Another Jewish education option

Dear editor:

The argument presented by Dr. Ronald S. Leight (Letter to the Editor, Jewish Press, May 28) to question the need for a Jewish day school in Pinellas County is like old Swiss cheese — full of giant holes. His theory is to locally consolidate all Jewish education into regional Sunday and/or in after school programs and bring us back to the time of “a taste for Jewishness.”

Years back around World War II, yeshivas and Talmud Torahs were numerous in New York and in other major cities in the USA.

Early dismissals for some religious education became a controversial issue when Jewish parents did not want their children to miss out on any academics in the public schools – so it is true that the Talmud Torah brought Jewish children a place to learn of their heritage for a few hours after 3 p.m. when public school ended.

Solomon Schechter Jewish Day Schools appeared when the Conservative Jewish movement became a vibrant choice between Orthodox and Reform as families migrated to the suburbs.

Where would the Jewish researchers, scholars, rabbis and cantors, as well as principals/teachers and young leaders of the Conservative Jewish movement come from if there were no Solomon Schecter schools? If we minimized the number of Jewish day schools, would not the study of the Holocaust or the in depth study of Torah and Talmud become a one-week chapter?

I agree that there are in Pinellas County many Jewish learning centers, Hebrew high schools and even optional early childhood centers that highlight Jewish songs, prayers and learning about Jewish holidays. Should three regional centers be established for such an intended frugal plan of part-time Jewish education? (South Pinellas, Central and North Pinellas) Will each rabbi and congregation board agree to such a consolidation?

PCJDS had students and faculty of many religious backgrounds, although it was a Solomon Schecter school. Families should have an option to have their children attend a private school that combines the Jewish studies program along with the one-on-one academic success that the PCJDS yielded for 30 years. For that to take place would take wide-spread community awareness to find support for scholarships to supplement each family’s tuition needs.

It is time that every Jewish congregation be asked to supplement funding of their religious schools to include support for Jewish education that expands beyond what is already offered and includes provisions through high school. The Jewish community at-large also needs to pitch in to support a Jewish day school.

Most important are the human sources for financing this school and every community and national/ international need that nips and tucks at Jews and everyone daily.
Murray Rubin
Tarpon Springs