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Momentous Merger
National day school support groups eye innovative alliance.
I
n a dramatic move that re-imagines
ate of the Conservative movement; Yeshiva
how Jewish day schools operate and
University School Partnership, an affiliate of
interact, five varied national groups
the private, New York City-based university;
plan to merge into a new, integrated alli-
and Day Schools of Reform Judaism, an
ance with exciting possibilities relating to
affiliate of the Union for Reform Judaism.
learning, services and finances.
Both Hillel Day School and the
The groups, representing more
Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish
than 275 schools and upwards of
Academy in West Bloomfield have
100,000 students spanning the
used PEJE and belong to the Jewish
streams of Judaism, are poised to
Community Day School Network.
merge by summer.
The merger is daring and risky,
The merger will involve
but makes sense. It creates the
groups that collectively represent
potential for an educational force
about 40 percent of the full-time Robert Sklar with unencumbered ideas drawn
day school enrollment. Estimates Contributing
from a well of cooperation.
peg annual savings at more than Editor
Merger plans come amid waning
$1 million, according to the New
non-Orthodox day school enroll-
York Jewish Week.
ment and flat centrist and modern
Savings aside, the plan to merge makes “a
Orthodox day school enrollment. Haredi
bold statement about the unity of the Jewish
Orthodox schools, whose insular world won’t
people, even when we may choose differ-
be part of the new alliance, continue to grow.
ent Jewish religious paths,” Steve Freedman,
They account for more than half of all full-
head of school at Hillel Day School in
time Jewish day school enrollment, accord-
Farmington Hills, serving 546 kindergartners ing to JTA.
through eighth graders, told the JN.
SHAPING A VISION
Participating in the merger are the Jewish
Jewish education, of course, is at the core of
Community Day School Network, repre-
what organized Jewish life is all about. That
senting nondenominational Jewish day
schools; Partnership for Excellence in Jewish compels Jewish educators to constantly reas-
sess and recalibrate — and not ever forgo
Education (PEJE), which fosters Jewish day
seeking new heights in the pursuit of inspir-
school sustainability and affordability; the
ing learning and imparting knowledge.
Schechter Day School Network, an affili-
The merging five see their coming
together as “a definitive affirmation of the
centrality of day schools in Jewish life and a
reflection of our dedication to seeing Jewish
learning, literacy, culture and commitment
flourish in a rapidly changing world.”
As promising as that sounds, a successful
merger will require concrete metrics that
stand up to scrutiny — for example, scholar-
ship growth, higher enrollment, better ser-
vices, stronger finances, increased teamwork.
The hope is that bringing together the
best thinkers in one setting not only pools
talent, expertise and resources, but also
taps into a range of ideologies and con-
stituencies. The strategy will be to
develop an umbrella strategy and
presence while continuing to meet
diverse local needs.
The decision to merge, follow-
ing a year of planning brokered
by the Avi Chai Foundation, was
announced Jan. 19. A branding
process will name the new entity.
leadership, governance and affordability.
The proclivities of so many groups
translate into a tall order for the merger.
Still, Jewish educators have more in com-
mon than what separates them. Short-term
barriers shouldn’t deter seeking a national
model for thrusting the greater good ahead
of any one group. There’s much to be said
about limiting duplication, stirring conver-
sation and igniting change.
It helps that the Avi Chai Foundation has
pledged financial support to this fledgling
entity bent on restructuring the way a huge
chunk of Jewish day schools do business.
Staying the course may be more cau-
tious, but merging seems worth
the risk in this case.
Hillel Day School’s Steve
Freedman expects “the overall
quality and expertise will improve,
and Hillel and all other participat-
ing day schools will only benefit.”
Ultimately, the merged alliance
will be measured by the extent of
its impact on a wide swath of the
Hillel’s Steve
A CALCULATED RISK
member schools. There seems
Freedman
Let there be no doubt: Our day
little downside to trying.
schools face an array of challenges
As Freedman put it: “All day
besides enrollment and economics.
schools have needs in the areas
They include teacher recruitment, train-
of advancement, financial stability, enroll-
ing and retention; fund development and
ment, leadership and governance.
endowment building; and the dynamics of
“Why not work together?”
*
commentary
What Is A Welcoming Community?
O
n Jan. 28, the West Bloomfield
Township Board of Trustees
voted to uphold their Welcoming
Resolution and remain a member of the
Welcoming Cities & Counties initiative of
Welcoming America.
Trustees heard from
many residents who
appreciate living in a
diverse society and want
their neighbors from dif-
ferent countries to feel
included in the commu-
nity. I also heard many
misconceptions about
Christine Sauvé
immigrants, refugees and
the Welcoming Cities program and would
like to provide the community with more
information.
America has a long and proud history of
welcoming newcomers. Many of our grand-
parents, mine included, came to this country
as immigrants, and we all have benefited
from their contributions. The same is true
for those arriving today. Immigrants and
refugees give back to our communities in
8 February 4 • 2016
many ways and are great neighbors, friends,
volunteers and business owners.
Welcoming Cities & Counties appreciate
the energy and vitality newcomers bring and
commit to helping immigrant and refugee
residents become active members of the
community.
There are more than 60 Welcoming Cities
across the country, including 11 members
in Michigan: Detroit, Hamtramck, Sterling
Heights, Clinton Township, Macomb County,
West Bloomfield Township, East Lansing,
Lansing, Meridian Township, Kalamazoo
County and Grand Rapids.
The Welcoming Cities & Counties pro-
gram does not bring new immigrant resi-
dents to a community. Rather, the focus is
on connecting current residents to their
neighbors and to local government to create
a stronger, more prosperous community.
West Bloomfield Township is 20 percent
foreign-born, compared to the state average
of 6 percent and the national average of 12
percent. The township is home to 13,000
foreign-born residents, 66 percent of whom
are naturalized U.S. citizens and members of
the voting public.
Welcoming Cities decide their own local
goals, which range from enhancing natu-
ralization efforts to improving relationships
among residents. The aim is to create a cli-
mate where immigrants and refugees want
to get involved and put down roots. This is a
common interest for civic and business part-
ners who want to retain talent and encourage
residents to live, work and play in the com-
munity.
Beyond fostering a welcoming climate,
local and state governments do not have
jurisdiction over where immigrants and
refugees settle. Immigrants, like all American
residents, have the right to live where they
choose. Refugees flee persecution in their
native countries and come to the United
States through a process vetted by the
U.S. Department of State, Department of
Homeland Security and the FBI. Refugees
are subject to the highest level of security
checks of any category of traveler to the
United States.
Local governments cannot block refugee
resettlement; it is a federally funded and
controlled process. Once refugees arrive, they
are assisted by local nonprofit resettlement
agencies like Lutheran Social Services of
Michigan and Jewish Family Services. These
agencies provide newcomers with housing,
English language training, cultural orienta-
tion and employment services.
The United Nations refugee conven-
tion was created after seeing the difficul-
ties Jewish refugees faced during and after
WWII. Many of these refugees made their
home in Michigan. It is incumbent on all of
us to continue the tradition of welcoming
refugees from all parts of the world.
Just as in the past, immigrants and
refugees today are seeking freedom and
a better life for their families. We believe
the Welcoming Cities & Counties program
reflects the values of West Bloomfield
Township and we thank the Board of
Trustees for continuing their commitment to
welcoming and inclusion.
*
Christine Sauvé is Welcoming Michigan coordinator.
Learn more at welcomingmichigan.org.