A story appeared last month that slipped under the radar. It deserves to be “flown” above the radar.
It described an initiative by the Israeli government to help strengthen Jewish education in the U.S. The project is the first intervention of its kind by Israel directly trying to buttress Jewish identity and connection of fellow Jews outside of Israel through support of formal Jewish education. And while the initiative is aimed at American Jews, it is noteworthy for our community as well.
Written by Judah Ari Gross, the story was published by eJewishPhilanthropy (eJP) in early December. Gross reports that the Israeli government is investing $4 million in a program called Aleph Bet aimed at boosting Jewish day schools in the United States. The investment was originally meant to be significantly higher – about 10 times bigger – but October 7 and its aftermath intervened to derail the initial plans. Nevertheless, Gross reports, “the individuals involved in delivering the program are saying that it still sends a potent message.”
Those individuals are correct. Israel policy makers have increasingly come to understand that “raising Jews” in the Diaspora is indispensable to establishing and maintaining a strong relationship between Israel and, in particular – young – American Jewry.
Those same Israeli policy makers seem also finally to understand that offering youngsters comprehensive Jewish education is the best way to “raise Jews.”
The investment is being run through the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, and will go toward seven day school-related projects across the U.S.
All of the parties involved described the $4 million donation as being more symbolic than substantive an investment, though a powerful symbol nevertheless, signifying a seal of approval by the Israeli government and a call for the philanthropic community to follow suit.
It would also appear that the Aleph Beit initiative is intended to be somewhat of a trip-wire for a large, comprehensive effort across North America, still in the planning stages, to bring more children into Jewish education. If events have brought Jewish life, Jewish history to a watershed, Jews need to be become more knowledgeable, more “capable”, “stronger” and more secure in our own storied identities.
Sarah Eisenman, the outgoing chief community and Jewish life officer at JFNA, said: “We believe that now is that moment to catalyze and launch that much larger initiative to grow enrollment. So, for us, this investment is essential. But the beautiful element of it is what it communicates in terms of importance — that this is really important to invest in, particularly at this moment,” Eisenman told eJP.
For JFNA, Eisenman said, this initiative is “one phase” of the organization’s “larger initiative to double [day school enrollment] over the next 10 years.” Gross reports on the tantalizing possibility of a concerted, continent-wide effort among professional and lay community leaders, educators and philanthropists to help “raise” as many Jews as possible.
“Our priority focus will be on growing enrollment in non-Orthodox Jewish day schools. Because… [with] non-Orthodox families, it’s about 9%, 10% who send their kids to a Jewish day school,” she said. “How do we really leverage this moment and take advantage of this moment and serve those families and help them access Jewish day schools in ways that they’ve not been able to access Jewish day schools previously?” Eisenman said.
She noted that in addition to Project Aleph Bet, JFNA is working to establish a North American fund to make Jewish day schools more affordable and is working with Prizmah, which is developing a national marketing campaign to boost day schools.
Following the JFNA General Assembly in Washington, D.C., earlier this month, the organization held an invite-only, three-hour gathering with 100 funders to discuss this issue, Eisenman said.
“We just had 100 funders coming together in D.C. specifically focused on how we might achieve this very ambitious goal [of doubling enrollment] over the next 10 years,” Eisenman said. “So, we had 100 funders in the room — foundations and individual philanthropists from all across the country and Canada — really digging into this question of how can we do this and why now, why this moment is critical in achieving this.”
Eisenman said that JFNA is pushing to establish a large central fund to help make day schools more affordable. But, as we all know, and as experience has taught, achieving the goal requires time and the integrated efforts of a wide swath of individuals, institutions and foundations.
If the Government of Israel remains involved in a possible, continent-wide, comprehensive campaign, we will be able to say, finally, the acknowledgement of a shared past may lead meaningfully to a shared commitment and a shared future.
•••
The story can be found at:
•••
If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s 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
•••
Shabbat shalom
Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
January 31, 2025
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 