There is strength in numbers, in shared experiences and in the remarkable self-supporting structure of community. Since October 7, we know this and we feel it deeply.
That is one of the key reasons that community professionals here and in the United States have reported a “surge” in attempts by Jews across all ages to seek some sort of community affiliation.
Many are newly seeking a way to discover, enrich and/or sustain their sense of Jewish belonging.
It is therefore not a surprise to read of a new initiative (eJP, August 21, 2024) in Jewish education in the United States that is aimed at bringing more children into Jewish day schools, specifically non-Orthodox Jewish day schools.
The initiative is called the Ronald S. Lauder Impact Inititiave (LII). When stripped to its narrowest definition, it is the latest publicized effort to “raise” more Jews. At the moment, the initiative has launched a pilot program in five schools in four cities in the U.S. It is also being supported by the Israeli government through the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
According to the story in eJP, the program is based upon the Lauder Foundation’s work in Eastern and Central Europe, where it supports over 30 Jewish educational institutions. “I have a dream that all Jewish children will be educated to become engaged and proud Jews,” Lauder said in a statement. “In Europe, I helped revitalize Jewish life by building and growing kindergartens, schools and camps. My dream in the U.S. is that Jewish parents will understand that they can make the choice today to secure their child’s Jewish future; Jewish day schools are the best option for creating strong Jewish identities and preparing the next generation of Jewish leaders. Nothing is more important for the future of our children, our grandchildren, and our people.”
Paul Bernstein, the CEO of Prizmah, an umbrella group for Jewish day schools of all denominations, notes that the events of Oct. 7 are affecting the decisions regarding communal involvement by individual Jewish families. He sees increased interest in enrollment in Jewish day schools in response to antisemitism and increased Jewish communal engagement more generally. He added that “the big question for our community right now is how we develop what comes next?”
GAJE agrees. How do we channel the coalescing energy and the steel-hard will within the Jewish community to counter the malevolent ones wishing harm upon us and Israel? Jewish education for as many as possible is inescapably part of what must come next.
The eJP article is available at:
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The appeal by the Government of Ontario of Judge Eugenia Papageorgiou’s refusal last summer to throw out GAJE’s application for fairness in educational funding, was heard in early June by a panel of three judges. The court reserved its decision.
GAJE will publish the court’s decision as soon as it is known to us.
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If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit for fairness in educational funding, please click here.
For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of underwriting the costs of the lawsuit.
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Shabbat shalom
Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
August 23, 2024
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 