A Short History of NYHS
There was a time in our community when parents who wanted a Jewish day school education for their high school-aged children were required to send their children out of state in order to further their Jewish education. As a result, many of the most committed young people in our community did not return to the Seattle area after completing their education. This exodus of young people represented a tremendous loss of talent and resources for the community as a whole.
The Yeshiva, originally known as Yeshivat Or Hazafon, was established in 1974 by Rabbi Daniel Rosenthal. The school was initially an extension of the Seattle Hebrew Academy which graciously allowed the Yeshiva to use the basement portion of its Capitol Hill facility for several years. The first class consisted of six pioneering young men. Three years later, the Yeshiva emerged as an independent entity.
Around this time, YOH was also officially recognized as a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. This paved the way for the school to receive Federation funding.
The year 1979 was a watershed year in the history of the school. In 1979, Rabbi Morton Moskowitz relocated to Seattle and assumed the role of Rosh HaYeshiva. The same year, the Yeshiva welcomed its first female students. For the first time, Jewish parents who wanted intensive Jewish learning combined with a solid academic foundation had a real choice.
After guiding the Yeshiva through its first decade, Rabbi Rosenthal left in 1984. For the next two years the school’s Board of Directors experimented with a variety of administrative structures. In 1986, Rabbi Bernie Fox assumed the role of Dean of Northwest Yeshiva High School. Under Rabbi Fox’s guidance, enrollment increased, as did the level of academic standards. In September of 1992, the Yeshiva realized its dream of acquiring its own campus. A property located on Mercer Island was purchased and renovated to accommodate the projected maximum enrollment of 65 students. Enrollment at NYHS increased steadily, reaching 55 students in 1995. There was, however, concern that the Yeshiva would not continue to grow. In a dramatic and strategic move, the Samis Foundation and NYHS initiated a pilot Tuition Reduction Program in 1996. The program effectively lowered the annual tuition. As a result, many families who did not view full- time high school level Jewish education as a viable option began to reconsider their choices. Enrollment increased dramatically. By 1996, the campus was renovated to allow for projected enrollment increases. By 1998, with an enrollment of over 100 students it was clearly evident that there was not sufficient space. Consequently, modular classrooms were added to the site in 1999. With the increased enrollment, there developed the need to provide a greater variety of electives and programs for the student body.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114
