28 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2024 Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Special Edition J
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She described her team of 101 
dedicated professionals — doctors, 
special educators, physical speech, 
behavioral and occupational thera-
pists, paraprofessionals, reading and 
math specialists and social workers. 
“Together we unite with our pas-
sionate, caring, and loving teachers, 
principals and, most importantly, 
parents, hand in hand. We collabo-
rate to create the best individualized 
education plan for each child so that 
they will soar, and the results have 
been nothing short of miraculous.”
Nearly 1,400 students are enrolled 
at the Yeshiva’s three campuses, and 
over 400 students are actively ser-
viced by the James Grosfeld Center 
for Special Education and Support 
Services. 
“When people hear ‘private 
school,’ they often think of wealthy 

families,” says Rabbi Shragie Myers, 
executive director of Yeshiva Beth 
Yehudah. “But the plain facts are 
that only 25% of the school’s budget 
is collected from tuition payments 
and parental support. The rest of 
the Yeshiva’s over $21 million bud-
get must be fundraised every year. 
While the Yeshiva has great cham-
pions in the community, supporting 
this critical mission of ensuring that 
every child receives whatever they 
need to succeed, finding the funding 
is a continual struggle, one that I 
would encourage everyone to join 
in supporting. What greater cause 
could there be than our communi-
ty’s children?”
Mrs. Rothstein expanded on the 
value of providing for these children. 
“Early education investments are 
proven to change a child’s devel-
opmental trajectory and result in 

increased success in school, work 
and life,” she said. “This approach of 
accepting every child and integrat-
ing every child, meeting their needs 
alongside their peers, has created 
a reality here at the Yeshiva where 
there is no stigma, no bullying and 
no judgment. As much as these 
extraordinary students gain from 
their typical classmates, their class-
mates benefit so much more from 
them.”
From the moment students enter 
the program at age 3, the team 
embarks on a “journey of personal-
ized educational planning in an effort 
to unlock every child’s potential,” she 
said. “Regardless of diagnosis, our 
team of special educators and sup-
port staff collaborate on a case-by-
case basis to enhance the educational 
experience of each child through 
proper assessment, timely interven-

tion and ongoing monitoring.”
As an example, she cited a first 
grader who spends an English lan-
guage arts period in the learning 
center in a mixed group with a kin-
dergartner and two second graders 
for an experiential project-based 
class and then returns to his general 
education classroom as indicated by 
his individual education plan. 
“In this way, students are seamless-
ly integrated with their peers while 
meeting their diverse needs,” she 
said. “These resources are seamlessly 
integrated into their school day. This 
means they have access to the general 
education curriculum with unique 
accommodations and modifications 
that empower them to succeed.”
James Grosfeld, speaking passion-
ately on behalf of this critical mis-
sion, said the children at the Center 
touch his and his wife Nancy’s 

Guests from across the 
state enjoyed a delicious 
luncheon prepared by the 
Yeshiva’s kitchen staff

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