16 | AUGUST 20 • 2020 

Jews in the D

Return to Learn

Jewish day schools plan for in-person 
and remote learning.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I

n developing back-to-school plans amid 
COVID-19 this fall, some Jewish day 
schools have certain organizational advan-
tages over public schools — less bureaucracy 
to cope with and often a smaller student body 
with smaller class sizes. However, the pan-
demic is an equalizer in some ways — making 
everything more complicated.

FRANKEL JEWISH ACADEMY
Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) educates 
135 students in grades 9-12, at the Jewish 
Community Campus in West Bloomfield. 
According to FJA director of advancement 
Shana Kantor, the March transition to virtual 
learning was easier because students have had 
school-issued Macbooks for two years. 

“They were unbelievable right out of the gate 
with really good communication with par-
ents,
” says Julie Feldman of West Bloomfield, 
whose daughter Emily just completed her 
senior year at Frankel. Her daughter Allie will 
be a sophomore this year. 
FJA
’
s new school year begins Aug. 31. To 
help develop its “Return to Learn Plan,
” the 
school surveyed parents, students, faculty and 
other staff, according to Kantor. “They asked 
about what went well [with virtual learning] 
and what didn’
t,
” said FJA parent Meredith 
Weingarden of Farmington Hills. “They asked 
what would make us comfortable about send-
ing them to school or staying home.
” 
She added that her daughter, Emilie, a 
17-year-old senior, did “pretty well” with 
online instruction and had good results on 
three AP (advanced placement) exams. Emilie 
describes the online format as a “pretty good 
experience. Everyone was going into it at the 
same time, which made it easier.
” 
FJA
’
s “Return to Learn Plan,
” available 
on the school’
s website, begins with a letter 
from Rabbi Azaryah Cohen, head of school, 
and Randell Gawel, principal. “Technology 
provided us with an opportunity for connec-
tion during a time when we were grappling 
with the challenges of social distancing and 

self-quarantine. It also 
became apparent that 
nothing, despite the 
tremendous effort 
and dedication of those involved, could fully 
replace the real benefit of face-to-face human 
contact and real time communication.
” 
A footnote to their letter notes 
that the plan is subject to revision, 
based on changing circumstances 
and any new guidance from the 
Michigan Safe Schools Roadmap, 
the Centers for Disease Control 
and local medical professionals.
Recognizing the limitations of 
virtual learning, FJA will offer 
on-campus, in-person instruction 
with stringent health screening, 
social distancing, required masks, 
sanitation measures and other 
safeguards. The plan notes that 
the school will follow not only 
state-required safety protocols 
but also its “recommended” and 
“strongly recommended” practices. Remote, 
synchronous classes will be available online 
for students who prefer not to be physically 
present or who are home due to a mild illness 
or quarantine for COVID-19.
With the goal of minimizing time spent 
onsite, the FJA school day will be shortened 
to slightly less than five hours, with another 
virtual hour scheduled Monday through 
Thursday. Students will follow the same 
schedule whether learning on campus or at 
home. Synchronous classes will enable remote 
students to ask questions, see their classmates 
and participate in real time through a Zoom 
format. 
 “Our revised schedule, and health and safe-
ty procedures, will help ensure that there are 
multiple layers of intervention to safeguard 
our school community and prevent the spread 
of COVID-19 while students and staff are in 
the building,
” the FJA statement said.
Feldman thinks that the plan is “well-
thought out and safe. There is no zero risk but 

it’
s low risk.
” Weingarden concurs: “I think it’
s 
pretty comprehensive. I think they’
re doing 
everything they can.
” 
However, she is concerned about keeping 
her family safe when Emilie returns to school 
because one family member is immuno-com-
promised, wondering if they need to be kept 6 
feet apart. 
Emilie said she wants to return to school 
in-person, especially because she doesn’
t want 
to miss out on all the fun things of senior year 
— prom, graduation and spirit week. Most of 
her friends are going in person. “My school 
did a great job in coming up with a plan — it’
s 
very comprehensive.
”
Kantor said FJA administrators expect 
that 75 to 80 percent of students will choose 
in-person instruction. Also, the school is 
receiving inquiries from prospective students 
because many other local schools will offer 
only remote learning this fall.

ORTHODOX DAY SCHOOLS 
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah provides preschool 
through high school for girls and preschool 
through eighth grade for boys with 1,150 stu-
dents at schools in Oak Park and Southfield. 
According to Rabbi Yitzchok Grossbard, dean 
of the Yeshiva, online instruction has been 
provided since the school buildings closed 
earlier in the year. 
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah has a plan for 
in-school instruction this fall as well as an 
online “learning accommodations for those 
who are medically unable to participate in 
in-person classes,
” Rabbi Grossbard said. He 
expects the plan to be finalized and released 
by late August. 
Yeshivas Darchai Torah, located in 
Southfield, was closed until Aug. 17. Efforts to 
reach school officials by phone were unsuc-
cessful. The school enrolls around 300 stu-
dents in grades pre-K through 12. 

Randell 
Gawel

Rabbi 
Azaryah 
Cohen

FJA

FJA Entrance

