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I for one, speaking as a single mom
who raised two boys alone, can relate
to the problem of Jewish education.
Religious School in Temple is different.
I never had a problem with that.
It is the day to day education in a
Jewish environment that was the
struggle. In New Orleans, my kids
ended up in one of the better public
schools; however I found myself more
times than not, confronting the
principal about the devotional
prayer thanking Jesus from the night
before in the cafeteria when awards
were given out...
Something has to change..
My kids love being Jewish, but Jewish
women are NOT a priority in their life,
except their fabulous mom...
-1/1-/2002 |
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Thank you pointing out this difficult problem. I hope that many people read your article, and take your words seriously. When I was a child, my first school was an Orthodox Jewish day-school, which I attended with my two younger brothers. However, despite my parents' steady income, the cost of our Jewish education eventually became prohibitive. My parents had to remove us from that school, because they could no longer afford it, and we were forced to attend public school. I later found my way back to Judaism, although my brothers have not. My wife and I are now expecting our third child. Our oldest child will be four years old next year, G-d willing, and we want her to begin a Jewish school. We don't know how we will eventually afford Jewish education for all our children, but it is a top priority for us. It is a struggle that we are prepared to undergo. I hope that the community soon wakes up and begins to address this need in a serious way; I don't want to lose any of my children from the Torah life, and I don't want any other Jewish parents to suffer such a loss.
-1/1-/2002 |
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In NY the yeshivas are trying for 5% of the estate. I have a family of 5 children. My tuitions including sending the kids to camp are $68,000. Obviously, this is a killer but I don't have a choice. This is my m-siras nefesh for my children's sake.
-1/1-/2002 |
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I am one of the host of American jews who has given up attending synagogue and only rarely getting to a service. I, however strongly support Jewish institutions and causes with a sepcial place in my heart for the ADL.
However I take issue with the writer who urges us to support school vouchers. Since colonial days the founding fathers made it very clear that there would always be a separation of church and state. We as Jews have prospered beyond our wildest dreams as a result of the laws they wrote. Just because we are having a financial problem now in running our religous schools it is not the time to support the abrogation of the vitally important separation of church and state laws. Even in the midst of depression days we have managed to pay our own way. If the Jewish community wants religous schools they will find a way to pay for them.
- A. M. -1/1-/2002 |
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We have met the enemy and it is us.
It costs alot to educate a Jewish child in Jewish day schools. It cost more to keep kosher than not. We are destroying ourselves economically. There is no reason why it should cost so much more to keep kosher, than to not. Cost is what keeps families small. You are not going to bring more children into the world if you cannot afford to feed, clothe and educate them.
-1/1-/2002 |
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In Baltimore the bricks and mortar are
competing for status among the Jewish
High Schools. Theatre and Athletic buildings are grand and riddled with
the names of the benefactors. Still, the
middle class can not afford the tuition
asked to support these wonderful buildings. Surely, copying the Wasp's
and their private schools will not develope the unique Jewish Character and
heart for the Jewish people.
-1/1-/2002 |
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My people perish for lack of knowledge! Of Torah!
We could not afford the cost of the schooling for private so did much ourselves. We need to band together in our communities and volunteer. I recently saw a very funny but uplifting movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (bear with me). I sat in the audience and wept because what the family and commuity represented was what I had always wanted for my children. Even though the kids complained they went to "Greek school" everyday after regular school. Back in the 60's that is what was being done. If you did not attend a full time Jewish school you went after school and were taught....what has happened to that concept?
- L. B. -1/1-/2002 |
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I couldn't agree more with Mr. Freund's excellent article. We are already on tuition assistance for our daughter - *just for kindergarten*! If we cannot get the amount of assistance we need for first grade, we will have to put her in afternoon talmud torah. And we have a son to follow! This is 50% of the reason we are not having more children.
-1/1-/2002 |
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It's about time. Great insights. I fully support the direction. I am constantly bombarded for support of all that is mentioned, but in addition, but asked to support education for all kind of students from all over the world in Israel. The idea is great, but we can only do so much, as your article suggests.Priorities!! Also, consider the absorb amount that one must pay just to become a member of a synagogue, and maintain membership. Then look at the high cost of ones death requiring a burial plot and the cost for ones spouse.! It now is almost impossible to maintain a kasher family, because of the nearly impossible task of obtaining the necessities to do so. How does one live and have enough to do what it is that you are asking for. I cannot to be what a Jew is supposed to be. I can only do my utter best. And more and more I am losing the battle. And I am only one family, and more and more I am not the only one. Thank you!!
- P. D. -1/1-/2002 |
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There are some places that do NOT have Jewish Day schools, ie small town America. While we may be getting smaller in the USA Israel is holding on to its own. If they can pull off a real peace with these Arab terrorists Israel will be OK.
-1/1-/2002 |
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In my area, most if not all of the day schools and yeshivot have scholarships and financial aid. Only the wealthy do not need or qualify for such assistance. Some families do make Aliyah because in Israel schools are free. Some families in the US home school the kids and hire a Gemara teacher. Sometimes the mother or father will work at a school for reduced tuition. There are ways of getting things done. There is no way a frum child can fit in and be happy in US public schools.
- R. E. -1/0-/2002 |
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I think that there are many more reasons that the American Jewish community is shinking. Just like the rising divorce rate Jews have found themselves to be part of the "me" generation rather than the "we" (Jewish) generation. It is a struggle for families confronted with TV, soccer, football, basketball, and many other outside activities to chose those that are driven by the Jewish community. Many Jews live in communities where achievement is measured by personal wealth and comfort not by how Jewish you are or your kids are. There is not the time or desire with both parents working 50 hours a week to have more than 1.8 children. This is reflective of the slide in births for all Americans. The cost of Jewish day school and camp attendance is only one reason for the slow down in Jewishness. Many Jews don't want to be targets of anti semitic comments, they would rather be closet Jews. It is my sense that on a community by community basis we need to help Jews feel O.K. and accepted as Jews, no matter the strengh of their faith, and show them what the benefit is to have more than one child. We also need to do away with the endless financial competition. The very high cost of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, College, Private school education. Most Jews are normal people and their income cannot keep up with the trappings and demands of the religion. My vote is to keep it simple and help each family celebrate the small joys of the Jewish community and help our children find the right reasons to marry a Jewish mate and have Jewish children.
- C. H. -1/0-/2002 |
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It's so great to see someone else who shares my opinion! I live in a small but quickly-growing community, where the day school has become so expensive that few middle-class Jews can afford to send their children, and people seriously consider putting their children in public school [and many eventually do]. We are hurting ourselves, because if we can't afford to educate our children, we are causing the Jewish People to get smaller & smaller & who will be our leaders then?
-1/0-/2002 |
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In my opinion, you have it wrong. You need strong synagogue based, very low cost or free education for the young ones. If being Jewish is money based, you really are in trouble. How about Jewish volunteers that are in love with their faith, being the teachers whenever and wherever they can be. You'll never turn the tide if your basis for existence is economic. Return to your roots...return to your God, with your hearts and minds. This is what God wants from you, not school buildings as such. Have more Jewish choirs, dances, joy. The letter of the law will die if the spirit is withdrawn from it.
- J. M. -1/0-/2002 |
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You need to take funding from any source that presents itself. Whether it be governmental, fundraising, or allocating monies from a private source. I myself am a convert. And would take help from any source which would allow me to grow and flourish. I have learn an immeasurable amount of knowledge from the light of the bretheren and, it is an atrocity to think that a 'few jews' would allow this by taking a more economical road. I am struggling to catch up with the Jewish Nation and, it seems that by the time I catch up there will not be anything around.
- R. D. -1/0-/2002 |
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There is an entrepreneur in Chicago who is trying to get everyone to donate 2% of their net assets in their wills to a Jewish school of their choice. This way Jewish schools will be able to survive in the future.
- C. L. -1/0-/2002 |
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