20 Friday, May 20, 1983 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS APPRAISALS Rabbi Worries That Day Schools Are Elitist By BEN GALLOB the children attending Or- upon us as a deprived might lead to an thodox yeshivas in Flatbush minority. They send their "institutionally-sanctified A Reform rabbi, who had came from families of reli- children to private accepted the growing com- gious Jews, let alone Or- schools, usually Or- two-class system where Re- mitment in American Re- thodox. He expressed his thodox. Some of these form Jewish day schools are established," to which form Judaism to the day views in an article in the private school families At Very Reasonable non-Orthodox and even 642-5575 school, has changed his Fall issue of "Reform are truly Orthodox. non-religious parents — mind since becoming rabbi Judaism," the scholarly Others are 'non- Rates call for an of a Reform synagogue in publication of the Union of practicing' Orthodox or concerned about both the appointment Brooklyn's Flatbush sec- American Hebrew Congre- Conservatives whose safety and poor quality of tion, primarily out of a gations (UAHC), the um- religious label is deter- education in public schools growing fear that such edu- brella agency of Reform mined by the day school — send their children. 30400 Telegraph Road cation can enhance a feeling synagogues, and in tele- their children attend or Suites 104, 134 of elitism among its pupils phone comments to the the degree of kashrut of Birmingham, Mi. 48010 and possibly among their Jewish Telegraphic their Bar Mitzva cater- (313) 642-5575 parents. Agency. ers." LAWRENCE M. ALLAN Rabbi Eric Hoffman of Hoffman implied strongly Hours daily til 5:30. Sat. by appt. Hoffman told the JTA he President Temple Ahavath Sholom that many non-believing knew of a day school in 10* GEMOLOGIST (.1 DIAMONTOLOGIST also declared bluntly that Jews were taking their Brooklyn in which the par- he wondered how many of children out of public ents of the pupils were al- schools because such most entirely non-religious. schools were decaying in He declared, in the article, quality and that the answer that he agreed with the was to put pressure on such principle of greater com- schools to improve by keep- mitment as the goal of par- ing Jewthh children in ents in sending their chil- them, rather than pulling dren to day schools but Custom Laminated Furniture. them out. suggested that "speaking Residential & Commercial Hoffman declared only about my New York Graphic Wall Design there was a "dilemma" community, could perhaps KEITH SCHARE for Reform Jews "in the another motive color their face of growing favdr" choice?" Designer among such Jews for pri- He added that the deter- 569-2462 543-0203 vate education. There are ioration of public education now at least a half-dozen day schools under Re- form auspices but the exact number is not known. The UAHC, un- like Conservative and Orthodox umbrella agencies, does not have a SOME OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLE department to assist day Camp Tamarack General Program schools — an 'academic idea which was 2nd - 5th grades anathema to Reform Camp Maas General Program Judaism as recently as 25 6th - 8 th grades years ago. Dance Village 6th - 8 th grades The dilemma was re- Pioneer 8th - 9th grades Advance trends solved for Rabbi Samuel Post Camp Horseback 6attitigli in men's clothing Karff, of Temple Beth Israel Riding Ranch 6th - 9th grades and sportswear in Houston, according to an Sports Skills Camps 2nd - 7th grades earlier article by Karff, Camp Kennedy 10th - 11th grades "Are Day Schools Right for 1304 Northbrook Court • Northbrook, ILL 60062 Agree outpost Camp 10th - 11th grades Reform?" in the same publi- Phone 312-480-9750 cation. Hoffman wrote that Karff, "heretofore an adver- Call 661-0600 for Brochure and Application. sary of day school educa- tion," had changed his mind "and now intends to guide the expansion of his congre- gation's nursery and kin- dergarten program into a multi-level Reform' day school." Celebrate graduation in Hoffman wrote that he, too, had change& his mind style with colorful "but in the other direction." room decorations, cake He wrote that before coming decorations, and party to Flatbush he had accepted supplies. You'll find it the idea of the day school because he believed it all at Detroit Popcorn meant greater Jewish Co., including bulk commitment, adding he had paper and plastic felt that "a. day-long expo- plates, cups, sure to Jewish structure, whether in religious or so- disposable table called secular studies, (in covers, and napkins day schools) would enhance — all in bright, the Jewish commitment of coordinating colors. our Reform boys and girls." He then described the situation he found in Flat- ---COUPON bush, commenting that the JN Reform Jewish community in Flatbush is middle class C BAG OF and that the vast majority "of our children attend pub- NIG POPCORN lic schools." However, Hoffman as- with this coupon serted, "our other Jewish neighbors loot down MC M Otill (Copyright 1983, JTA, 1983) , Frank Wald... DESIGN-IT alive and well and living in Chicago I CAMP TAMARACK So...When in the Windy City, come see me and we'll shoot the breeze at... S GRADUATES! 0 ME 28585 Telegraph Rd. Across From Tel-Twelve Mall Southfield, Mich. Some of Rembrandt's paintings were inspired by the Amsterdam ghetto. Rembrandt illustrated a book for Menasseh Ben.- Israel. DETROIT POPCORN COMPANY 12065 TELEGRAPH RD. REDFORD 48239 531-9209