Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Special Edition NOVEMBER 3 • 2024 | 29
J
N

hearts. “The attention and love and 
care are so obvious on the faces of 
all the students that you’ll see here, 
and all the teachers make this a very, 
very special place. The education of 
every child, especially those whose 
potential might not be obvious, 
is an obligation that we all share. 
There’s much to be passionate about 
in supporting our children and in 
supporting their educational needs.” 
He continued, “Gary has asked me 
to tell you that the Yeshiva is willing 
to share its expertise with anyone, 
to help improve the lives of children 
throughout our state. Just don’t steal 
our people. They are priceless.”
Yeshiva President Gary Torgow 
said, “It is awe-inspiring to see this 
auditorium filled with amazing 
leaders, educators and organizations 
who have gathered to share ideas 
and efforts to make our community 
and our state best-in-class in the 
critical area of special education. We 
recognize that all of our children — 
all of our children — are entitled to 
the highest quality of education. It 
is an exemplification of our critical 
ideals that we marshal our resources 
to provide that education as effec-
tively as possible.” 
Torgow cited the Talmudic 
reference in Bava Basra (21a) to 

Yehoshua ben Gamla, who decreed 
that every community must institute 
a system to educate all of its chil-
dren. But it wasn’t until he estab-
lished a school for orphans that the 
Talmud praised him effusively. Why 
was that effort so praiseworthy? 
“The answer is that if there are 
segments of our community’s chil-

dren who are not given the opportu-
nity to learn, to study, to be taught, 
our entire system could be fatally 
deficient and may not survive. 
Those without means, those with 
limited ability, those with limited 
mobility, those with limited speech 
or hearing or sight — if any of 
those conditions of our children are 

ignored, neglected or bypassed, our 
chances for ultimate societal success 
are in serious jeopardy.”

THE QUESTION OF FUNDING
Ian Santus, M.S., BCBA, LBA, 
COBA, COO and co-found-
er of Akoya Behavioral Health, 

Heartbeat of the Community 
The Yeshiva Beth Yehudah has been educating 
the children of the Detroit Jewish community for 
over 100 years. Today, nearly 1,400 boys and girls 
are receiving the foundational Torah and secular 
education they need to thrive. On campuses in Oak 
Park and Southfield, the Yeshiva’s students learn 
and grow in state of the art facilities with devoted 
and caring teachers and staff members to help 
ensure their success, in school and in life. 
 In addition to providing for students in PreK-12, 
42 post-graduate scholars study full time in the 
Yeshiva’s Scholars Kollel, acting as role models for 
the students and preparing to take on educational 
leadership throughout the community. The Yeshiva’s 
Partners Detroit program helps members of the 
greater Detroit Jewish community connect to their 
own rich heritage. Through specialized educational 
programming for all age groups, such as the 
Partners Tuesday night in-person study hour, sports 
leagues, and programming for young professionals, 
moms, dads and families, Partners Detroit attracts 
over 2,000 participants each month. 

Paul Mersino, 
President of Butzel 
Long, related how 
his visit to the 
Grosfeld Center 
spurred his efforts 
to support special 
needs children in his 
own community.

Lissie Rothstein, Director of 
the Grosfeld Center, detailed 
the efforts and successes of 
the Yeshiva’s program.

continued on page 30

