DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
theJEVVISHNEWS.com
m et ro >> on the cover
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
theJEW1SHNEWS.c
At The Core from page 1
Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher I Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Jackie Headapohl
Managing Editor
jheadapohl@renmedia.us
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
kcohen®renmedia.us
Gail Zimmerman
Arts Editor
gzimmerman@renmedia.us
Deborah Schultz
Corporate Creative Director
dschultz@renmedia.us
EDITORIAL
Senior Copy Editor
David Sachs
dsachs@renmedia.us
Editorial Assistant
Sy Manello
smanello@renmedia.us
Senior Columnist
Danny Raskin
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net
Contributing Editor
Robert Sklar
rsklar®renmedia.us
Contributing Writers
Bill Carroll
Suzanne Chessler
Annabel Cohen
Don Cohen
Shelli Liebman Dorfman
sdorfman@thejewishnews.com
Ronelle Grier
Robin Schwartz
Steve Stein
sports@thejewishnews.com
THREAD
magazine
Editor
Bryan Gottlieb
bsgottlieb@renmedia.us
Executive Editor
Gail Zimmerman
gzimmerman@renmedia.us
house and utilize full-
time FJA teachers for
a year and revisit the
class for the future.
When Bennett
emailed in mid-July to
say he'd teach, the in-
house teaching struc-
Rabbi Josh
ture already was in
Bennett
place under the dean
of Judaic studies.
In the email to the
dean of Judaic studies,
Bennett states that he
understood the class
had been shifted to the
Judaic studies depart-
ment and that he was
Ken Goss
thrilled to be included.
He also mentioned
a change in policy, signaling what he
believed to be a philosophical change at
FJA that would allow a Reform rabbi to
teach in the department.
However, Goss said he only told Bennett
the class had been moved under the super-
vision of the dean of Judaic studies, not
into the department.
Then Bennett was told he was no
longer needed in the classroom because,
as Goss explained, at that point in the
summer, Frankel teachers already were
in place.
Pillar Challenged
Miscommunication and misunderstand-
ing on both sides seem to have fueled
the controversy, causing the Reform rab-
bis to question what standards must be
met for a rabbi to teach in Judaic studies
at the school.
At FJA, Judaic studies teachers must
adhere to all four of FJAs core pillars —
intellectual openness, Halachah, devo-
tion to Israel, dedication to American
values. If qualified teachers fail to meet
one pillar, they are not allowed to teach
courses in the department, regardless
of what denomination they belong to,
according to Board President Goss. The
halachic pillar requires the teachers to
be shomer Shabbat (Sabbath observant
— not driving, working, etc.).
"If a Conservative rabbi is not shomer
Shabbat, he cannot teach; if an Orthodox
rabbi is not Zionistic, he cannot teach:'
Goss said.
He gave the example of an Israeli
Reform rabbi who was shomer Shabbat
who applied to work at the school, say-
ing she would have been able to teach in
Judaic studies. He also said Rabbi Rob
Morais, Temple Israel's former director
of education and now FJAs first Reform
rabbi on the administrative team,
offered to become shomer Shabbat if he
was needed to teach Judaics.
Only Judaic studies teachers must
pass the four-pillar test. Any qualified
teacher from any movement, or some-
one not Jewish, can teach Jewish history,
math or other classes,
Goss said.
"Just like a math
teacher needs to be
qualified to teach math,
in Jewish studies, being
shomer Shabbat is part
of the qualifications,"
Rabbi Eric
said Goss, who spoke
Grossman
officially for the school.
The shomer Shabbat
qualification was put in place by Rabbi
Buckman perhaps nine years ago, and
Rabbi Eric Grossman, head of school,
continued the policy because it goes along
with the school's mission, Goss said.
"Our Halachah doesn't follow one
movement; it is unique to FJA, and it's
our interpretation of what's good for us,"
Goss said. "We don't follow Halachah as
determined by any set denomination."
Goss also said the "Denominational
Differences" class now is on hiatus and
will be revisited.
Role-Model Tension
Bennett's extensive email letter also
quotes FJAs bylaws: "Jewish Studies
teachers for all classes are hired based
primarily on their academic qualifica-
tions, but are also expected to serve
as models of Jewish commitment in
their personal lives. No teacher is dis-
qualified from teaching any class solely
based on denominational affiliation or
gender."
"The [Reform clergy] are models of
Jewish commitment," Goss said. "Just for
FJA, the model is determined by being
shomer Shabbat. Their characters are
top notch; no one questions their capa-
bility or integrity, not at all.
"When Rabbi Grossman interviews
teachers, he never asks their denomina-
tion or their synagogue. The only thing
he asks about is their level of Shabbat
observance," Goss said.
Still, the wording of the bylaws about
"models of Jewish commitment" with
regard to Jewish studies teachers causes
deep concern.
"I hope I am that
role model;' said Rabbi
Michael Moskowitz of
Temple Shir Shalom
in West Bloomfield,
spokesman for the
Reform rabbis.
"Halachically, no,
I
am
not shomer
Rabbi Michael
Shabbat;
I drive on
Moskowitz
Shabbat. But look at
the population of the
school — is [shomer Shabbat] their
lifestyle?"
Traditionally, the denominational
breakdown of the school is 50 percent
Conservative, 25 percent Reform and 25
percent Orthodox, with some unaffili-
ated students among them. Enrollment
for 2011-2012 is more than 215.
At The Core on page 9
6 August
25 - 2011
F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us
Keith Farber
Sales Director
kfarber@renmedia.us
Account Executives
Ann G. Abrams
Jan Haskell
Melissa Litvin
Heidi Martin
Rick Nessel
Dharlene Norris
Senior Sales Assistant
Kim Metzger
BUSINESS OFFICES
Customer Service Asst.
Jan Shain
Billing Coordinator
Pamela Turner
Collections Analyst
Hazel Bender
Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES
Manager
Scott Drzewiecki
Designers
Jeffrey Meyer
Pam Sherevan
Michelle Sheridan
PUBLISHED BY:
RENAISSANCE
fvkIVEDIA
Chairman
Michael H. Steinhardt
President
Arthur M. Horwitz
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Chief Operating Officer
F. Kevin Browett
kbrowett@renmedia.us
Controller
Craig R. Phipps
Corporate Creative Director
Deborah Schlutz
dschultz@renmedia.us
IT & Circulation Director
Deanna Spivey
FULFILLMENT
circulationdesk@thejewishnews.com
Customer Service Manager:
Zena Davis
DEPARTMENTS
General Offices: 248-354-6060
Advertising: 248-351-5107
Advertising Fax: 248-304-0049
Circulation: 248-351-5174
Advertising Deadline: Monday, 4 p.m.
Editorial Fax: 248-304-8885
Deadline: All public and social announcements must
be typewritten and received by noon Tuesday, nine
days prior to desired date of publication.
Subscriptions:
1 year
$79
2 years
$142
3 years
$189
1 year out-of-state
$119
2 years out-of-state
$214
Per year foreign
$286
Detroit Jewish News
29200 Northwestern Highway
Suite 110
Southfield, MI 48034
© 2011 Detroit Jewish News