by Tamara Silberman

Created on: February 26, 2010

Can you imagine living in a place where you can join a synagogue of any denomination, eat kosher food, and tell your boss that you're not coming in today because it’s Rosh Hashana? You can major in Judaic studies, put a Menorah in your window and hang a Mezuza on your doorpost.  But can you get through a simple paragraph in Hebrew?  

Here we are in America, the Goldene Medina, and most Jews have opted out of their free choice to study Hebrew, keep kosher or use a personal day for the Jewish holidays.  We have many fine Jewish day schools in this country, yet the majority of Jews choose to send their children to public or prep schools, even when their Jewish children are clearly in the minority.

Maybe day schools have not differentiated themselves in the minds of Jewish professionals. Maybe parents don’t realize that laying a foundation for a second language in the early grades is wonderful stimulation for the brain.  How can it be that parents don’t want their kids to know “too much” about Judaism?  Various studies have shown that children who are proud of their heritage and know their families roots exude more self-esteem.  More importantly, at some point children start asking big questions about religion. Wouldn’t you prefer for them to find the answers in Judaism instead of Buddhism?

What is the importance of sending a Jewish child to a Jewish day school? Jewish schools nurture the spirit in each child.  Whereas public schools are cutting music and art, day school children sing their prayers every day.  Whereas public schools celebrate cutesy holidays such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, Jewish schools instill lifelong values by focusing on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Chanuka and Purim.  

In public schools, the bulletin boards boast about what a diverse community the student body represents.  At a Jewish Day School, while the student body is still diverse, there is emphasis on building a unified community, with common goals and values.   

The impact that No Child Left Behind has foisted on public schools has turned public school education into a grind for many.  Children and teachers alike in the public schools tell me that the bulk of their time is spent studying for the gargantuan state tests which determine the school’s success rate. These scores are not even necessarily given to the children or their parents. Old-time teachers remember longingly for the time when they did projects and took field trips.  Today they drill the children on skills. 

Yet in day school, children are free to study subject matter. Their day is academically rich as they learn double the content matter because of a dual curriculum.  Art and music enhance their learning.  They read stories about their ancestors—not everyone else’s.  Children who attend day school also learn lifelong skills that will help them become leaders in their communities.  They will eventually learn skills for the SAT, but they don’t need to start that in Kindergarten.

A Jewish education is expensive and many families aren't up to the challenge of writing those checks. However, the payoff is tremendous in terms of your child, in terms of your community and in terms of exercising your right to freedom of religion. To quote the Talmud, “Don’t say you will study later, study now so that you can study later.”

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