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Category Archives: Education
Jewish Day Schools
Jane emails: Perhaps you should re-consider the subject of Jewish Day Schools. You’d written a while back on Etz Jacob, and Aron Abecassis. My understanding now is that Aron abandoned the struggling school, walked away, and left them with a … Continue reading
Posted in Aron Abeccasis, Education, Etz Jacob, Los Angeles, Orthodoxy
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In Praise Of Etz Jacob Philanthropist Aron Abeccasis
Etz Jacob’s rabbi Rubin Hutler sent Aron Abecassis this letter of gratitude on March 25. Perhaps a reader knows the back story to all this better than I do.
Posted in Aron Abeccasis, Education, Etz Jacob, Jewish Journal, Los Angeles, Orthodoxy
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Shalhevet Financially Stretched
Sarah emails about the Modern Orthodox Los Angeles school: I get the sense that the conflict between opposing forces (Friedman and the people who are sick of him) is unresolved, and that it will countinue to play out over time … Continue reading
Stunning Enrollment Drop At Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy?
A source writes: "Large enrollment drop again for the fall year 2007-2008 from about 600 students to about 450. This is going to enlarge the deficit an additional $1.5 to 2.0. million dollars. School board president Morey Levovitz’s agenda at … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Harkham Hillel, Los Angeles, Orthodoxy
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BBI and UJ join up to forge a home for pluralistic Judaism in landmark merger
Contrary to the claims in this Jewish Journal article, this is not a merger of BBI with the UJ but a takeover of BBI by the UJ. After all, this new entity will be presided over by the UJ’s two … Continue reading
University Of Judaism Buys Brandeis-Bardin Institute
Expect an announcement this week. BBI was the largest landholder among Jewish organizations outside of Israel, but the place has been consistently mismanaged for more than 20 years, and it has been selling off bits of land to try to … Continue reading
Jerry Friedman Remains At Shalhevet
His dispute with the board continues. I guess Jerry was just bluffing when he walked away from the school last week. I’m not sure how long he will last at Shalhevet if he does not get his way. Friedman has … Continue reading
Shalhevet Ousts Founder Jerry Friedman?
Friedman led the school for years and contributed much of its funding. There was a contentious board meeting last week at Shalhevet, the most left-wing of L.A.’s Orthodox day schools. The upshot? Friedman walked away from the school. He’s been … Continue reading
Seek Good School System, With Not Too Many Black Kids
John Derbyshire writes on Jewcy.com: House hunting in the New York suburbs in 1992, my (Chinese-born) wife and I were once sitting in the office of a realtor, an American lady, trying to spell out just what we were looking … Continue reading
Real Estate Magnate Aron Abecassis Leaving Etz Jacob
I hear Nancy Fields, former head of secular education at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, is going with him. Abecasis is the president of the board. He received a glowing portrait in the June 9, 2006 Jewish Journal: A go-getter who … Continue reading