VC,
RAW
Cover Story
PRESENTS
BALANCE
A TRUNK SHOW
Alana Leigh
from page 17
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Confidence, Clarity & Inner-Strength
Always Connected
"Once you're a student at the Yeshiva,
they never really lose touch with you,"
said Robert Naftaly of West Bloomfield,
a former public school student who
attended the Yeshiva's after-school and
summer classes until he was 13.
But, in more recent years, it was
Naftaly's strong connection with Detroit
day schools, formed during his presi-
dency of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and as co-chair of
Federation's Alliance for Jewish
Education, that peaked his support of
with representative
Margaux Rainey
Wednesday
Thursday
December 1st December znd
the school.
"I did not send my children there,
but I believe everyone should have avail-
able to them an affordable, accessible
Jewish education," said Naftaly, who
with his wife, Anita, is this year's Yeshiva
Guardian awardee.
"They don't keep students away
become of income levels and their
tuition is probably the most cost-effi-
cient of our area day schools, yet their
student base stays high.
"The Yeshiva's mission statement of
helping people study Torah and being a
part of the Jewish people and the future
of our Jewish community appeals to
me. It is important for different move-
ments to interface and the Yeshiva is a
Lifelong Learners
Yeshiva stresses teaching children to love learning.
sluggishness of the Michigan job market,
as more Yeshiva families have relocated
away from Detroit than moved here."
eshiva Beth Yehudah is actually
Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, Yeshiva executive
three schools. The Norma Jean
director, stresses academic achievement.
and Edward Meer Early
"We are very lucky we have, as a whole,
Childhood Development Center and
a population that is very interested in
the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah boys school,
learning," he said, adding that scores on
serving grades 1-8, are located on
standardized tests are high and nearly all
Lincoln just west of Greenfield in
graduates pursue post secondary educa-
Southfield, while Beth Jacob
tion. A significant number of
School for Girls, serving grades
parents are themselves Yeshiva
1-12, is on 10 Mile Road in
graduates, he said, as are a
Oak Park.
number of the school's teach-
ers.
The school's annual budget
is $5.5 million. The total
Several years ago, the school
annual allotment received
welcomed immigrants from
from the Jewish Federation of
the former Soviet Union.
Metropolitan Detroit is
"Nov, not so many kids have
$773,200, with $121,000
Russian as a first language,"
from the Shiffman Family Day Rabbi Mayerfild Rabbi Mayerfeld said. A num-
School Assistance Fund and
ber of those who attended the
Yeshiva as new immigrants are sending
$2.2 million in tuition income. The
their children there.
school is raising funds for another $2.5
million.
About 96 percent of preschoolers con-
tinue at the school, Rabbi Mayerfeld
Tuition is just under $5,000 for five-
said. Of the rest, most go to other day
day, full-day classes at the preschool,
schools in the area.
$6,500 in the elementary schools and
$7,200 at the high school level. About
three-quarters of those enrolled receive
New Improvements
financial aid.
The preschool program was enhanced
This year's total enrollment stands at
this year with the gift of several cubi-
802, with 155 students at the preschool
cles/room dividers from Micky and
level, 252 at the boys elementary, 270 at
Debbie Stern of Orchard Lake. These
the girls elementary and 125 girls at the
high school level.
are used to divide each room into sepa-
rate interest areas, so children can choose
"Enrollment growth at the Yeshiva has
which activity to pursue at specified
slowed over the past five years," said
times.
Michael Eizelman of Oak Park, a
A recent innovation at the elementary
Yeshiva parent and chair of the planning
level is a tutoring program run in coop-
and allocation steering committee at the
eration with the public school districts
Federation. "This is traceable to the
DIANA LIEBERMAN
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