish community should go for all the possible options. Those who can afford the day school (and find it essential)will continue sending their children to the day school. Those who can't afford the day school (or wouldn't be willing to spend their money on it) could have the option of a free and quality Hebrew education. The synagogue supplementary education is very, very poor. However, as a supplementary education for children who go to a Hebrew speaking school, it could finally be an effective system. It would provide the religious ideas or bar-mitzva lessons for children who can read a Hebrew text and who have received a good background in Jewish history and literature.
I would suggest that the Yiddishists - those who wish to promote a secular Jewish identity through the study of the Yiddish language - also set up a Yiddish-speaking charter school system.
I'm curious. We always here about the higher commitment to Jewish life from those who go to day schools, but in terms of statistical analysis isn't the sample pool self selecting?
More committed families are willing to fork out the 100's of thousands of dollars in Jewish education. More committed families would also have more Jewish home life.
Is there any study which has actually tried to examine this? Perhaps with less committed families where the child received a scholarship, or some relative paid?
"...3 kids in elementary day school in LA is nearly $60,000 per year. From 7th grade on it's almost $100,000. Someone with 3 kids in elementary school TODAY can expect, with an average current 11% annual increase in tuition, to spend around $2million to get them through high school."
Q: How is that supposed to be affordable to the middle class?
A: It's not supposed to be.
This is the means by which the conservative, reform, and to a lesser degree the modern orthodox communities screen out those Jews deemed to be "undesirable". If you don't make a $100,000+ per year you need not apply. As an intresting aside, I find it remarkable, that the same people who turned the synagogue and the day school into a restricted country club simultaneously piss and moan about intermarraige, assimilation, and the non-engagement of the younger generations.
Lisa B - I think that the basic assumption is that there is a connection between Jewish education and a commitment to Jewish life. Obviously, your comment has much value: Committed families are sending their children to day schools, so examining the level of commitment of such children is "self-selecting". Yet, the real crisis of American Jewish life is, in fact, the low level of Jewish education. The day school has an answer to that crisis.
Assimilation, however, is already an issue that has to be described in the "past tense". In other words, it has already occurred. This means that many Jews (who could afford Jewish day school) are not even interested. I have met many American Jews who have gone to non-Jewish private schools. When I ask them why would they prefer (for example) a Quaker school in Philadelphia over the local Solomon Schechter school, the answer is that actually it never occurred to them to go to a Jewish school.
I think that it's good that the Forward has published an article calling for support of the day school idea. The article suggests that there is a crisis in American Jewish life ("assimilation will not wait until we recover our nerve"). It could have been even more blunt.
As an American Jew and IDF veteran who was educated in public schools, I don't buy into the assertion that Jewish Day School and $20,000.00 per annum automatically equals "Committed Jew". In any event, who definines what that is? The entire concept smacks of elitism. Its been my experience that in the majority of cases, Jewish day school is more about Jewish exceptionalism and simple bloody minded racism, than it is about education, Jewish or otherwise. We'd be better off morally and alot less hypocritical if we supported strengthening our public education systems instead of encouraging ethnic and ecumenical apartheid.
My 5 children all attend(ed) day schools. Four are done; the last one is in middle school. If not for my wife's family footing the bill, I could not afford at all to send them.
It is not a question of struggling to scrimp to do it; it is simply too expensive. AND, most important, I believe that their secular education is not any better than, and in many areas inferior to, my public school education from a Middle Atlantic State city school system.
We had the system right in the 1950s and 1960s; the synagogue-attached cheder/talmud torah/hebrew school system. The cost was much less and we had the advantage of a free secular school system. Mine was very good; I am a former National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.
The problem that we face is this; there are too many young men and women who are entering the adult, real world without any marketable skills with which to earn a living. Therefore, the orthodox community must find jobs for them. Ergo, more day schools. At the same time, many of the synagogue school buildings are under used or even falling into disrepair.
Our grandparents and great-grandparents left Europe to establish a new community here in the Western Hemisphere, leaving the old life behind. They succeeded but we have retrogressed and become more like Europe that Europe ever was. European Judaism adapted to the situation they found themselves in; it was different that Patriarchal or even post Temple times. We have not adapted, merely stupidly aping a system that was adapted for particular times and circumstances. We here in the Western Hemisphere must do the same. The result of not adapting will be more intermarriage and a gradual unrelenting downward spiral into total assimilation.
As a graduate of an afternoon Hebrew School and later, a well known community day school (high school), I thoroughly agree. When I lived in the States, I taught in day schools as well - and continue to be in contact with Jewish schools all over the world since I meade Aliyah.
But sometimes I wonder whether anyone is monitoring the achievements of day school students, in orthodox, community or Solomon Schechter schools. Many (not all!!) students graduate without knowledge of basic Hebrew or the ability to study primary Hebrew sources. Not only Talmud - but Mishna and T'nach as well. I wonder whether students have real comprehension of the prayers they read so fluently.
I get the feeling that study of text - the basis of serious Jewish education - is not getting adequate attention in day schools. Too many schools have no strategic educational goals or criteria for evaluating Jewish educational success.
Parents must demand quality for the price that they pay. Quality means skills and literacy, as well as exposure to great ideas and identification with Jewish values.
Israel offers the best alternative - immersion in Hebrew, Jewish life and history with a relatively affordable intensive Jewish studies program available on elementary and high school levels. But Aliyah, at least from N. America, also depends on a strong, Jewishly educated and Jewishly committed community.
Segregating Jews in day schools is harmful to the Jewish people in many ways and produces far too little benefit to justify itself. The inclusion of Jews in public schools has been one of the main reasons that America has one of the lowest rates of antisemitism in the world. There is no substitute for having Protestant, Catholic and other children grow up from early grades with Jewish friends in their schools. That is the way to avoid the stereotypes that plague Jews where people don't know and Jews first hand.
Jewish day schools raise young Jews like hot house plants instead of preparing them for life in the real world. We live in a multi-racial society, while Jewish day schools are by and large lily white. We live in a multi-ethnic society while Jewish day schools are very narrow, with few Hispanics or members of many other ethnic groups. We live in a society of people from diverse backgrounds, while Jewish day schools are not representative of the society at large.
Jewish day schools drain families and Jewish communities of resources. The enormous expense leaves many families unable to afford the quality higher education that is crucial to their children's future. Funds are diverted from all other charitable activities.
Jewish day schools are generally second rate. The selection of secular classes is often much smaller than in public schools or in private schools that are open to students of all backgrounds. They have limited opportunities in activities like sports and other extra-curricular activities.
Jewish day schools tend to push a more Orthodox ideology on students, which is unsatisfactory for Conservative and Reform families.
There are good, inexpensive alternatives to Jewish parochial schools, including attending public schools and Jewish Sunday Schools and other religious education which can provide a good background and motivation for individual learning. For those who can find no decent public schools to attend, there are often private schools which provide a much better preparation for life than do Jewish parochial schools.
America has a long history of success with public school education as one of the most positive forces to enable Jews to fully integrate into society and achieve their full potential. It is unwise to segregate Jews in schools which deprive their neighbors of experience with Jews and which deprive Jews of friends and connections with people of other faiths and backgrounds.
We have a VERY small day school (18 total pre-K to 8) in Peoria, IL and it is through a HUGH community effort that we survive.
Articles like this get me excited and motivated. Our tuition is low - no financial barrier to entry here. But our fundraising efforts are enormous...every year. We would love to see some funds from the big foundations. I am going to check out about becoming a charter school.
Always fund raising, Yona
Excellent article.
I'm a parent whose children have gone through the Bais Yaakov/Yeshiva systems. The students in these schools have aced SATs and Regents, and the Jewish Day Schools and Yeshivas continually outperform the local public schools in reading scores.
The after school Hebrew School sytem is nice in theory. But in practice, it's not working because there's a lot more to Jewish Education then just Bar or Bat Mitzvah training, which is their focus. Few kids stay in that system after they've completed those milestones. On the other hand, in a Jewish school, this is where they first get into "serious" learning, have covered aleph beit and basic Chumash with Rashi by this point.
Obviously, there are some sour grapes posting here. As I see it, the biggest difficulty with supporting our day schools is that you can't convince someone who lives, for example, in Nassau County with their excellent public schools, that they should now pay upwards of $15K per year per child (even if they can afford it). Therefore, the Day Schools remain in the domain of the committed Conservatives and Orthodox in the forms of Solomon Schector through to right wing yeshivot.
Some really excellent posts here.
I want to add to my previous post, but due to the interesting conversation upthread, much of which I agree with, I'll just post my personal musings as a parent.
My kids are young, in the lower grades in public school. They did go to a Jewish preschool and while it was OK, it wasn't the best in the area but consistantly had the highest prices. To be honest I felt I was being ripped off in my quest to offer my kids a Jewish start. Not great. I did have to move my youngest to a secular school in his last year (due to work issues) and he was both much happier and my pocket much fuller. They actually treated me like a customer, rather than someone trapped by obligation.
More to the point, I did in fact choose to send my kids to public school. Perhaps day school advocates would like to know why.
The first reason is the cost. We are not wealthy and have no outside help. To send two kids through the day school system would be crippling financially. It would be doable, just, but we would have to be 100% in the day school camp to go through that expense. Which leads us to...
I find the local day schools to offer a fairly limited and not exceptional education as well as being overly cloistered. As so ably pointed out above, we live in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment. I need my kids to identify as Jews (and to feel that the Jewish world is their home) while at the same time being able to thrive in a world filled with many different kinds of people. I don't see the Jewish day school world as meeting that need. Their graduates appear frighteningly uniform and unable to adapt to fresh environments, especially those who also go to Jewish camp and colleges with a high percentage of Jews on campus. As someone else noted, acting as Jewish ambassadors to the outside world is as important as feeling part of a community.
Interestingly enough, my doctor, whose kids to to Yeshiva mentioned that she was constantly working to ensure her children had adequate contact with other communities. She herself saw it as a concern.
The Jewish education system needs to find the right balance. They haven't done so yet.
Continuing on my own previous thought, which Lisa B picked up on, as I see it, if Jewish Ed is important, but not preeminent, then if you live someplace where there are good public schools, the financial burden of day school can be intimidating.
When I grew up in NYC, I had almost as many Jewish kids in my class (all except 1 or 2), as my children do. But that isn't NYC Public Schools today.
Actually, I find the assumptions that kids who are products of the Day School system can't interact with others to be quite false. Many ultimately and successfully move into secular environments, be it in college or professionally. While I wish I had a dime for every Jew who exposes the great benefit of "diversity", but it's all hot air.
Bottom line, is it's a personal choice. Like Lisa B., we have no outside support. Basically my entire salary goes to tuitions. I'll never own a new car, and live humbly. But I wouldn't change one thing! While at times we've had disagreements with schools, that had nothing to do with whether they were private/public/Jewish/secular. My kids absolutely would not be the solid Jews they are today without their Jewish education.
"...As I see it, the biggest difficulty with supporting our day schools is that you can't convince someone who lives, for example, in Nassau County with their excellent public schools, that they should now pay upwards of $15K per year per child (even if they can afford it). Therefore, the Day Schools remain in the domain of the committed Conservatives and Orthodox in the forms of Solomon Schector through to right wing yeshivot."
And if these heretics can't be convinced, you can always pull the rug out from under them and whatever gentiles happen to be hanging about, by taking over the local school board and then proceed to de-fund the district the way the orthodox did in Lawrence, LI and the way they are attempting to do in East Ramapo, NY;
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2009/11/thugs-haredim-take-over-ramapo-school-board-behave-like-spoiled-children-234.html
In the Lawrence instance, they actually closed one of the Public Schools and then tried to turn it into a yeshiva, using public funds to do it.
I am a graduate of the Chicago Public School systems and an after school hebrew school in a Conservative synagogue.
My 23 yr old twin sons from my first marriage are products of an Orthodox Day School in Chicago and currently learning in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in NY.
My 13 year old son attended a Day School in Milwaukee through the 4th grade. In Milwaukee he attended, under the 'school choice' (a voucher type) program where students from families who fall under a certain income level can have their tuition paid to parochial schools instead of the same amount going to the Milwaukee Public School.
We made Aliyah in the fall of 2006. Living first in Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, he attended an independent Talmud Torah for 5th grade.(secular and religious studies) cost: $140/month.
In the fall of 2007 we moved to Shiloh in Eretz Yisroel's Heartland. He attends the local school with is a Public Torani Schools. Fees are approximately $75-$100/month.
Almost 100% of citizens are covered by health care.
I work for a Non-Profit Educational Resource working with day schools, congregations schools and informal educational programs worldwide with Jewish Self-Awareness and Israel Solidarity Projects.
My wife, with a chronic medical condition works as a seamstress from our home.
We are scraping by on approximately $1000/month. We have no other financial resources.
Seems to me that ALIYAH is the solution to the tuition crises.
Brothers sisters come home while the gates of Aliyah are still open.
hillel.leib@gmail.com
"...Seems to me that ALIYAH is the solution to the tuition crises."
Sure. As along as you have no problem being a schnorer, living in free housing, using water and burning electricity paid for on the backs of tax-paying, working Israelis. How do you think this guy's living on a $1000.00 per month?
Rabbi Greenberg is a serious man deserving of respect and admiration for all he does for klal yisrael. There is no doubt he has the interests of the broader Jewish community at heart and for that he deserves our affection and praise.
That said, I must respectfully challenge some basic assumptions in his article.
How do we know that a day school education is the best insurance against assimilation? For starters, as Rabbi Greenberg acknowledges, day school students are drawn from a narrow segment of the Jewish population - generally Orthodox and in many cases Sabbath observant - that one would expect to be inclined toward active involvement in Jewish life because of influences from the home and from peers. Unfortunately, most studies seem to focus on the general "success" of the day school model without correcting for the obvious population bias in any analysis. Until we see convincing facts and data that can reliably demonstrate the specific value added by Jewish day schools - independent of influences from the home, the synagogue and camp - we will have be suspicious of any broad assertions relating to the efficacy of Jewish day schools.
Even if we cannot buy into the argument that day school education helps children form a bond with Jewish community, one fact that we can all agree on would be the assumption that Jewish day school is the best way for our kids to learn the basics of Jewish literacy, right? Well, here is an uncomfortable question for any day school principal today - how many of your day school graduates learn enough Hebrew after 13 years in the day to school system to confidently check into a hotel in Tel Aviv without breaking into English? The dirty little secret of day school education in America is that most students can go through over a decade of classes in bible, talmud and hebrew without ever mastering the skill of reading, speaking and understanding the language of the Jewish nation. Given all the sacrifices families make for Jewish education, isn't it reasonable to expect at least some base line of competency in Hebrew out of day school graduates?
For families that decide day school education is for them, nearly every reasonable person recognizes that the high cost of day school education is certainly a major reason if not *the* major reason for most parents who would otherwise be inclined toward sending their children to a day school to hold back. That said, Rabbi Greenberg's suggestion to solve the cost issue with charity to needy families misses the mark. Parents earning $200K a year should not be put in a position that forces them to ask for hand outs and many, quite understandably, will not be put in that position just on principle. An alternative approach is to focus creatively on the cost side of the equation. For example, there is significant inefficiency built into the day school system just by virtue of the fact that the system recreates a general studies curriculum that is otherwise available for free in the public school. If the Jewish community can find a way to replicate the success of the Mormon community and others that have found ways to partner with local public schools, the resulting savings will dwarf even Rabbi Greenberg's most optimistic fund raising objectives.
There is no doubt that American Jewry faces significant challenges as assimilation and indifference threaten Jewish continuity outside the Charedi world. But to look at day school as it is today as the silver bullet to ensure Jewish continuity is a mistake. We don't know enough to say that day schools are all they are advertised to be and even if they are part of the answer, the model is built around an inefficient cost structure that makes the schools too expensive to be a realistic consideration for the majority of American Jewish families. If day schools are going to be part of the answer we need to make sure they in fact deliver on their promises at a cost that is reasonable and broadly affordable.
One of the answers is vouchers. We pay taxes for the public schools and receive nothing in return if we send our children to Yeshivot or Day Schools. If we received a tax break it would be very beneficial.
Actually those who send their children to Yeshivot do not have a choice. If we want our children to be observant this is a must. Vouchers is the answer.
Lots of good thoughts here, but to boil them down:
1. There is no alternmative to Day Schools for the Day Schools and stheir staff, other than real jobs.
2. If you're Orthodox and wealthy, they work and your kids fit in. If you're not either or both, your kid is an outsider, so will be unwelcome.
3. The experts know instilling a love of Judaism is a parent's responsibility. I opine that parents that have it will instill it -- well enough to improve the chances of transferring our faith to a new generation -- who then will seek their own way, as we all must as we grow up. I'm arguing there is no incremental effect for the assimilated or unaware. So, why don't parents not represented inpara 2 above get it? Perhaps poor leadership?
4. A very few Jewish "cultural" schools are being started -- one in Florida. NOT teaching religion but "Jewish culture, Jewish parents sent their kids there for free. So the kids met other Jews. A good thing, what the parents (and perhaps the kids) wanted. A solution for them. American Jewish Congress opposed what the parents and community provided. Could this demonstrate a misfocused leadership?, and if so, and to the extent there are more of these, is poor Jewish leadership the problem? Then active in AJC, I tried to get them to support the Florida initiative -- adding that Jewish kids were smarter and teachers could pitch their lessons to a higher expectation. I was told that I am a racist -- and was finally convinced that there was no hope for them.
5. So the idea is to be relevant, flexible but passionate about Judaism. Black hat approaches will transfer to some extent, but a simple assertion, dialogue and regularly consistent Jewish pareting, with some external support, seems to me to be the answer. AND, it's cheaper than a week or two trip to Israel.
Mark Werfel Comments? -- or interested in a workable solution: ajcwerfel@yahoo.com
I grew up attending Jewish day school in Toronto. I agree with the article entirely.
With respect, Mark Werfel is wrong. You need be neither Orthodox nor wealthy to attend day school. Certainly that does not describe my family, nor that of most of classmates, as I grew up Toronto's Jewish day school system (Associated). I was not an outside. Nor were my classmates. It was, simply, our school.
This idea of "love of Judaism" is a fine one, but a bit beside the point. What a Jewish day school provides is education: learning Hebrew, Torah, Talmyud, and so forth. Some wind up loving it. Some don't. But all know much more than if they had not learned it. Surely that
The American Jewish Congress's opposition to Hebrew charter schools is idiotic, and a symptom of Ashkenazi Jews' ongoing difficult negotiation of their Jewish identity. In some ways one can see how, supplemented with additional education about Jewish knowledge and tradition, these schools could have an important part in reducing the cost of a day school education -- particularly if they end in mid-afternoon. Still, they are only a part of the answer.
Shoded yam, your last comment about the Lawrence School District is completely uninformed. The public school population in the Lawrence School District has been falling for decades as Orthodox families, who send their kids to yeshivas, replace secular families. The schools that were closed were extremely under-utilized; combining the schools was efficient and effective. The building that was closed a number of years ago was auctioned to the highest bidder in a completely transparent manner and was purchased by a developer od condos. Furthermore, the previous school boards had been out of control fiscally. The new board has vastly improved the running of the public schools, gotten the budget under control and demonstrably improved the schools.
Get your facts right before you start slandering people.
Shoded Yam, Azriel's points are very accurate. And http://failedmessiah.typepad.com is hardly a reliable source of information on Orthodox Jews. It is often well written and interesting, as is this website. However, it is written by someone who used to be Orthodox, and no longer is. In the Orthodox world we call that "OTD" (for off the derech - derech meaning "way"). It is fair to say that the blog has an agenda.
Someone above commented about the failing of day schools to teach Ivrit (modern Hebrew as spoken in Israel). You've just hit the nail on the head of perhaps the chief difference, philosophically, between Modern Orthodox Day Schools versus yeshivas and Bais Yaakovs. The latter two do not emphasize Hebrew language, although the Bais Yaakov's do teach it. And Yeshivas, with their emphasis on talmudic learning (which is in Aramaic), de-emphasize Ivrit. However, in NYC Yeshiva High Schools, most of the boys study for the Hebrew regents. And those who later go to learn in Israel, pick it up pretty easily anyway.
My own feelings on this is that I'd rather emphasize Judaism as opposed to Ivrit. If speaking Hebrew were enough reason for people to practice the Jewish religion, then all Isrealis would be datti. And, of course, we all know that's far from the case.
Serge -- Your comment about my being wrong is not related to my comment, but is to your philosophy. Attending Day School is not a financial choice but a religious and lifestyle choice. I'd imagine that if one wanted their child to attend Day School, then a financial accomodation would certainly be worked out. That's not my point.
My point is that parents who want to send their kids, instead, to a free public school that highlights Jewish culture and magnets in Jewish kids, with an otherwise secular curriculum, should not be opposed by others. Opposition by American Jewish Congress, which would deny Jewish parents this option, is typically wrong-headed. Jewish organizations that fail our People should not be supported -- financially or otherwise -- which includes big parts of Federation and Hillel.
"...Shoded yam, your last comment about the Lawrence School District is completely uninformed. The public school population in the Lawrence School District has been falling for decades as Orthodox families, who send their kids to yeshivas, replace secular families."
Bullsh*t. You blockbusted. You move in, everyone else moves the hell out. Because honestly, who the fuck wants to live next door to you? Its the kiss of death to property values, which will only stabalize once the neighborhood attains orthodox homgenity. Well known shtetl tactic in NYC and its environs.
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/01/nyregion/village-may-buy-property-where-yeshiva-is-planned.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
"...The public school population in the Lawrence School District has been falling for decades as Orthodox families, who send their kids to yeshivas, replace secular families. The schools that were closed were extremely under-utilized; combining the schools was efficient and effective. The building that was closed a number of years ago was auctioned to the highest bidder in a completely transparent manner and was purchased by a developer od condos"
I know you believe that if you pose yourself as some overly pious melamed crapping talmud droppings everywhere, that should be enough to establish credibility and therefore allow you to speak with the arrogance of someone who's opinions cannot be assailed. Guess what jackson, you're living under a misconception.
"...Public school enrollment is 3,400 today, down from a peak of almost 8,200 in 1968. Empty schools have closed; one was sold and converted to an Orthodox day school. Because Orthodox families are typically large, Orthodox Jewish day schools boomed. Enrollment there and in other private schools has reached 4,000 students."
The beginning of the decrease in public school enrollment in Lawrence can be seen to coincide and correlate with the arrival of Orthodox Jews, the subsequent departure of the previous secular and gentile resiedents (minorities not being able to relocate with the same facility)and the subsequent construction of yeshivas and Jewish parochial schools in the 5 Towns area.
".. Half the students are black or Hispanic, and 36 percent are eligible for a free or discounted lunch, a poverty indicator. ''Yet we had seven Intel scholars this year, tied with Bronx High School of Science and fifth in the nation,'' Dr. Fitzsimons said. ''We're no slouches."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EFDC1231F934A2575AC0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2
You're a disingenuous little sh*t, aren't you? That may go over a treat in the shtiebel, but I'll stick a foot in your a** if you try it with me yankeleh.
Now, to continue with the disection of this mountain of magical horsesh*t that has been constructed in order to paint racism, misogyny tax fraud, drug money laundering (Hows the Spinka Rebbe doing these days?) medieval tribalism and child rape (they stiil haven't extradited Mondrowitz from Israel, have they?) in a positive light.
"...The building that was closed a number of years ago was auctioned to the highest bidder in a completely transparent manner and was purchased by a developer od condos."
You're an abject liar. What a shock. ;-)
"..Albert D'Agostino successfully argued on behalf of the Lawrence district against a federal lawsuit that alleged the district's sale of a school building to a yeshiva violated the First and 14th Amendments."
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:xnlTD3xcL9wJ:www.lohud.com/article/20091201/OPINION/912010309/-1/ARCHIVE/Undo%2520lawyer%2520vote%2520in%2520East%2520Ramapo+Undo+lawyer+vote+in+East+Ramapo&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
"..Furthermore, the previous school boards had been out of control fiscally. The new board has vastly improved the running of the public schools, gotten the budget under control and demonstrably improved the schools.
More self-serving crap.
"...Some defenders of the public schools say those trends stem from the steady shift of strong-scoring students to Orthodox day schools. Average spending per public student is about $24,000, one of the highest levels on Long Island. That figure is inflated, however, by the cost of busing, books and other programs for thousands of Orthodox day school students."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EFDC1231F934A2575AC0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2
"... But many of this district's Orthodox residents object to paying school taxes that average about $6,000 per home for a system they do not use. Their leaders also complain that more public money should be channeled to the Orthodox day schools, which by law are limited to tax-financed busing, books and special education services."
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EFDC1231F934A2575AC0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
"...Get your facts right before you start slandering people."
Tell it to the New York Times and the Journal News, ya chantarish. Not me.
"Shoded Yam, Azriel's points are very accurate."
Yes black is white and 2 + 2 = 5. This is not 1984, You're not Obrien and I ain't Winston Smith, so sell that somewhere else, Charnie. You may believe in your own lies and the strawmen you've constructed in order to validate them, but you'll have to forgive the rest of us. While not having a vested interest in whether or not your progeny gets his or her daily presecribed dose of purposely misinterpred halacha and theo-fascism, we simply aren't so inclined.
Re. "Failed Messiah".
While I find Rosenberg to be the epitome of misplaced arrogance, I have found his postings to be erudite, well researched and chock full of veracity. Your accusations about accuracy or lack thereof, have more to do with the sort of discomfort that comes from being associated with a community that is complicit (by virtue of silence and interference) in among other things the crimes of tax fraud, money laundering, and child molestation. While I have very little sympathy for you, I certainly understand your predicament.