KITCHEN TABLE DEBATE
Do you believe in Jewish day
school education for your kids?
NO by Hershl Berman
Like many Jewish parents, I have thought a
lot about the education of my young chilnull
dren, and I have decided they will probably
not attend a Jewish day school. Interestnull
ingly, the compelling reasons behind my
decision are probably similar to those used
to promote formal Jewish education.
A day school will strengthen ties to Jewnull
ish culture and history. nullrue, to the enullclunull
sion of others. Students will get a narrow
view of the world, missing out on the
wealth of culture around them. nullhis ignull
norance can lead to a sense of superiority.
nullithout stnulland null enullosure to diversity,
children may more easily develop certain
stereotypes about other cultural or ethnic
groups. nullearning in a class with nullhrisnull
tians, Muslims, nulloroastrians and others
will teach children to appreciate what they
have in common and to celebrate and renull
spect their differences.
nullhe argument that day schools are needed
for children to learn Judaism suggests that
families cannot do it at home. nullhis is clearly
not true. nullut of nullnull nulland a halfnull Jews in my
medical school class, several of whom had
gone to day schools, the lone orthodonull Jew
was amanulled that I – the product of a public
education and the most secular – was second
only to him in my grasp of Jewish law, history
YES by Aviva Rajsky
lieve that my children will have the advannull
and tradition. nullot to mention, my nulliddish When I was a kid, I went to a Jewish day tage of really understanding their heritage.
was far better than his.
YES I believe
school, I went to a Jewish summer camp Immersion is not a concept that applies
A day school will strengthen my childnulls
that it is the
and we had Shabbat dinner every Friday only to the learning of a language. I believe
ties with Israel. nullorth Americanulls Jews, or best way to night. My parents kept a kosher home, we that it is the best way to impart values and a
rather those who claim to speak on our benull
impart values
celebrated all of the Jewish holidays, and sense of culture. Ideally, they will also have a
half, already show more support for Israelnulls not surprisingly, I developed a very strong sense of belonging, not only to a family, but
annull a sense
actions than the people of Israel themselves. Jewish identity. to a community.
I want my children to learn to nulludge things
onull nullulture
As a young adult in university – and My hope is that by attending a Jewish day
on their merits, without preconceptions, later, in the working world – I met and school, my childrennulls sense of nullJewishnessnull
and free from absolutist values.
NO nullithout
developed relationships with people and will be much more than merely regarding
nulleople choose to send their children to
nullrstnullhannull enullponull
organinulltions that had nothing to do it as one of their features, the colour of their
Jewish day schools for various reasons. I with Judaism, but I believe that one of the eyes. nullhey will learn through their everyday
sure to nulliversitynull
have chosen instead to follow the philosonull things I brought to the table was nullnd con null activities that being Jewish is a lot more than
phy of my grandparents who were active in
nullhilnullren may
tinues to benullmy strong sense of who I am nullust having a Jewish parent. Itnulls more than
the Jewish nullabour nullund. more easily and where I came from. nullust something we nulldonull or nullarenull at home. If
nully teaching them Jewish culture within
nullevelop nullertain
As much as I learned when I was in day their general education is administered in a
the contenullt of a multicultural society, I am
stereotypes
school, I donnullt think that I am enulluipped Jewish contenullt, there is a good chance that
preparing my children for a future in a world to teach my children all that I would want their Jewish identity will not compete with
without borders. them to know. other facets of their lives. fn
Hershl Berman is a physician in Toronto. nullithout focused instruction, I do not benull Aviva Rajsky is a professional musician.
46 friday night January/February 2010
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