great example of crossing the communi-
tY.
oino- fund-raising is over-
While ongoing
seen by Yeshiva board members as well
as Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Eli
Mayerfeld, the Yeshiva's executive direc-
tor, gathering donations from alumni is
not the main reason the school tries to
keep them connected.
"Our primary responsibility is to ele-
vate each child to his or her highest
Jewish potential," said Rabbi Avrohom
Fishman, dean of the Yeshiva. "We
work hard to continue these relation-
ships throughout their lives so each
individual is touched positively by the
traditions and teachings of our people."
In his dinner speech, Cummings
)7
Eliyahu Goldstein and Zalmy Bresler, both
truck during special program.
in the area — Oak Park, Southfield and
Berkley — using federal Title I finding.
As administered by Anita Batt of
Southfield, this program gives additional
academic help to first- through fourth-
graders at both the boys' and girls'
schools on an as needed" basis.
After eighth grade, about half the boys
from Yeshiva Beth Yehudah attend the
Oak Park-based Yeshiva Gedolah. The
others attend upper-level yeshivot in
other cities, including South Bend,
Baltimore, Denver, Philadelphia and
Scranton.
The boys' principal, Rabbi Avrohom
Fishman, and assistant principal, Rabbi
Menachem Z. Greenfield, work on
placements.
After graduating from 12th grade, the
boys of Beth Yehudah usually spend a
year or two in Israel, then go to college,
where many train to become account-
ants, lawyers or physicians, Rabbi
Mayerfeld said.
Graduates of Beth Jacob School for
Girls also spend a year or two studying
at Israeli seminaries. Most then come
back to metropolitan Detroit to live
with their families while attending local
colleges or earning college degrees
called the teachers and families of the
Yeshiva, "the keepers of the flame. Their
dedication to teaching and to nurturing
a new generation of observant Jews
makes a difference for all Jews —
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform.
"Beyond this, I think their ability to
teach and nurture a new generation
makes a difference to our larger com-
munity in Detroit.
"Whatever our faith, we are inevitably
drawn to those who put their faith and
their values first — values such as devo-
tion to God, family and community.
Detroit is a better community because
the Yeshiva is in it, and we are better
people for having supported their
cause. I I
EVERYTHING
25%th40%
OFF! ALL...
5 and of Oak Park, check out the fire
online. In addition, Beth Jacob offers a
post-high school Maalot program
through Neve Yerushalayim at which
girls can study for the College Level
Examination Program at the school
itself. This nationwide program has been
approved by the American Council on
Education as comparable to the instruc-
tion at major American colleges and uni-
versities.
The most common courses of study
for Beth Jacob graduates are physical
therapy, speech, special education and
computer-related fields, Rabbi
Mayerfeld said — "the types of jobs
women with families like to have
because of flexible hours, and also they
are not sure where they are going to end
up living, so they are getting creden-
tialed for jobs they can carry with
them."
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah is more than a
school, Rabbi Mayerfeld said.
"We are not here just to make sure
they have a body of knowledge, but a
way of life," he said. "Study is valued
highly, but the key is that everyone is
valued. The obligation for each of us is
to become lifelong learners and lifelong
teachers." II
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TENDER
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JAMES DESIGNS
FINE JEWELRY
Old Orchard Mall
6659 Orchard Lake Rd.
West Bloomfield MI 48322
24E1.626-44E14
VISA
913700
11/26
2004
19