serve COMMENTARY

_A Public Forum Is The Right Place
To Discuss The State Of Akiva

ISAAC LAKRITZ

Special to The Jewish News

7

he Jewish News has provided a
great service to our commu-
nity by its perceptive article
about Akiva Hebrew Day
School ("Akiva: The Roads Ahead" Jan.
1)
Akiva is one of a number of institu-
tions that provide direct service to the
Detroit Jewish community. Too often,
/D such organizations are insulated from
the accountability, rigorous review and
evaluation that comparable agencies
undergo in society at large.
By describing its strengths and weak-
nesses, it would be nice to believe that
such a frank discussion might lead to
practical steps that address Akiva's short-
comings.
Judging by the vehemence of the
/ _,
negative response to the article at Akiva
and in the Orthodox community in
general, it is doubtful that such an out-
come might ensue. An open letter to
The Jewish News issued by the school
tells us that The entire Akiva commu-
nity was dismayed and appalled by the
IN cover story." The letter continues as a
\_ diatribe, castigating the JN and its
)
/- reporter, Julie Wiener. The Yiddish
adage oif der ganif brent der hitel (loose

Isaac Lakritz is a parent of three stu-
dents at Akiva Hebrew Day School,
Lathrup Village. The former Jewish com-
munal professional was active in Jewish
education, community organization and
fimd-raising for 15 years.

the problem. The problem is the cost
of medical bills to low-income seniors.
The Medicare system is at fault and
needs reform. The residents at the Tei-
tel Apartments share more than just
space; they share a life together.
Penny Feldman

Administrator
Teitel Jewish Apartments 6' Services
Oak Park

Unity Living
In Apartments

I am writing in response to "Worlds
Apart" (Jan. 8) about living at the Tei-
tel Apartments.
That article was very unfair as we
are living in one world. I live on the
sixth floor at Teitel and I am the floor
monitor. Part of my job is a daily safety

funds to achieve such goals, it is incon-
gruous not to extend these same expec-
tations to a day school (or any Jewish
institution).
Akiva's student body encompasses
significant proportions of families with
diverse Jewish lifestyles. As a recipient of
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit funds, the school must be
responsive to the entire community and
certainly to all of its families.
Our community, through the Federa-
tion, has made a bold statement of sup-
port for Akiva by providing a new facili-
ty and a proportionately greater level of
allocation than for any other school.
Akiva must respond in kind.
What might the community ask of
Akiva?
1) Education and Jewish continuity
are basic priorities of North American
Jewry. The level of fund-raising in
Detroit is virtually unsurpassed. Why
should an educational institution here
have financial difficulties?
2) Detroit is renowned as a leadership
community. Does Akiva's board and
committee structure include such indi-
viduals?
3) Ours is a very non-ideological
community one where diverse elements
work together for a variety of common
goals. Why should Akiva's enrollment be
declining while others increase? Is the
school unable — or afraid — to reach
beyond a narrow core constituency?
4) Are lay members appointed to the
school's governing bodies who have
expertise in education, fund-raising,
community organization?

5) As in many schools, the Akiva par-
ent body offers much expertise in a vari-
ety of areas. Does the school welcome
volunteer initiatives? Are its decision-
makers open to suggestion and accessi-
ble in a meaningful way?
6) An array of tools can be used to
assess the performance of Akiva students
at varying grade levels. Have such tests
been given and shared with parents, or
with community agencies, so that appro-
priate planning decisions can be made?
7) Akiva's problems are not unique. A
vast network of Jewish education organi-
zations exists throughout North America
for the purpose of addressing such con-
cerns. Has the school utilized these ser-
vices? Has it implemented the recom-
mendations that may have evolved from
such evaluations?
Among the issues discussed by the JN
is the nature of the school's philosophy.
Ironically, Akiva's open letter concludes
with the assurance that the school is
preparing its students for the new mil-
lennium — not exactly a milestone of
Jewish reckoning. Nothing better illus-
trates Akiva's quandary.
Our tradition relates that more than
4,000 years ago, when Abraham's
descendants were compared to the stars
of the sky, our forefather was being told,
"Leave your outmoded astrology" —
leave behind your archaic concepts and
confining ideas. There is no reason that
we cannot apply that lesson to Akiva.
We can move beyond past limita-
tions, become visionary, so that Akiva
can create the educational excellence to
which we all aspire. Li

My floor has 16 New
Americans and most of them
are so grateful I take the time
to check on them that I get
hugs and kisses — and what-
ever goodies they might hap-
pen to be making.
This whole article started
as a discussion regarding the
different prices New and Old
Americans pay for medica-
tion. While many Old Ameri-
cans are legitimately upset
about the cost of our medica-
tion, we have nothing against
the New Americans. Your
Malka Sklyarshaya dines at Teitel Apartme nts.
writer took the discussion out
of context, creating trouble
check using a door-tag system. When
where there wasn't any before.
residents forget to take their door tag in
Come and see for yourselves at our
at a certain hour, I knock on their door
bake sale, our white elephant sale or
to make sure they are okay.
our Victory Day party. Then you will

see Old and New Americans working
side by side. Only then will you truly
understand how we all live at Teitel.
Ann Yancovitch

translation: he doth protesteth too
much) comes to mind. I am delighted
that The Jewish News has featured such a
serious review of a communal institu-
tion. The well-written, comprehensive
story is to be commended.
We live in an exceedingly open envi-
ronment in which information is freely
exchanged. There are no secrets. Those
organizations that are open to sugges-
tion, change and the free flow of infor-
mation prosper. Those that try to limit
access, to manage information or strive
to exclude will succumb to irrelevancy.
Shall we shoot the messenger because we
are afraid of the message? Who should
suffer — our children or our egos?
The issue at hand is not the accuracy
of every nuance and quotation of the JN
article. In the course of a 180-day school
year, there will always be_statements of
dubious merit — regardless of whether
they are in context or not. Nor is the
issue any particular teacher or adminis-
trator. Anyone familiar with Rabbi
Karmi Gross and his tireless efforts rec-
ognizes that the school has made signifi-
cant progress during his tenure.
Relevance exists in a pattern or trend
of characteristics that may be indicative
of the school's performance and direc-
tion. The community and Akiva's parents
have made significant investments in the
school. Are we receiving a sufficient edu-
cational return on that investment?
In an era when the vast majority of
Jewish families seemingly accepts noth-
ing less than perfection in their profes-
sional, personal and familial lives, and
willingly expends time, effort, talent and

Teitel resident, Oak Park

New Americans
Are Welcome

Regarding "Worlds Apart" (Jan. 8):
We lost so many Jewish people during
my lifetime. I have seen and heard
about so many dead, including my
grandfather and uncle being shot
before my eyes simply because they
were Jews. I had so much family, my
aunts and grandmother, and we don't
know what happened to them.
I am very pleased that the Russian
Jews were able to come here. I want
everyone to be well, especially my

1/15
1999

Detroit Jewish News

31