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“I Can Do Jewish On $40,000 A Year”
A head of school responds.
A
recent blog post in the Times of
their peers in the public or other private
Israel, written anonymously by “A sector schools. The author mentions a
Jewish Father,” received a lot of
school where tuition is only $5,000 per
attention in the day school world and on year. If that is the case, there is no doubt
social media last week. While many have in my mind that the teachers are not
commented on his tone, motive
earning a livable wage. The math
and politics, the real issue is the
simply does not work, unless
pain and frustration that led him
their community is underwrit-
to walk away from Jewish day
ing the tuition.
schools, synagogue membership,
In today’s expensive world, we
kosher butchers and more. I do
make our choices. I am a father
not want to judge his motives or
of four children. My wife and I
level of commitment, but rather,
sent our children to Jewish day
the complexity of the issue.
schools and took out loans to
Steve Freedman
To some degree, we have a
get them through college that
circular problem. This father
we are paying back, happily. We
cannot afford Jewish day schools
made personal sacrifices to send
for his children because of his
our children to day school. That
high expenses, including but not limited
was our choice. We do not look back for
to housing, medical insurance, food and
a minute.
more. Many parents are in the same
And it is not because I am a head of a
bind.
Jewish day school. It is because we have
Like parents, teachers and school
been committed to what is important
administrators also are confronted with
to us. Our children are now grown and
high expenses and need a livable wage.
making their own lives, and not only are
And if you want highly qualified and
we proud, what we “sacrificed” along the
competent educators, you have to pay
way seems insignificant compared to the
them fairly or they will go elsewhere or
people they have become.
leave the teaching profession.
In the end, what we choose comes
Day school is more expensive today
down to what we value. This father can
than it was decades ago. And, in many
make every argument in the book about
cases, wages have not kept pace with
unaffordability and expenses, but he is
increases in the cost of living. At most
making a values choice. I do not judge
day schools, 70-80 percent of all expens-
him for his choice, but let’s just call
es go toward salaries and health benefits, it what it is. He may regard as unfair
and still these teachers make less than
his inability to save or to ask grand-
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parents for help — I see it as a choice.
Sometimes we have to make choices
that feel unfair or existentially unjust.
Our choice was to send our children
to day school and to not save for college,
but rather, to take out loans instead.
So, I chose one path; this father chose
another. My grievance with his piece is
that he felt the need to justify his choice
by writing a scathing opinion piece
that squarely lays the blame of Jewish
unaffordability on schools, butchers,
supermarkets and synagogues, without
considering the people who are trying to
survive and earn a living in those insti-
tutions — most of whom do not make
$350,000.
Finally, Jewish life is a communal
choice as well. Decades of research clear-
ly demonstrate the long-term success
of day schools, Jewish summer camps
and trips to Israel. These are the great-
est guarantors of a strong and vibrant
Jewish future. Because real costs are
much higher than decades ago and sala-
ries have generally not kept pace, Jewish
communal leaders have to decide how
much of their resources will go toward
these transformative educational experi-
ences. It really does take a community to
ensure our children’s future and Jewish
continuity as a whole.
Lastly, our tuition at Hillel Day School
of Metropolitan Detroit is nearing
$20,000; about 16 percent of families pay
the full amount. The average tuition paid
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at Hillel ends up being closer to $11,000
per child. How do we keep our doors
open and pay our teachers well, enabling
us to attract amazing teachers? Because
the sense of communal responsibility in
this city is deep and strong.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit allocates more than $1 million
annually to Hillel and provides generous
support to the other day schools in our
community. In addition, we have gener-
ous philanthropists who give significant
sums of money, as well as an ongoing
relationship with a local foundation that
has made Jewish education a top prior-
ity.
The support of these individuals and
organizations did not happen acciden-
tally; it is the result of many years of
methodical and tenacious education
of donors about the importance of day
school philanthropy by giants in our
community; the late David Hermelin, a
former U.S. ambassador to Norway, was
foremost among them, and his legacy
lives on today.
What happens in Detroit can happen
elsewhere. This, too, is a choice: a choice
for communities to make every effort for
Jewish life and all its components to be
affordable for all. •
Steve Freedman is head of school at Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit. Founded in 1958,
Hillel inspires a passion for learning, responsibility to
self and community, and devotion to Jewish living in
a warm, innovative and engaging environment.
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