EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK
The Texture Of Learning
Jr
new students.
ewish learning is measured by its texture — how it
We don't all need to be religious scholars. But Shabbat, holi-
engages you in Jewish history, instructs you in Jewish tra-
days, learning and mitzvot — and a grasp of the issues con-
dition and immerses you in Jewish life.
fronting Israel — should be central to living as Jews.
A rich texture yields rich learning. Learning is best when you
Kids mimic adults. So adults who are Jewish in name only
tap into the soul of who and what we are as a people. Your
won't
provide Jewish experiences for their kids beyond bar or
Jewish identity hinges on Jewish knowledge.
bat
mitzvah;
learning must become a lifelong endeavor. We can't
Learning defines a Jewish community. It's the gold standard.
ignore
unaffiliated
and intermarriage rates topping 50 percent
I can't think of stronger deterrents to the triple threats of
nationwide with no signs of abatement.
Jewish existence in the diaspora ,-- assimilation, acculturation
and apathy — than understanding why we've survived so long
Matter Of Priori ty
and what we must do to maintain this continuity.
In a conversation last week, Alter reflected on Federation's
So when Peter Alter told me that his highest mandate as new
role. "I think it is accurate to say that we're in the business of
president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is
protecting, preserving and promising all things Jewish," he
improving the state of Jewish education at all
said. 'And while we can't be all things to all people, we cer-.
levels in the community I wanted to know
tainly believe the first order of business begins
more.
with Jewish education of all kinds."
Jewish learning opportunities
That's well put. In 1998, Federation set Jewish
range from day school to
education
as our No. 1 priority; we as a commu-
Hebrew school, from preschool
nity
have
affirmed
that time and again.
to adult classes, from summer
But
we
must
act
on
the goals and objectives
camp to youth groups to Israel
behind
that
priority,
beginning
with clarification
trips. Course work spans history,
of where we want to be educationally two, four
culture,
ritual
and
language.
ROBERT A.
and six years from now Innovation must guide us
And the challenges are com-
SKLAR
in finding ways to grow our pool of students and
plex.
Editor
making our schools come across as more inviting
In the non-Orthodox world,
and relevant.
families tend to view Jewish edu-
Alter perceptively says, "We must look very
cation as an option. So when these families consid-
carefully
at how our education services are deliv-
er Hillel Day School or the Jewish Academy, they
ered to assure that we're getting the best bang for
give extra weight to the quality of secular academ-
Peter Alter: Eyes answers the buck and that we're seeing our shortcomings
ics, especially math and science, because college
financially, programmatically and operationally."
preparatory is often the foremost consideration.
This analysis won't be complete without data from
Synagogue-based schools, while determined to elevate the
Federation's pending demographic update, but it's not too early
quality of what they offer, have been forced to adjust hours to
to ponder.
compete with extracurricular student activities like sports, band,
Alter wonders how many parents with kids in general pre-
dance and jobs.
school are turning to a public school instead of, say, Hillel Day
Teachers who are better educated, better trained and better
School at enrollment time because the kids are content. "I really
compensated continues to be a priority at all levels.
want to know the answer to this," Alter said. "We can't act on
Federation's new demographic study is sure to confirm the
speculation alone."
suspected decline in the overall population of Jewish students in
He's right. What's more, we don't have the luxury of waiting.
Metro Detroit. Oakland County's student numbers are falling,
We
run the risk of having Jewish schools with barely enough
too. The net effect is confusion over what model the Jewish
students
to keep the doors open. Jewish preschools are the feed-
community should use as a base to anticipate its needs.
ers to our Jewish day and afternoon schools; so quantifying pre-
school success is imperative. Having fewer kids in the Jewish
Federation's Impact
preschool pipeline reverberates throughout the educational sys-
There's no doubt that Federation places a strong emphasis on
tem for years.
education. Federation allocates nearly $4 million, or about 13
So it's good to hear Alter say, "I'm as interested in and focused
percent of its Annual Campaign, for Jewish education services.
on this as anything that we're doing."
The burden to teach, train and inspire starts with Federation's
Money is always a front-burner issue. Giving more to educa-
Alliance for Jewish Education, our hub for Jewish learning. The
tion means taking it from somewhere else. But we can see
Alliance touches about 8,500 day, afternoon and supplemental
through the layers of Federation spending that we'd be running
school students — and thousands of adults.
on fumes as a community if we didn't have a strong educational
Whatever our funding constraints, the Detroit Federation has
engine at our core.
a reputation for creating national models that link a diverse
For Alter, Detroit Jewry's educational blueprint will be gauged
Jewish community; the Alliance is being looked to for a better
by how effectively it helps grandchildren live textured Jewish
educational system.
lives. "Federation will help in whatever way we can to assure
What America's Jewish communities need are objectives,
that's the norm," he said.
teachers and programs fundamentally intertwined in an envi-
Yes, Federation must lead, but no amount of communal sup-
ronment of systematic improvements that are continuous and
port will offset a Jewish home devoid of parental participation
measurable — and able to withstand budget cuts.
and encouragement. It's our obligation as a community to sus-
Like Federation, the Alliance must confront the deleterious
tain the rhythm of Jewish learning and living here in Metro
effects of over-assimilation as well as the flight of so many
Detroit. El
Jewish young adults — our community's potential future Jewish
leadership — to urban cities perceived as hipper, like Chicago,
Next: Insights of Detroit Jewry's chiefeducation o f ficer,
Boston, New York, Adanta and L.A. Also, more women are
Harlene Appelman
having children at an older age, creating gaps in the influx of
DEREK LAM
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