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. 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