tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post114881925076717343..comments2024-03-27T07:01:13.725+02:00Comments on The Muqata: Torn in Israel. Secular Kids in Religious Schools - part 2.Jameel @ The Muqatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15890095633246557332noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1149789787459958842006-06-08T21:03:00.000+03:002006-06-08T21:03:00.000+03:00Nice colors. Keep up the good work. thnx!»Nice colors. Keep up the good work. thnx!<BR/><A HREF="http://2328.carsdot.info/" REL="nofollow">»</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1149104954495522052006-05-31T22:49:00.000+03:002006-05-31T22:49:00.000+03:00Does gettting mentioned in Cross-Currents count as...Does gettting mentioned in Cross-Currents count as much as a JIB award?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148907437100461482006-05-29T15:57:00.000+03:002006-05-29T15:57:00.000+03:00I would suggest sitting down with the non-observan...I would suggest sitting down with the non-observant family/families to discuss the dilemma that the school faces by accepting their children. But first I would preface it by saying that you would love to have the opportunity to help their child/children grow & develop in this beautiful Torah atmosphere.<BR/>Then I would ask them their opinion as to how this may affect their family when the child comes home & sees his family not observing all those criteria that he or she is now learning about. I would also ask how they would expect the families of the observant children to feel if the non-observant children begin having a "negative' affect on their children should the non-observant child mention how they, for instance, rode on shabbos - things of that nature? Then ask them what their response be if the situation would be reversed and it affected their home life - for instance, not wanting to ride on the sabbath, only eat kosher food, etc. Using these types of examples try to ascertain their response. If the Rabbi/Board asking the question is intuitive enough he will get a feeling if this family's child and family has a fairly good chance of adapting & accepting to his "new" school.<BR/>Bottom line, I don't believe in "throwing" away these children, and yet I know it can be very problematic If you succeed with only one or two children, wouldn't that be a special moment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148880185739923482006-05-29T08:23:00.000+03:002006-05-29T08:23:00.000+03:00okay, i missed the boat on part one of secular kid...okay, i missed the boat on part one of secular kids in religious schools because i needed time to digest and really think about this situation. speaking as a (former) high school teacher in the ny public school system, here's my input....<BR/>basically, in all of NYC, there are neighborhood elementary schools organized into specific districts. within each district are usually a few designated "specialized" schools, meaning, those housing programs for the gifted and talented. within the realm of junior high schools a similar situation exists. there are usually a bunch of regular schools and then a few more specialized schools for gifted kids. within the spectrum of nyc highschools, most have some sort of special program offered, and then there are the extremely competitive schools that exist at the top--stuyvesant, brooklyn tech, bronx high school of science, laguardia (the high school of the performing arts made famous in the movie "fame")....<BR/>but "anyone" cannot just get into these special programs. in elementary school, junior high, and high school, the top schools require special admissions exams, interviews,a portfolio (for art programs) and at the very least, a special application that must be filled out. and then the students wait and find out whether they will be attending a special school or their regular zoned school.<BR/>now, regarding the religious schools and the secular schools, a similar admissions process could be instituted. perhaps interviews with the kids. maybe a letter from a rabbi. maybe an interview with the parents as well. these interviews and recommendations would serve to give the faculty an idea of who wants to come in. it would screen out potential problems. it would cause admission from non-religious folks to be more competitive, and might spur people to practice more. it would also give the faculty an idea of the needs of this population. <BR/>thank goodness i'm in the BT process, and when i get to israel i plan on sending my kids to religious schools. i know that what my children learn in school will be reinforced in the home and vice versa. however, it seems that this is what is needed from the non-religious attendees of these schools--a level of commitment that is not being met on the part of the parents. <BR/>having taught hebrew school to conservative kids who ate mcdonalds on saturdays at the mall, i can assure you that there is nothing more frustrating than trying to explain kashrus and its importance when the parents don't care. somehow, jameel, someone needs to stress the need for religious accountability for students attending a religious school.bechttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146699715760197131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148872891050098272006-05-29T06:21:00.000+03:002006-05-29T06:21:00.000+03:00"Compare that to the majority of Jews living in th..."Compare that to the majority of Jews living in the US today -- what percentage of Reform Jewry know of the above?"<BR/><BR/>Probably a high percentage of Reform Jews in the US know Jewish history and about the various holy days. There's even a modest trend towards something beyond minimal observance: and of course the three things even the most minimally observant Jew here will do is attend Yom Kippur services, light Chanukah candles, and have some sort of seder for at least the first night of Passover, even if they aren't affiliated with a synagogue.<BR/><BR/>Your question only makes sense if you include Jews who totally assimilated and unaffiliated, and Reform doesn't really deserve to have them lumped into its stats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148849126462442822006-05-28T23:45:00.000+03:002006-05-28T23:45:00.000+03:00YoelBA: One of the rabbanim in the school mentione...YoelBA: One of the rabbanim in the school mentioned that same thing about himself (though he's not R' Steinzalts). He said that he was raised secular, and if not for the opportunity to attend a religious public school, he would never have been chozer bitshuva.Jameel @ The Muqatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15890095633246557332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148848709580412902006-05-28T23:38:00.000+03:002006-05-28T23:38:00.000+03:00The other issue is offering people like Adin Stein...The other issue is offering people like Adin Steinzald the opportunity to discover Judaism. Raised in a secular home, his father sent him to a religous school to "get exposure", and look what happened!Yoel.Ben-Avrahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03833004397515977724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148824144562354282006-05-28T16:49:00.000+03:002006-05-28T16:49:00.000+03:00WBM: Yes, I agree with you (surprise, surprise). ...WBM: Yes, I agree with you (surprise, surprise). <BR/><BR/>OK, so there's no such thing as complete security.<BR/><BR/>There's also no such thing as the perfect school either. Perhaps our "hishtadlut" in the schools is to allow up to 10% of secular kids who really want to learn more?Jameel @ The Muqatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15890095633246557332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13539920.post-1148822828392994512006-05-28T16:27:00.000+03:002006-05-28T16:27:00.000+03:00Jameel - number one, there is no such thing as "co...Jameel - number one, there is no such thing as "complete security" - Hashem is in charge everywhere, and what happens to us is in His hands. What one has to do is the hishtadlut that is possible (shmira, for example) and leave the rest to G-d. Two, with the start of the latest "intifada" (it should be called a war, shouldn't it?)and the suicide bombings, my kids are safer here than in the mall in Netanya or on line for pizza in Jerusalem. (But of course you know, and I'll wager, agree, with everything I just wrote anyway...)westbankmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07175250198028829889noreply@blogger.com