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Editor's Letter

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A Case For Jewish Day Schools

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Jewish day school education is the chief assurance
that our next generation will have literate Jews.
So asserts one of our community's top day-
school professionals — and he makes a compelling argument.
Steve Freedman, head of school at Hillel Day School, a com-
munity day school in Farmington Hills, is a proponent of the
necessity to secure the day school
movement.
In a reflective moment, he said: "I like
to emphasize that whether one prays
at Young Israel, Temple Israel or B'nai
Israel, we all share the 'Israel' in common
— our people, our story, our identity"
What prompted our exchange was
a New Jersey Jewish newspaper article
about the North American Jewish Day
Robert Sklar
School Conference held in January.
Editor
The Teaneck, N.J., forum drew 550
participants despite the tough econo-
my. Themes revolved around doing more with less.
In the Jewish Standard article on Jan. 20, Scott Goldberg
of the Institute for University School Partnership at Yeshiva
University in New York talked about keeping day school cen-
tral in the wider Jewish community: "There is no alternative
to day school. There's day school and there's not day school.
Day school is the most effective means of keeping the com-
munity vibrant:'
Other options, like Hebrew charter schools, will come along
and contribute to the perpetuity of the Jewish people, but
none as good as day schools, said Goldberg, IUSP director.
Freedman echoes this sentiment: "History has shown that
a people that allows its young to grow up ignorant in its story,
practices, culture, values and language is a society
that will lose its fabric:'
Underscoring the overall community's role,
Federation allocates $2.6 million for our six day
schools through its Annual Campaign.

Staying Focused

Locally, we have 2,100 day school students and another 3,600
in congregational schools. So assuring that we have inspired
and inspiring synagogue schools, youth groups, supplemental
programs, summer camps and Israel missions also is crucial.
All of these school settings and youth programs will influence
what Detroit Jewry looks like in 15 years. The concern is that
kids not enrolled in day school are at greater risk of foregoing
their Jewish soul. So while encouraging day schools, we can't
diminish the sweep of how our kids are engaging Jewishly.
Federation's Alliance for Jewish Education supports all
forms of Jewish education, formal as well as informal, out of
a belief that we owe each child a conduit to Jewish knowledge.
Rabbi Judah Isaacs, the Alliance's executive director, affirms
the value of day schools in that broader context.
"We believe that day schools are the best guarantor of a
strong Jewish identity going forward and, therefore, support
them," he told me last week. "But that doesn't negate our sup-
port for those children who are educated in different ways:'
Clearly, our communal leaders and our clergy walk a fine
line, given our school demographics and range of needs.

Corning To Grips

As Freedman makes a valiant pitch for the breadth and depth
of a day school education, he reminds that the Jewish com-
munity supports public schools through property taxes and
certainly congregational schools through Federation as well as
philanthropic and fundraising support.
Financial support from major donors and educational
funds held by Federation are local difference makers, but
none of our schools ever has enough resources — so prudent
spending and creative fundraising become keys.
So does attracting more students. Hillel has
500 students but has seen a slow enrollment
decline over the past decade. "How do we impact
families today to understand their vital role in
providing a serious Jewish education for their
children and the positive and lasting impact
it will have on the family and community?"
Tug Of Funding
Freedman asks.
Freedman makes a strong case for making day
Many young parents really don't know how a
schools a community funding priority. He points
Jewish day school could shape their children's
to the independent-minded conference sponsors'
religious and cultural identity, or what scholar-
common goal: to meaningfully perpetuate the
ships are out there to meet the daunting tuition.
Jewish community by teaching the next genera-
Despite their lower enrollment, day schools
tion to be wise and committed Jews.
Hillel's Steve Freedman
remain a pillar of Jewish Detroit and pivotal to
"We have survived as a people with such great
strength',' he said, "because we have always put education first. our Jewish future. Giving to Federation's Annual Campaign is
one way to not only support many essential local communal
In order to do, you need to know. It is not an accident that we
services and agencies, including our congregational schools
are known as the People of the Book. That 'book' needs to be
and Jewish camps, but also bolster our day schools to make
seriously learned and read!"
them more appealing to, and affordable for, parents who are at
The book is a collective, multitextured work — not just
the crossroads of deciding which school path to follow. ❑
Torah and Talmud, fundamental as they are. Its richness is vast.
Every day school is fighting the perfect storm of rising
Related story: page 12. Also, please share your thoughts online at:
tuition and falling revenue, often against declining enroll-
thejewishnews.com/community. Go to Local News.
ment. Keeping our day schools funded has become a com-
munitywide challenge led by Federation, philanthropists
and parents. It's the foremost concern of school leadership.
0 • How critical are day schools
fx •
Orthodox day schools don't compete with public schools for
to enjoying a Jewish life?
tn w
students; but even they would be threatened financially if
II—
Z z How can such schools boost
the non-Orthodox community and its donor base weakened
O D their enrollment numbers?
significantly over the next generation. Spiraling tuition could
a. a.
cripple the day school movement.

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