The Insider

NEWS & VIEWS

jarc

Enriching Lives.
Erasing Barriers.

The Costs Of Education

On behalf of the men,

Federation is giving $14 million to education.
Would more make a difference?

women and children

with disabilities we serve...

D

Toronto's system are subsidized.
etroit's Jewish community has a long and proud
Toronto officials expected 11,000 Jewish students enrolled in
tradition of communal giving, to both Jewish and
the community's day schools this fall, with an additional 4,000
non-Jewish causes. Even in this climate of economic
students in afternoon or supplementary programs. Detroit's
upheaval, working for the common good and helping those in
crisis remains the keystone for the budgetary magicians at the ratio of afternoon or Sunday school students (3,750) to day
school students (2,103) is almost the reverse of Toronto's.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its constituent
Canadian leaders believe that it is their emphasis
agencies.
on — and financial support of — Jewish educa-
So the following may be blowing against the
tion that has led to Toronto Jewry's high marks in
wind, especially at a time when the word "emergen-
affiliation, fundraising, levels of involvement and
cy" applies to us at home, rather than to Jews over-
population growth.
seas or in Israel. But, for the sake of conversation
If you compare Detroit to Toronto on a per-capita
— and I hope this column spurs some thoughtful
basis, Toronto may have to tone down the rhetoric.
responses in these pages in the coming weeks — I
In fundraising alone, Metropolitan Detroit's 60,000-
would like to suggest changing our priorities.
70,000 Jews were far more generous per capita than
Detroit has one of the largest Jewish senior popu-
Greater Toronto's 180,000 Jews (half the Jewish
lations in the United States. In 2005, our Federation's
population
of Canada).
Jewish Population Study reported that we were 11th
Alan Hitsky
But
will
that
remain true as Detroit continues to
nationally in percentage of Jews in our community
Ass ociate
lose
the
next
generation
to cities with more jobs
who were 65 or older (25%). The 10 communities
E ditor
and a more glittery singles scene?
with higher percentages were all in Florida.
What might bring that next generation back
The median age of Detroit area Jews then was
home? Obviously, more jobs. Obviously, a better state financial
47.1 and, in the four years since, we haven't gotten any younger.
climate, better public schools and less-expensive public uni-
Hence, the Federation's emphasis on eldercare, helping healthy
versities. And, possibly, less expensive Jewish education.
Jewish seniors to age in place, planning programs, services and
As the adjacent chart shows, Jewish education in Detroit is a
housing for all through the new umbrella group, Jewish Senior
pricey commodity. When you add the cost of student tuition to
Life. These are services that are desperately needed.
the amount Federation is subsidizing, the totals are astound-
At the same time, Federation recognized that to combat
ing. Add in the unpublished fundraising and capital invest-
assimilation, to make sure that there is a Jewish future here, it
ments for each school and the total soars.
had to do more for Jewish education. In 2008, Federation allo-
We need to look at our system and find more efficient ways
cated $3,768,081 for local Jewish education from its annual
to
deliver Jewish education. If Detroit could make a name for
Campaign and the Sakwa Challenge Fund. In 2009, it upped
itself
via high-quality, subsidized Jewish schools, it could be
the ante to $4,454,281 — an 18% increase over 2008 and
one
more
strong magnet to entice our children, and grandchil-
11.8% of the total allocations. Add in other Federation funds
dren, to come back home. I I
and the annual total triples. Add to that tuition payments and
fundraising efforts and we get a
more complete picture.
As laudable as all that is, are we
Supporting The Schools
getting what we are paying for?
While Detroit gave almost 12%
Donations
Federation
Tuition
Enrollment
Schools
of its $42.5 million 2009 Campaign
???
$1,560,448
$7,525-11,950
288
Akiva
and Sakwa/Frankel Challenge
???
$4,679,037
$8,000
681*
Beth Yehudah
Funds to education, Toronto gave
$1,645,604
$2,250-8,300
336
Darchei Torah
almost 26% of its $55.5 million
campaign to Jewish education. It
???
$1,368,909
$19,240
212
Frankel
amounted to $14.3 million, accord-
???
$872,400
$8,200
88*
Yeshiva Gedolah
ing to a Jewish Telegraphic Agency
???
$3,602,986
$15,300
500
Hillel Day School
report in August.
???
$752,664
???
3,750*
synagogue schools
JTA said more than half of all
$14,482,048
5,847
TOTALS:
Jewish children in Toronto receive
some form of Jewish instruc-
• Enrollment is fall 2009
tion, whether at day schools or in
• Tuition for many students is adjusted. The figure shown is the highest rate.
supplementary classes. The UJA
• Federation figure for each school includes the Annual Campaign allocation
of Greater Toronto provides sig-
and Shiffman Fund day school scholarships for 2009-10, plus the 2008-09
nificant tuition subsidies to those
figure for Federation's Jewish Education Trust and Challenge Fund.
who can't afford full fees. Some $13
Total does not include $1.1 million for Federation's Alliance for Jewish
•
million is provided annually to day
Education
schools. That includes $10 million
*
=
Federation projection
which goes to direct subsidizes.
Roughly one-third of all children in

THANK YOU!

Our heartfelt gratitude to the

thousands of

genererous supporters of

JARC's 40th ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATION.

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Dr, John McGee

Gentle Tez.-I- -ching:
Loving-Kindness
and Compassion:
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Now more than ever,

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November 5 F 2009

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