New Study Finds Jewish Day School Enrollment Ticking Up
The survey was conducted by Prizmah - a network of Jewish
day schools and yeshivas in North America whose mission, in its own words, is
to “invest in talent, advance the financial vitality of schools, and
enhance educational excellence so schools can thrive.”
As part of that effort, Prizmah surveys enrollment trends in
Jewish day schools. Breaking it down by denomination. As one might expect,
Orthodox schools (Charedi school were not included in the survey) experienced
the largest percentage increase. But enrollment increased across all
denominations last year.
Why? The article notes, however, that the initial growth
began during the pandemic. My own view is that what has primarily sustained
that growth has been the dramatic rise in antisemitism since then.
That raises several questions, one of which is whether
increased enrollment in heterodox Jewish schools is necessarily a good thing.
I have mixed feelings about it.
On the positive side, an education that fosters pride in
one’s Jewish heritage and teaches the essential values of the Torah is
obviously beneficial. Jewish ignorance is one of the primary reasons so many
Jews have abandoned their Jewish identity, viewing Judaism as having little or
no relevance to their everyday lives. Any education that instills pride in
one’s heritage makes it far less likely they will abandon it as an adult.
There is also the benefit of learning the basics, such as
reading Hebrew studying Torah texts, and reciting daily prayers. Even if those
prayers are inappropriately abridged, students will have a much easier time
adapting to the world of Orthodoxy should they eventually choose that path.
But then there is also a downside…
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