The aggressive, still mostly unchecked, public and private anti-Jewish manifestations in our society since “October 7” have knocked a large gap in the comfortable spaces that we once mindlessly yet happily inhabited. As GAJE has written in this space and as most of us have observed, that fallout has led many Jews to fill the gap by seeking support, if not also strength, through the company of other Jews. Thus, in many communities, synagogue affiliation and enrollment in Jewish schools have increased.
Will Eastman, a self-described “Jewish community professional” in the US, published an article this week on eJewish Philanthropy in which he “imagines tuition-free Jewish day schools.” Indeed, that is the title of the op-ed. Even though, Eastman writes about the day school situation in the United States, his observations are worthy of our notice. The underlying propositions of his article apply in every Diaspora community where Jews treasure their sense of peoplehood and common history.
He begins the article by celebrating the generous philanthropy by members of the Jewish community in 2024. In particular, he points to the fact that “Jewish philanthropists gave the two largest gifts of the year: Ruth Gottesman’s $1 billion gift to Albert Einstein Medical School, and Michael Bloomberg’s similar contribution to Johns Hopkins Medical School, which made both institutions tuition-free for medical students.”
After noting these two unprecedented acts of charity for the benefit of the public, he poses the question that likely crossed the minds of everyone in North America involved in Jewish education when the news of the Gottesman and Bloomberg gifts were announced.
“What if we imagine similar gifts that could transform the future of the Jewish people? Imagine the impact of tuition-free Jewish day schools?”
Eastman posits two familiar, unassailable facts that always accompany the discussion. (a) Jewish education has long been recognized as a cornerstone of Jewish identity-building, fostering deep affiliations and connections to the Jewish faith, culture and the State of Israel; and (b) a primary barrier is cost. Jewish day schools are often prohibitively expensive, deterring families before they even consider enrollment.
He provides enrollment figures for some Diaspora communities. In the U.S., only about 20% of Jewish school-age children attend day schools, and 90% of those students attend Orthodox schools. In the U.K., where government subsidies support private education, 66% of Jewish children attend Jewish schools, 40% of whom are from non-Orthodox families. In Mexico, 95% are enrolled in Jewish schools. The government supports the cost of educating the general studies portion of the curriculum. In Australia, where the government provides only limited funding support, 55% of Jewish children are enrolled in Jewish schools. In South Africa, 75% of the Jewish students are enrolled in Jewish schools even though the government provide no financial assistance to the schools or to the families.
By comparison with local numbers, a spokesperson for the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto told GAJE that about 33% of the Jewish children in our community attend Jewish day school. An additional 15-20% attend supplementary schools. In any given year, therefore, approximately 50% of the community’s Jewish children receive a formal Jewish education. These figures do not include enrollment in Jewish camp or other “informal” means of Jewish education.
GTA (Indeed, Ontario) enrollment figures attest to the self-sacrifice and commitment of Jewish families and to the financial assistance polices of the organized community leaders in providing and trying to enable formal Jewish education to the community’s children.
The government of Ontario contributes nothing toward the costs of educating children who attend Jewish day schools – not even toward the provincially mandatory general studies curriculum. This refusal by Ontario stands in brazen, shameful contrast to the educational funding policies of all of the Canadian western provinces and of Quebec.
Eastman concludes his article with a fervent dreamy aspiration. “Imagine the possibilities: families choosing Jewish day schools without fear of financial ruin; children more deeply connected to Israel; immersed in Hebrew language, Jewish history and tradition; and a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community for generations to come. Imagine a brighter Jewish future, made possible by a generation of proud and educated Jews. It’s easy if you try.”
Eastman’s dream of tuition-free Jewish education is GAJE’s pursuit. His is an admitted flight of imagination. Ours, however, is a matter of justice and fairness.
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The Eastman article is available at:
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If you wish to assist GAJE by contributing to our lawsuit for fairness in educational funding in Ontario, please click here. 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. For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
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Shabbat shalom
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
January 10, 2025
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 