jews d

in
the

R

abbi Azaryah Cohen began
as head of school of Frankel
Jewish Academy in West
Bloomfield in 2015. Since he assumed
this role, the high school has
improved its outreach to Reform rab-
bis, earned accolades for its ability
to place students in colleges of their
choice and has launched its Genesis
S.T.E.M. Lab that will bring study of
science, technology, engineering and
math into the 21st century.
A major problem that threatened to
cause a rift in the Jewish community
that became public in 2011
has been calmed as well.

A third factor impacted Reform
parents as well. They protested that
the FJA board did not have Reform
representation equal to its denomina-
tional portion of the student body.
Today, out of 176 students, approxi-
mately 80 percent are from Reform
and Conservative families and 35 per-
cent are from public schools, accord-
ing to FJA.
Progress has been made on all
fronts.
Although it is difficult to determine
the denominational makeup of the
current 21 board members,
President-Elect Amy Folbe is
a member of Temple Israel,
a Reform congregation. She
takes office next July.
“We don’t ask about
denomination; we are looking
for folks who are passionate
about Jewish education,” said
Rabbi Azaryah
FJA President Bill Sider. “We
Cohen
aim to have a diverse mix and
it is a goal we actively pursue.”
Rabbi Harold Loss of
Temple Israel, who has been
in regular contact with Cohen,
says it takes time for a board
to change its makeup.
“Through our conver-
sations,
I feel there is an
Bill Sider
The issue dealt with the
effort to represent Reform,
relationship between the
Conservative and Orthodox
school and Reform movement rabbis
on the board,” Loss said. “I hope, in a
and members. The rabbis objected
short time, we will see a greater bal-
to not being able to lead minyan
ance.”
services and to a hiring policy in the
Rabbi Paul Yedwab, also of Temple
school’s Jewish Studies Program that
Israel, said, “Reform rabbis and can-
excluded teachers who were not hala- tors have been invited to lead min-
chically Shabbat observant, or shomer yans and that issue has been resolved
Shabbat. This “litmus test,” which
completely.”
rabbis said violated the school’s own
FJA administrators added that
bylaws, effectively eliminated most
rabbis from all denominations were
Reform rabbis and some Conservative invited for a minyan tour, to partici-
rabbis as well.
pate in a Rabbi Roundtable and to

Community
Reconnect

FJA Head of School
works to build bridges
that will benefit the
school and beyond.

KERI GUTEN COHEN STORY DEVELOPMENT EDITOR

TOP: In FJA’s new S.T.E.M. facility, called
Genesis Lab, Virtual Reality equipment allows
students to explore the world without leaving
the room. The lab was funded through a
Davidson Foundation grant.

18

October 12 • 2017

jn

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