Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Principals of Jewish Day Schools, all Mandel Jerusalem Fellows Graduates, convene for enrichment and learning

A group of Mandel Jerusalem Fellows graduates who head Jewish day schools across North America gathered in Manhattan November 12-14, 2007 to discuss "the Jewish character of the Jewish day school". 

This focus group conference, organized by MLI faculty members Howie Deitcher and Danny Paller, grew out of a series of meetings conducted with members of this group over the past year-and-a-half.  In these conversations principals noted that the ever-increasing managerial pressures of their jobs afford them little opportunity to reflect with colleagues on the deeper purpose and significance of the work, on ideological challenges they face, and on strategies for increasing day schools' impact on Jewish life.

Following an opening session by Dr. Eli Gottleib, the participants went on to explore a number of themes with various scholars. Prof. Moshe Halbertal of Hebrew University and the Mandel Leadership Institute taught a 16th century text (by the Maharshal). The text raised pertinent questions for the group about authority, closure, and the pressure to systematize norms.  A later session on the "Jewish vision of day schools", in which three members of the group – representing modern Orthodox, Conservative, and community day schools – discussed the challenges of identity-formation, community-building, and the new "trope" of organizational management.

Other sessions included a case presentation by Dr. Devora Steinmetz, founder of the Beit Rabban Day School in Manhattan, reviewing the pedagogy of a Beit Rabban Bible class, followed by participant-led case studies on incorporating Israel, the Jewish calendar, and staff collaboration into the day school culture.

Three other participants presented "Jewish day school in the context of community", which highlighted efforts to make Judaic study serious and sacred in an age of careerism (including the introduction of "religious counselors" at one school), parents' increasing delegation of responsibility to the schools, and the reality of growing competition among local Jewish day schools.

Over the two days, the group examined the challenges of leadership, the complexities of religious development in today's climate, and issues of inclusiveness and evaluation – almost all of which cut across ideological lines.  Participants also discussed next steps, including the idea of devising a "Jewish yardstick" which could be broadly used by day schools to do school self-assessment, and doing a site visit to one participant's school, with follow-up analysis and documentation.

Participants praised the effectiveness of the cross-ideological conversations, claiming the meeting raised educational concerns rarely discussed in North American practice. Another principal said, "It brought me into a language of professional expertise and commitment that is inspiring…I return to my school with a renewed sense of purpose."