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A Better Educational Blueprint

n an unprecedented move holding great prom-
ise, the central agency for Detroit's organized
Jewish community is about to become the main
conduit for local planning and programs related
to Jewish education.
On Jan. 23, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's Board of Governors unanimously
voted to support, in principle, merging the
independent Agency for Jewish Education
and Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education.
Early signs indicate the blending of Detroit Jewry's
provider of educational services into the community's
planner of such services is a logical, positive move and
a natural progression of the ever-changing state of
Jewish education here.
This new, one-stop shop for learning Jewishly has
vast potential to create a stronger, more united voice.
Over the past 10 years, our community has been
inconsistent in trying collectively to elevate both the
status and quality of Jewish education.
AJE, a Federation constituent agency, was formed in
1992 as a modern outgrowth of the United Hebrew
Schools. The AJE under Rabbi Judah Isaacs has
become even more adept in serving educators.
The Alliance came about in 1998 after Federation
determined that the community lacked a central
think-tank for Jewish education at all age levels. Since
then, all three Federation presidents have made Jewish
education a high priority as well as a powerful anti-
dote to the lures Of assimilation, intermarriage and
apathy. Campaign allocations and endowed funds
more than ever are ticketed for education line items.
It was beshert that the Agency and the Alliance
would come together. As separate entities, it wasn't
clear to them precisely how their roles blended. That
led to an awkward, inefficient system to put new edu-
cational ideas into motion.

The community has sorely lacked efficiencies in try-
ing to serve a diverse range of students, abilities and
interests, even within families. A comprehensive pool-
ing of thinking, resources and funding is more likely
to happen through a department of Federation than
an outside agency. In this scenario, we should see a
quicker, more inclusive response to the
needs that arise.
Another benefit to the merger is the abili-
ty to tap into the leadership and expertise of
two proven entities, bringing together the best of both
and producing better decisions. This will be crucial in
building a blueprint for inspired learning that res-
onates for all. Many of the ideas pitched by the
Alliance could only be delivered via an organized sup-
port team like the Agency staff
Federation doesn't control any of our day, after-
noon or supplemental schools.
But all look to it for guidance
and support.
The dramatic shift in ultimate
responsibility to Federation
instantly makes Detroit a cru-
cible for shaping a Jewish educa-
tion model that excels in the
planning and the delivery of all
services. No proven model
already exists.
Challenges aplenty lie ahead
as a transition team creates the
road map for integrating the
AJE into the Alliance and deliv-
ering relevant, interactive edu-
cation tools that stir even mar-
ginal learners. Unclear are
whom the lay leaders will be, if
all current staff will be absorbed,
how the $2 million in annual
combined operating budgets will
be reallocated, what new grants

or endowments now may be within reach, and what's
in store for the delicate balance between formal and
informal learning opportunities.
The Alliance has spurred strong relationships with
our afternoon schools. In the future, it must help
those schools maximize use of the computer labs it has
put in each of them. It also vows to better serve day
schools, especially through educator training.
In the end, the community must hold the realigned
Alliance,. and Federation, accountable in these and all
of their educational pursuits.
Merging the AJE and the Alliance may set a stan-
dard on paper that we can be proud of, but to really
be the best that it can be, the new Alliance must think
and act outside the box in ways that give Jews, Torah
observant or not, a reason to want to delve deeper
into their history and heritage as part of a people. ❑

that alternative. The voters were unequivocal in reject-
ing the plan of Labor leader Amram Mitzna to enter
into talks with the Palestinians without preconditions;
they quite rightly insisted that the Palestinians first
make a good faith and effective effort to -quell terror-
ism before substantive talks can take place.
Labor would serve both the national
interest and its own future by choosing a
replaceffient for Mitzna as soon as possible
and joining a national unity government with Likud
and the other major electoral victor, the Shinui
(Change) Party of Tommy Lapid. Likud's 38 seats,
coupled with 19 from Labor and 15 from Shinui,
would provide a comfortable margin for a Sharon
government:that,whUld not haye to rely on staying in
good graces with a handful of splinter parties, many
from a religious rift that h a . s -been far too insistent
on enforcing its :Apt-int : on national policies.
SharOn does norhave to deine'an the substantial _

contribution of the ultra-Orthodox to protecting
Jewish tradition, but he can work for a government
that guarantees more equal treatment of all citizens,
observant or not, as Shinui has sought.
And he can certainly be comfortable with stopping
the rapid and needless expansion of West Bank settle-
mentsoas Labor wants. It would be better to use the
settlement subsidies for repair work within Israel
proper, a policy that may, in any event, be forced on
Israel as a condition for new financial aid from the
U.S.
In the coming months, Israel is likely to face new
Middle East instability and terrorist threats because of
Arab anger over America's now almost inevitable war
with Iraq. The best way to deal with that fact is to
present a national government that speaks with one
voice and one mind on the core issues. That is what
the electorate has said it wants. That is what it
deserves. ❑

EDITO RIAL

Related story: page 20

Greenber s View

And Now To Lead

riel Sharon deserves congratulations for his
convincing win in the Israeli Knesset elec-
tions. Despite an Israeli press preoccupation
with the "scandals" of alleged campaign pay-
offs within Likud, the prime minister has obviously -
persuaded Israel that he and his platform
represent the best current choices for
defending the country's security and
rebuilding its economy.
Still, he must assemble a strong working majority
within the 120-seat parliament to provide consistency
and stability in the rebuilding process. Israel has exter-
nal troubles enough. It doesn't need to present a frac-
tious face to the Arabs or to the rest of the world —
and that means having a powerful, centrist unity gov-
ernment.
As much as we would like to see a strong voice for
achieving peace through negotiations rather than con-
tinued occupation, Labor cannot effectively provide

A

EDITORIAL

2/ 7
2003

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