Attending Jewish Day School
Research shows that 100 hours of formal Jewish education a year is necessary for minimal affiliation to the Jewish community (identifying oneself as a Jew, synagogue affiliation). In the traditional supplemental Religious School, most students receive between seventy-five and ninety hours yearly. In a Jewish Day School, especially one like Shlenker, Jewish education is on-going and consistent.
In a Jewish Day School, a Jewish child can learn about his own identity, history, and traditions in a completely natural and meaningful way because the culture of the school reflects his own family's culture.
In a Jewish Day School, we are not restricted by the same laws that govern public education. We can—and do—teach our children about God, Torah, and the Jewish people.
In a Jewish Day School, we offer values-based education. When a class is having trouble because of gossip, we can use words of Torah as the basis for character education.
In much the same vein, when a child is facing a crisis of faith because of illness or death, our clergy is available for counseling. Public school can educate a child in the social, motor, emotional, and academic realms; in a Jewish Day School, we can also teach them in the spiritual realm.
A Jewish Day School student is Jewish all day—and all year—long. Jewish education isn't something you do after “regular school;”—it is regular school! Being Jewish isn't part-time to a student in a Day School. Jewish education is no longer an extra activity (and, by extension, not as important as “real” school). A parent's commitment to a full-time Jewish education for their children is also a commitment to Judaism.
My child has just blossomed at The Shlenker School; we couldn't be happier.Jane
