Community Magazine August 2006

52 Community magazine  ”  Securing the Future of Our Community... One Girl at a Time Ahava ve Ahba Sephardic Bet Yaakov T here was a time in our history when the education of girls consisted of informal home-schooling by their mothers and the more experienced females in their extended family. The “curriculum” often included instruction on kashrut, cook- ing, Shabbat and the holidays, appropriate prayers, taking care of the home and the children, and sometimes even craft skills that could help the family earn money. While many believe that this method of schooling is still the ideal, today few moth- ers have the sheer talent or ability to assume this responsibility as our grandmothers so ably did. But even if mothers could find the time to pass on their knowledge of Jewish customs and maternal skills, modern society now demands that girls too must be taught a complete and entirely separate secular curriculum. On many counts, today’s Bet Yaakov movement – the traditional Jewish girls’ schools modeled after an institution found- ed by Sarah Schnerer to counteract assimi- lation in Europe in 1917– provides young girls with both the best traditional Jewish instruction and the most tailored and com- plete secular education. Much of what makes the Bet Yaakov different from con- ventional Jewish schools is that the entire establishment – from the administration to the courses to teaching methods and everything in between – are tailored spe- cifically to the needs of girls. As modern research shows, girls mature at different ages, learn at a different pace and through different methods and face different social challenges compared to boys. So it would only make sense that an educational institu- tion for girls should be developed based on these specific needs. Ahava ve Ahba Sephardic Bet Yaakov was established on this principle. Founded by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael who also serves as Rabbi of Ahava ve Ahba of East 7th Street, students at the Bet Yaakov are guided by the capable hands of Rabbanit Smadar Rut Yisrael, Judaic Studies Principal and Mrs. Dvirah Greenfeld, Secular Studies Principal. The school provides a solid edu- cation for our daughters with a top-notch academic program that is consistent with the ways of the Torah and emphasizes the importance of midot tovot (good character traits) just as our grandmothers and great- grandmothers did for their children. Originally started as a pre-school, the institution maintains nursery and kinder- garten classes while each year, a new grade is added in the Bet Yaakov program. The upcoming 5766/67 academic year (very limited space currently available) will intro- duce a seventh grade class. As the school is still in its early stages and a major construction project is underway to accommodate growth of the student body, a tremendous opportunity exists to partici- pate in building this vital part of our com- munity’s future. There is perhaps no better way to honor the devotion of the mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers who taught us so much, than by making an ever- lasting contribution towards the education of tomorrow’s mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers. Sponsorship Opportunities: Entire third floor: $500,000 Elevator: $26,000 Auditorium: $18,000 Classrooms (each): $10,000 Computer Room: $10,000 Library: $10,000 Lighting per class: $1,000 Desks and chairs: 3 for 6 for 12 for $500 $900 $1,800 Mezuzot (each): $101 The zechut (merit) for the misva (commandment) of educating our future generations has no bounds. Contact: Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael 2001 East 7th Street Brooklyn, NY 11223 Phone: 718.376.3140 PNINA SOUID