The Jewish Day School world is flooded with conversation about The Affordability Crisis. Even the most committed families, the Orthodox and observant Conservative Jews, are questioning whether the system is sustainable.
The concerns about the unbearable cost of day school to parents are certainly real, but they are misdirected. The problem is not simply a matter of affordability. Affordability is the ability of the recipients (customers) of a product to afford to pay for it. The problem is that all of the recipients or beneficiaries of the product aren’t paying their share.
Consider the following ludicrous proposal: Jewish children should be responsible for paying for their own education. To be fair, let’s start this program at kindergarten. Five- and six-year-olds should pool together their tooth fairy money and cash in the bonds they received at birth, scraping together whatever they can to pay for their first year of school. The resulting educational program would be, dare I say, inadequate.
So what’s the logical flaw in this proposal? Many of the real recipients of the benefits of the education aren’t paying for it. While the students may be getting the education, their parents are benefitting too, in countless ways. They are having their obligation to educate their children met by the school. Their kids are learning values that will make them productive, self-sufficient members of society and hopefully instill in them the sense of obligation to care for their parents as they age. Parents get significant value out of their children’s education, so it makes sense for them to pay for it.
In the real world, of course, parents are paying for their children’s education. But we are still living in the ludicrous land where the vast majority of the beneficiaries of day school education aren’t paying for it. Who are the real beneficiaries of Jewish day school education? Let’s look at this question more closely.
Consider the position of Jews in society. Why are we safe? Why aren’t we being persecuted now, like we have been throughout history? Some would say it’s because of the freedoms accorded to us by virtue of being Americans. But to conclude that is to ignore history. We have been persecuted in America, as have other minorities, even though the U.S. Constitution has always suggested it should be otherwise. And we have had freedoms in other times and other lands.
We are free and safe because it is in the interests of the leaders of the lands we inhabit in Diaspora to afford us freedom and safety. Throughout history, Jews have been leaders in medicine, science, philosophy and government, to the extent that we have been allowed to be. Even in lands where we have been reviled, our doctors have been welcomed into palaces to treat the royal and infirm.
So, we have to ask ourselves, why do the Jewish people survive, and frequently thrive, in almost every era and almost every country we have gone to in exile? The answer is the one constant that Jews have always had throughout time and everywhere we have gone: Torah. We thrive because we are the People of the Book. We teach our children Torah. We live our lives by Torah. And by that formula do we become, time and again, necessary to the lands we live in, regardless of whether we are loved or hated. Eventually, our success has bred jealousy and resentment, and we have been driven out. But first we are successful.
Sadly, we are now working hard to break this chain by convincing ourselves that the reason for our success in America is freedom and assimilation. We tell ourselves that we came to America as nothing, with nothing, and America and freedom made us great. This is so terribly ignorant and misguided. It ignores history. It ignores the disproportionate number of Nobel Prizes awarded to Jews around the world. It ignores the backgrounds of the immigrants who came here around the turn of the 20th century and formed the backbone of the modern American Jewish community. Those immigrants grew up in Torah-observant communities, and even if they didn’t observe Judaism in their American homes or even teach Torah explicitly to their children, the residue of their Torah-infused upbringings impacted their children and even their grandchildren.
We choose not to support Jewish Day Schools because we don’t value Torah education as an end unto itself.
All of the members of the Jewish community are beneficiaries of a Torah-educated Jewish people and all should bear its cost, each according to his or her ability to pay. The Jewish billionaires and millionaires who gained their riches by being welcomed and productive members of the world economy, benefit from the Jewish people being Torah-educated. Jewish parents and grandparents who want their children and grandchildren to be safe in America need for us to continue to learn Torah, to continue to maintain our relevance in society as a people. As we have learned time and again, we will always be Jewish in the eyes of others. But if we stop being Jewish to ourselves, if we stop learning and following Torah, we risk irrelevance and uselessness as a people, which is one step away from losing our freedom.
We don’t have a Day School Affordability Crisis. We have a Community Torah Value Crisis. We choose not to support Jewish Day Schools because we don’t value Torah education as an end unto itself. We allow secularists to frame the discussion. We talk about day school as an alternative to public school or secular private school. We talk about the extracurricular activities, the excellence of the math and English teachers, the way in which day school promotes “Jewish identity,” whatever that means. But we seem to be afraid of talking about G-d and Torah.
We need to start promoting Jewish Day School for what it is: Torah education that perpetuates our advantage in the world. If we want our children to keep winning Nobel prizes, making outsized paychecks, taking leadership roles in the world, we need to encourage Jews to study Torah. Children need to start when they are young. Adults who don’t know any Torah need to study it, both to get an appreciation for its relevance and so they can practice its moral and ethical teachings, if not its ritualistic ones.
We need to make it understood that Torah education for everyone is a communal need and the highest priority.
The Jewish community can afford to educate its children. That is just a mathematical fact. If you add up the net worth of all of the Jews around the world, the Jewish community cumulatively has enough resources to pay for all of our Jewish educational needs. We just need to make it understood that Torah education for everyone is a communal need and the highest priority. If everyone studied Torah from childhood, we would all know about our communal responsibilities and we would naturally devote resources to fulfilling our obligations to the rest of the world. But the knowledge of what our obligations are stems from Torah, and if we don’t teach that to our children and our adults, we’ll never realize we aren’t living up to what is expected of us.
So let’s stop saying we can’t afford day school and start talking about how we can’t afford not to have day school. Let’s convince the beneficiaries of millennia of Jewish education, the wealthy and powerful and successful secular Jews in America, that they need to feed our children’s minds and souls with Torah, or else perhaps no one will think to feed, clothe and house them when they are old and in need.
This blog was originally posted on www.koheletfoundation.org, and is written by David Magerman, President and Founder, Kohelet Foundation.
(19) Anonymous, March 5, 2019 4:12 AM
simply do not have the money to pay
my son would agree to pay tuition in small increments for the rest of his life if it would be acceptable, but he cannot afford to pay for his 2 children's Orthodox day school education. they are currently in 2nd and 4th grade. on top of that, the special program his daughter needs due to learning disabilities is even more expensive. it is not that he doesn't want to pay. it is that he does NOT have this money the schools require of him. he has a salary, but either they have a roof over their heads, food to eat and limited heat in the winter or homeless with a Jewish education. that's not much of a choice. what are they supposed to do to ensure that their kids get a Jewish education?
(18) David Matlaw, August 19, 2018 7:55 PM
it's an American jewish culture problem
Insane how much staff in these schools. Mashgiach ruchani, director of hashkafa, director of admissions, head of this department and that department, counselors, director of ..........
Insanity, just like full time rabbis for shuls.
My community in Israel has a rabbi that does a thousand times more than any shul rabbi here, and he does it on the side (he has a regular, full time job.), and for a fraction of the salary of the American rabbis.
That's the main problem!
(17) Anonymous, February 16, 2014 1:34 AM
It becomes what it is.
Realistically, private jewish education is a rich man/woman's row to hoe. So, it goes back to what it is, each parents responsibility; starting with the parent, in the home. Whether you agree with Mr. Magerman, or not; he is trying to communicate to you in a condition of ardor and with a sense of urgency, see? The job starts with you, dear reader; giving as you are able, as in times of old, and as in years long ago, remember? Remember?
(16) Anonymous, February 14, 2014 6:02 PM
Missing the point.
I would like to add that my 3 minor children our in Jewish Day School literally by the charity of others and the grace of G-d
(15) Chana Miriam Zelasko, February 11, 2014 2:47 PM
Gladwyne
To Mr. Magerman:
First of all I agree with comment #9. Israel is the best option for Jewish education. For many reasons, in addition to financial.
I see from your brief bio that you live in Gladwyne, PA. I also grew up in suburban Philly in Penn Wynne, Lower Merion. I grew up in the 50's and 60's. I don't think there were any Jews living in Gladwyne then. I moved to Israel in '76 and I was surprised to hear there were Jews living in Gladwyne now. Things have really changed.
(14) Anonymous, February 11, 2014 1:02 AM
Arrogance will not win anyone over
I take real issue with the idea that the kehilla,as a whole is obligated to fund yeshiva/day school. I was bal teshuvah and sent my kids to day school. I saw all sorts of things I didn't like and didn't value. Like anything else designed and operated by people, there are flaws in the system. If you like it,great. But please don't tell me that my freedom and life are predicated on the day school system. And Nobel winners owing their accomplishments to frumkeit is bizarre. Here's my thought-when yeshivos place the same level of importance on derech eretz and ahavas yisroel(and others),as on gemorah,then the secular population may make yeshiva education a priority.
(13) Dave, February 10, 2014 4:55 PM
Poor logic and reasoning leads to poor conclusions
The author makes way too many broad sweeping assumptions and conclusions that are simply inaccurate. Horrible reasoning leads to horrible conclusions. There are too many mistakes for me to go over individually, but the conclusion is the biggest mistake of them all as the entire premise is based on it: how does the author not see the overarching problem in a society that espouses many children yet forces us to pay an insane amount for their education. With a salary in the top % in the country, I am nowhere near able to afford tuition for my four kids. Not to mention I still do not even own a home in the la area as prices are outrageous. So who is this author to say my crisis is in how much I value education? And one more thing: though I am an observant Jew, I am not blind. I find it ludicrous for the author to suggest that Nobel prizes are earned through Torah education... Haha... The majority of noble prizes by Jews have not come from observant Jews. What a silly implication that again shows the limits to the authors rationality and logic.
(12) Areyh, February 10, 2014 3:09 PM
Their are Solutions
In my view their two fundamental problems in Jewish Day Schools:- 1/ Clear lack of transparency in the schools in how the school is managed, financed and staffed and 2/ The parents have to be accountable for there children.It would be very interesting to see on a worldwide basis how many parents are paying full school fees.
As you indicated in your article the only way forward is to create a subsidy based solution by getting wealthy donors involved. However in order for this to happen one has to show a sustainable plan that makes all parents accountable and that the schools have to be completely transparent .
(11) Aharon, February 10, 2014 7:22 AM
Its the economy stupid
I think this article missing some important points. A middle class family, no matter how dedicated to torah, cannot afford to pay 20-25K/per child/per year. Salaries in the US haven't been increasing, yet tuition is increasing faster than inflation. Yes, Jewish education is important, but until they lower administrative costs, and find a way to make it more affordable, its not a viable option for most families.
(10) Ken, February 10, 2014 1:56 AM
Parents are the front line
I understand this article is aimed more at the Jewish community, which may well be able to afford a good Torah education for every child. However, I hope we don't lose sight of the fact it is genuinely difficult for many, many parents to afford tuition at Jewish day schools. I guess the real question in the end, is "Do we merely value people who can afford the tuition or do we value the education day schools provide?" I hope the answer is the latter, and that no parent's observance comes to be questioned because they don't make enough to send their children to a very good school.
(9) Aviel, February 9, 2014 9:36 PM
Israel is a better option re Jewish education
"As we have learned time and again, we will always be Jewish in the eyes of others. But if we stop being Jewish to ourselves, if we stop learning and following Torah, we risk irrelevance and uselessness as a people, which is one step away from losing our freedom."
What seems to be happening today is many Jews are neither Jewish in their own eyes, and as a result of intermarriage their children are in many cases not Jewish period. To convince secular Jews, who often marry outside the faith, and are fine with their children doing similarly that they should contribute
huge sums to provide for Torah education for other Jews seems a huge leap of faith . As a group they overwhelmingly vote against even allowing for tax vouchers to attend private religious schools. It seems to me the answer for those seeking affordable religious education is to move to Israel. Both health care and education are a fraction of the cost compared to the USA.
(8) Israel, February 9, 2014 8:58 PM
School Vouchers will do it!
Were every voter to call thier representatives in Congress at 202-224-3121 and urge sponsorship of the proposed DC Civil Rights Act for Equal Educational Opportunity, this would pave the way for school vouchers in all 50 states. This bill would provide a school voucher valued at half current costs, and the savings allocated to reduce the national debt.
(7) Anonymous, February 9, 2014 6:37 PM
I Invested in The Future
When I walked into the Jewish Day School, there I was right at home. I did what I had to do to make sure my son would spend his formative years learning and developing his essence. The wealth of growth, guidance and spiritual well being was insurmountable. I was not exposed to any of it growing up. So fortunate to experience the foundation of the love we can share among each other that which we can find at the seed which becomes the root of the birth of the tree. Not only do the children succeed but the parents are filled with the limelight and the remembrance or like me the discovery and the meaning. Baruch HaShem!
(6) Ya'aqov Abrams, February 9, 2014 5:42 PM
community education for Jewish education
The Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, PA pays a per capita for each child in one of the three local day schools. Clearly, the local Federation understands the importance of supporrting day school education. The local schools also set a cap on tuition as percentage of net annual income-this avoids the problem of the cost of education limiting the family size. The current model of financing day school education relies on the parents of the children to pay tuition with the school raising the rest of the operating costs by means of annual events of various sorts. I agree, all of us who benefit from day school education need to pay forward. Schools need foundations to support their operating costs, Federations need to support the education of their own children Relying on young parents with limited resources to fund the operating costs of schools is absurd. Better buisness models are desperately needed.
Hpela, February 16, 2014 1:50 AM
Business model.
We are afraid to acknowledge it, perhaps can no longer see the answer, because we have become like the nation around us, and it is fair-seeming; but, all the answers are in the Torah, not outside of it.
The time is now or never, to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, brush ourselves off, and BE the jews we were meant to be, and stop imitating the nations around us.
(5) Howard Mallinger, February 9, 2014 4:41 PM
Jewish Day Scools
The very real crisis today in Jewish scools,i believe stems from Jews today do not believe in real "Jewish" values and Torah. They just it seems want to be just like everybody else here.Not only sadly in education,but most endevers today.Just the fact that there are Jewish poor,and sick,that the esteemed UJA,JCC,FEDERATIONS,only today seem to care about jews(see above) on Mitzvah days,or their next testimonial dinners.Go to most hospitals here in Florida and ask for a Rabbi,and see what I mean-nursing homes too.And then you will see what I have seen. A REAL SHONDA
Anonymous, February 16, 2014 1:52 AM
So...
....what are YOU going to do about it?
(4) Jamey, February 9, 2014 4:41 PM
Very true but also missing some things
This article is spot on, but is also missing some points that need to be talked about and discussed. What gets me is that we see Jewish names on numerous buildings, museums, college buildings and on and on, the very sad part is that most of these places have nothing to do with being Jewish or helping expand or Jewish faith or community. It is very sad to see these beautiful large museums or building built with Jewish money but our Jewish schools struggle to make needed repairs to their facilities or buy new books or are able to offer just one more scholarship so another child can get that Jewish education that the parents want so much. Why the need to donate millions and millions to other causes that do no good for our community or worse yet harm our communities and bring about more assimilation and a loss of Jewish identity. Do these people who have made so much money not care about the future of the Jewish people and helping their own or are they more concerned with looking good to others who view them or worried that this politician or that college president may look down on them because they decided to give their money back to their community from which they came? Just sayin ...
michael swanger, February 9, 2014 8:39 PM
reply to jamey
I agree with your assessment. It seems to me that those wealthy Jewish donors to museums, buildings, arenas, etc. have their eyes set upon personal glory in the use of their names. Sort of like constructing an idol that brings glory to themselves, Let the gentile put his name on them; have the people of the Book put theirs on Jewish schools, day care centers and summer camps for our youth
David Magerman, February 9, 2014 11:44 PM
I agree completely. Here is something I wrote on the subject in 2010: http://jewishexponent.com/success-is-rooted-in-torah%2C-jewish-values-and-education
(3) ignatz, February 9, 2014 4:40 PM
Not all Jewish Day Schools are for real.....
In thinking about Jewish day schools and how best to fund them, let's bear in mind that many "community" and "pluralistic" day schools do not even offer a Torah education. Rather, they are citadels of secular liberalism, where "tolerance" and "equality" are the overarching values. Mr. Magerman's article raises some good points, but not all "Jewish Day Schools" deserve to be called by that name.
(2) Shoshana, February 9, 2014 4:10 PM
Observance is the key
Todah for pairing the emphasis of "committed" with "observant" rather than a specific denominational name. Our main focus should be Torah - not deciding who is a Jew and who isn't. This we can do at home from the moment we bring a child into the world. That is Hebrew Day School. That said, regarding the article's main point (not mine) I believe this is a test meant for all of us to aspire to cohesion and keep the dialogue open. What might work for one community given financial ability won;t work for another.
(1) Alan S., February 9, 2014 10:25 AM
This is a smart, cogent article. The author's clear and simple message should make good food for thought for Jewry worldwide. I have one small quibble. The predicate part of the very last sentence simply does not make sense based on the subject part. The wealthy, powerful and successful Jews will well be able to afford someone to clothe, feed and house them when they are old and in need.
Leah, February 9, 2014 5:31 PM
I think this is what the author means...
I had to reread it,too. I think he means to say that if we do not educate our communities of Jewish children then they will not be Torah educated. In turn, they will not become Jews who will understand that it is important to take care of other yidden, whether it be their basic needs or educational needs etc.... Then where will we be when we are old and it is too late because a generation or two or three will lose out on understanding their responsibilities to each other for continuance etc....
Alan S., February 9, 2014 8:25 PM
Yes...for sure.
Intuitively, I realized as well that your interpretation is what the author meant. I only "quibbled" because this is not what he wrote.
Leah, February 11, 2014 12:26 PM
Alan, I agree. I did it, too. :)
I also see some very cogent opinions with the other responses. In reading one in particular about the economy and the fact that salaries and the the like have not gone up, yet the rate of inflation has etc... We have four children in the Jewish Day school system and we are strapped. It affects my husband's health as well as so many other parents whom I know. it is the reason why we are looking at alternative Jewish -yes, orthodox/Torah learning. In other words: It's a no- brainer for us to keep our children Torah educated,yet there is no money tree in the back yard. We are on scholarship and thank Heaven pay on time and contribute in other ways with time and projects, yet it is still way too much $. We also understand that the salaries of the teachers and staff is very important and agree they are worth it and they do not live in the lap of luxury, either....