EDITOR'S WATCH
Planned Educational Partnership Between
Federation And Synagogues Holds Promise
tion settles on, the supplemental schools
es, Federation should fund
should be held accountable. Federation
synagogue schools, just as
should require them to document how
they do day schools.
their allocation strengthens Jewish iden-
It's a prudent idea whose
tity
and unity among their students.
time has come.
To
allay fears of favoritism, Federa-
Says Robert Naftaly, Jewish Federa-
tion
should
review how the day schools
tion of Metropolitan Detroit's visionary
audit
their allocation. Togeth-
president: "Federation is will-
er,
the
day schools receive a
ing to accept more of a part-
yearly
stipend of $1.5 mil-
nership role with synagogues
lion.
By
all accounts, their
and temples as part of its mis-
spending
habits are judicious,
sion. We're willing to put up
so
a
review
should prove rou-
significant money, at least $1
tine.
million, towards that — to
Synagogue schools, the
step up and work at making a
collective
replacement for the
Jewish education a birthright,
old
United
Hebrew Schools,
to make it affordable, accessi-
are
at
the
mercy
of student
ble and uniform in quality."
ROBE RT A.
tuition
and
synagogue
dues.
With Federation and 17
S KLAR
Grants
and
contributions,
supplemental schools, most of
Ed itor
when they do come, are a
which are synagogue affiliated,
godsend.
about to embrace a partner-
Currently,
Federation funds syna-
ship, the question of the moment
gogue
schools
only by extension — for
becomes: "What formula should be
example,
student
scholarships, Teen
used so funding is awarded wisely and
Mission
subsidies,
and Agency for Jew-
equitably?"
ish
Education
services
like Jewish Expe-
A fervent commitment to Jewish
riences
For
Families,
teacher
training,
education is the linchpin to Jewish con-
curriculum
development,
special
educa-
tinuity through the generations. The
tion
instruction
and
the
Ben
Teitel
very existence of our future as a people
Israel Incentive Savings Plan.
hinges on strong study programs in all
Collectively, the supplemental
streams, and at all levels, of Judaism.
schools
claim a current operating deficit
Supplemental schools have more
million.
Classes and hours differ
of
$1.5
than 5,000 students, day schools more
from
school
to
school.
Finding quality
than 2,000. Federation-funded scholar-
educators
is
a
continuing
concern. And
ships will help assure no child is turned
lures
of
assimilation
are
ever-present.
away from studying the Torah because
So Federation acted responsibly in
of need.
putting
Jewish education at the top of
Whatever funding formula Federa-
its 1998 priorities. A Federation-syna-
y
day, the family is still able to participate.
Our transportation sys-
tem allows host families
400
to drop the athletes off
at one of 12 conve-
niently located shuttle
Crunch
bus stops between 6:45
Time
a.m. and 7:15 a.m. for
transportation to the
JCC. Lunch will be
served to all athletes.
Scheduled activities
will keep the athletes
occupied during the
weekdays from 8 a.m.
through 4:30 p.m.
and evenings after
dinner until around
10 p.m. Friday evening and all of Satur-
day are free so that host families can
have the opportunity to spend time
with their guests.
We currently have more than 800
families, signed up to house athletes
and are actively seek-
ing 500 more. Many
people have told us
that they would prefer
not to house this year
— they'll do it next
year! These Games
have been two years in
the planning and will
utilize 1,000 volun-
teers. The last time the
Games were in Detroit
was 1990. There is no
guarantee they will ever
return to Detroit and
certainly not in the
foreseeable future.
Do not miss out on what will be
one of the most rewarding and memo-
rable weeks you and your family can
e9ere0Ons be n AA se,
., the Fleeced Grecs
report on how federations elsewhere
gogue educational partnership is a logi-
fund synagogue schools. Other points
cal spinoff of that action.
of debate should include school accredi-
"We need to be a catalyst for
tation and teacher certification.
change," Naftaly said. "My sense is we
A rush to judgment isn't the way to
should be doing more to assure a Jewish
go.
education is there for every child."
Acknowledging that, Naftaly said,
He's right.
"We
first need agreement with the syna-
No other Jewish agency in town pos-
gogues and temples on how we're going
sesses the respect, reach and resources
to work together."
that Federation does.
In tandem with the United Jewish
If Federation becomes a funder, even
Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit,
the smallest supplemental schools could
Federation hopes to kick off a $50 mil-
consider innovations in teacher develop-
lion millennium fund-raising campaign.
ment and program enrichment.
The campaign envisions raising $25
Federation funding could come in
million for the Jewish
many forms. Family
Community Center of
vouchers and operational
Metropolitan Detroit
funding based on enroll-
($15 to $18 million
ment are but two.
for capital improve-
Enhancement funding
ments, the rest to start
is another. It would
a programming
inspire teacher training
endowment).
and retention, senior
It also envisions a $25
educator recruitment,
million endowment,
curriculum expansion
overseen by Federa-
and computer usage. It
tion, to fund a range
also could spur interest in
of Jewish life experi-
Jewish education as a
ences: day and supple-
career and solve special
mental school enrich-
needs of smaller schools.
ment, cultural events,
Robert Naftaly
If Federation is serious
first-time visits to
about instituting the part-
Israel, programs geared to teenagers and
nership by fall, the window of opportu-
college students. The endowment
nity for rallying public support and
would be tapped to make synagogue
soliciting allocation requests is closing.
experiences more fulfilling.
Federation officers need to act now to
Federation already has ticketed $1.25
schedule a summertime board of gover-
million over five years from UJF to
nors discussion so the partnering idea
moves seamlessly into the development
PROMISE on page 37
stage. The discussion should include a
experience. Please call the JCC Mac-
cabi Games office at (248) 661-7722
to volunteer your home and take part
in this one-of-a-kind Jewish commu-
nity event.
Alan Horowitz
Maccabi Games general chairman
AMMO Mee August epee,
Implications
Were Upsetting
In recent years, I've graduated from
Akiva and studied at a yeshiva in
Israel. I am currently attending classes
at the University of Michigan. I was
upset by the implications of the May
22 Jewish News article concerning the
conflict between the Akvia administra-
tion and Mr. Codish.
The article mentioned a 1993 let-
ter granting Mr. Codish tenure. The
letter specified that
the guidelines for
teaching at Akiva
prohibit one from
engaging in inap-
propriate topics
such as "materials
containing sexual
references." No
actual accusation
Ed Codish
against Mr. Codish
was made, but one was certainly
implied.
Over my four years at Akiva, I had
five classes with Mr. Codish. In all of
those classes, I cannot recall the teach-
ing of inappropriate material: sexual
or otherwise. On the. contrary, I
learned a great deal about writing, lit-
erature and Jewish history.
Avi Newman
Ann Arbor
i129
1998
33