The Goal of Jewish Day School Education By Rabbi Dr.

Jeremiah Unterman Director of Education, Hillel Academy of Ottawa What is the purpose of the Jewish Day School whether in Ottawa, Vancouver, New York, or San Diego? The obvious answer is, to effectively transmit the key values, knowledge and skills necessary for a child to become an active participant in Jewish civilization. That response, however, gives rise to another question: Is it really important in the modern world to continue Jewish civilization? Why, after all, are we doing this? Why bother? Isnt it enough just to raise children who will be good citizens? Why should Jewish parents and the Jewish community spend all this time, money, and effort to perpetuate the culture of of 1% of the worlds population? Is there not something ridiculous about this enterprise? In todays world, why be Jewish? Certainly, we know that to be a Jew is to be part of a people, a nation. But, if being Jewish was no more than being Irish, or Russian, or Peruvian, or Canadian, or American, I, for one, would definitely chuck it. Being Jewish, though, is so much more than being part of a people. It means participating in Judaism, and Judaism is a national religion, a religious civilization, of inestimable worth. Simply put, Judaism is the greatest ethical civilization on the face of the Earth. Who gave the world the idea that all human beings were created equal, and that human life was sacred? Judaism, through the Torah and the Talmud. Who gave the world the concept that God is not only supernatural, but ethical, and cares about the world and all life in it? Judaism, in the Bible and Talmud. Who gave the world the idea that murder and other heinous crimes were absolutely evil, under all circumstances, and that human beings had the free will to choose good over evil? Judaism, the Torah. Who gave the world the idea that the individual was responsible for the community and the community was responsible for the individual? Judaism, the Bible and the Talmud. Who gave the world the concepts of the work ethic, of weekly rest from labor, of human rights, of the limitation of the power of the government, of the hierarchy of ethics over ritual, of the rights of women in marriage, of the individual and communal duty to care for the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, and the stranger? Judaism, the Torah, the Talmud, and the Codes of Jewish Law. Who gave the world the ideas of judgment based solely on merit, of the efficacy of repentance, that charity and doing good for others are obligations, the hope of redemption, of constantly striving to improve the world for the benefit of all human beings? Judaism, Judaism, Judaism. What I have mentioned above is only the tip of the iceberg. It is not for nothing that both the quantity and influence of Jewish ethical literature far exceeds that of any other civilization.

And where today is the Jewish child to acquire this knowledge? What other civilization has brought to the world these ethical and religious teachings? Will she learn this in the public school? In the secular private school? Does the synagogue supplementary school have enough hours in the week to teach these values, knowledge, and skills? The answer is obvious, only the Jewish Day School can provide the time, the effort, the education, and the environment in which to transmit to our children the incomparable messages of our unique civilization. This is the challenge facing Hillel Academy, and that is why we must be successful. For if we can bring our children to inculcate the positive, the benefits of living a Jewishly committed life, then we will indeed be improving the world.