Q: What do you hope to accomplish through NNJKIDS?
Q: Why a kehilla fund?
Q: Who conceived of NNJKIDS and who is operating it?
Q: What schools are included in NNJKIDS?
Q: How are the monies to be allocated?
Q: Will the NNJKIDS solve the day school tuition crisis?
Q: Who are you approaching to fund NNJKIDS?
Q: Why should people contribute to NNJKIDS, particularly if they do not currently children in our day school?
Q: How much is each individual or family expected to give?
Q: What are JEFG’s Plans for the Future?
Q: Why is day school education so costly?
Q: Over what time period is the obligation to NNJKIDS made and paid?
Q: Are contributions NNJKIDS tax deductible?
Q: Will my school be upset with my giving to your fund instead of giving directly to its scholarship fund?
Q: Will I find out how the fund is progressing?
Q: There are so many charities and needs in our community and in Israel, why should we focus on Jewish education?
Q: Why is our community ideal as a model for other communities also dealing with issues of day school affordability?
Q: What do you hope to accomplish through NNJKIDS?
A: Northern New Jersey Kehillot Investing in Day Schools (NNJKIDS) has two primary objectives:
1) to support our schools, and
2) to reduce the financial pressure on our families.
It is intended as a crucial first step in a broader initiative to assure that all our children and future generations have access to a rich, high quality, dual curriculum, encompassing Judaic and secular studies.-Top
Q: Why a kehilla fund?
A: The operative word in the description of NNJKIDS above is “our.” These are our kids and our families and our schools... and this is the essence of a community… sharing responsibility. While raising money is essential, the method by which the kehilla fund accomplishes this objective is equally important. The kehilla fund is specifically designed to reinforce a sense of communal responsibility, premised on the understanding that the spiritual and academic foundation provided to our children in our day schools assures the strength and continuity of our community as a whole.
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Q: Who conceived of NNJKIDS and who is operating it?
A: A broad coalition of educators and rabbinic, organizational and lay leaders has been meeting regularly to address the tuition crisis. This includes the leadership of all our local day schools. The group, formally named Jewish Education for Generations (JEFG), seeks to develop far-reaching, transformational solutions to ensure the future viability of our schools. They have researched programs implemented by Jewish communities across the country, which are grappling with these very same stresses and affordability issues.
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NNJKIDS represents their first project, and ensuring the success of this fund will be the coalition’s primary focus in the next few months. JEFG will continue to operate the kehilla fund. However, they recognize that this is only the beginning of their work.-Top
Q: What schools are included in NNJKIDS?
A: The participating elementary schools are: (in alphabetical order): Ben Porat Yosef, Gerrard Berman, The Moriah School, The Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, Sinai School, The Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, Yavneh Academy and Yeshivat Noam.
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Q: How are the monies to be allocated?
A: NNJKIDS is a unified effort that includes day schools of all denominations in the Northern New Jersey area. Orthodox synagogues and schools are launching this program initially but we hope other denominations will soon follow. To strengthen the synagogue to school affiliation, funds collected from the members of synagogues will be allocated to schools in that denomination, unless otherwise indicated by donor. Funds will be allocated on a per capita basis, based on the number of preK-8 students in each school residing in Northern New Jersey. Distribution will occur quarterly.-Top
Q: How do you plan to encourage donations to NNJKIDS?
A: Synagogues across Bergen County have committed to participate in this community-wide effort. Our Rabbis and lay leadership will reach out to their congregations and stress the importance of this campaign. Our local schools, likewise, will be promoting this message. The OU has assisted our community, as it will with other communities across the country. In addition, we assume that many will turn to this website, just as you have done. -Top
Q: Will the NNJKIDS solve the day school tuition crisis?
A: Not on its own. But it is an essential first step in a comprehensive solution. Through establishing a sense of unity and working together toward a community response to this community issue we will be able to progress toward a long term viable solution. The individuals involved in JEFG are committed to achieving this level of unity in order to harness the strength of our community, establish momentum for change and encourage others nationally to follow suit. We hope our actions will serve as a model that one day soon will serve to foster a national network of support for day schools. This show of unity and strength is vital in order to effectuate meaningful change.
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Q: Who are you approaching to fund NNJKIDS?
A: We are asking each and every Jewish individual residing in the Northern New Jersey area to participate in this community-wide fund.
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Q: Why should people contribute to NNJKIDS, particularly if they do not currently children in our day school?
A: Each and every person should contribute to NNJKIDS, if for no other reason than he or she is a member of this Jewish community and because his or her contribution is a vital investment in its future.
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If you have school-age children, you should contribute because this is the first step in a broader movement to change the way day schools are funded in the future and an immediate step to make day schools more affordable and accessible to all.
If you are single, you should contribute because, with God’s help, this fund will be operational and extremely successful when you are married and have children who are ready to enter our local day school. You should also do it for your nieces and nephews and all the wonderful kids in your neighborhood. And if you are a graduate of one of our terrific day schools, you should contribute to make sure others enjoy the educational opportunities that were available to you.
If you are the parents of graduates and have already seen your children through our local day schools, you have many reasons to contribute. You should take a good look at how the how your children have developed and donate out of appreciation. You should contribute because you want our outstanding day schools to be thriving when your children are ready to settle down and choose a school for your future grandchildren. Finally, you should contribute because you, as well as anyone, comprehend firsthand the value of quality Jewish education.
If you have no affiliation with a local day school, but you are part of this community you should contribute because you recognize that a community is the sum of all its parts and that the success of the greater Jewish community, including Israel, rests with making certain that all members of our community thrive.-Top
Q: How much is each individual or family expected to give?
A: We are asking everyone to attempt to give $1 a day or $30 a month as a minimum donation. While we obviously would like to maximize the success of this fund and assist our schools and our children as much as possible, it is equally important to reach our goal of 100% participation. Of course, each person and family should assess their means and provide the maximum amount that they can contribute for this important endeavor. Only if we come together as a cohesive community can we bring about the changes necessary to guarantee our children’s future.
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Q: What are JEFG’s Plans for the Future?
A: JEFG will continue to meet to implement additional endowment programs and initiatives to address the challenges our schools and our families are facing. This will include implementing programs to save costs and raise revenue and achieve greater budgetary efficiencies. JEFG will also continually seek potential sources of support from local, state and federal government, as well as corporations and non-profit organizations. -Top
Q: Why is day school education so costly?
A: Schools have aggressively been cutting costs to the extent possible. For the coming year, the schools, on a combined basis, have reduced their budgets by over $1 million. However, reducing costs is no easy task without sacrificing the quality of the education that is necessary for our children to compete in an ever-changing and competitive world. Roughly 80% of the budget of our schools is attributable to faculty salaries and benefits. Much of the other 15-20% (mortgage, utilities) is fixed in nature. Schools continue to look for every penny that can be saved and will continue to do so regardless of the success of this program.
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However, that does not mean that our schools are affordable, and that is precisely why the kehilla fund (NNJKIDS) is being launched.-Top
Q: Over what time period is the obligation to NNJKIDS made and paid?
A: Your may pledge monthly or contribue a one time donation, either by:
1. An automatic debit from your bank account. (This is the least expensive and most efficient collection method for us.)
2. by recurring credit card charge
3. by post-dated checks or
4. as a lump-sum payment
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Q: Are contributions NNJKIDS tax deductible?
A: Yes, JEFG is currently designated as a non-profit organization registered as 501 (c) 3 entity. All donations are tax deductible. Matching grants are welcome.
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Q: Shouldn't I be giving my extra charity dollar to my school rather than to a communal fund?
A: Yes, you should be giving most of your charity budget to the local institutions that most directly affect you. The main idea here is to show the support of a communal fund. Being a 'member' of the community means that the education for all children is of paramount importance. Even if you are only able to make a small monthly contribution because of your other obligations, giving on any level declares the principle of kol yisrael areivim zeh lazeh, that we are all responsible for one another. -Top
Q: Will my school be upset with my giving to your fund instead of giving directly to its scholarship fund?
A: No. Your school principals and the presidents of your Boards are among those who have put significant time and effort in to create NNJKIDS and who will continue to work to make it a success. Through the success of NNJKIDS, both your school and our children benefit. This fund is not meant to replace individual donations to your specific school of choice. Rather, it is intended to encourage many who have yet to participate in such an initiative to do so and to begin to reformulate the model for funding day school education.
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Q: Will I find out how the fund is progressing?
A: Yes. We will post periodic reports on this website showing how the community is progressing as a whole.
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Q: There are so many charities and needs in our community and in Israel, why should we focus on Jewish education?
A: Because Jewish education is the lynchpin. It is the building block of any community and if we do not maintain our day schools we will effectively open the way for a steady erosion of Jewish communal life as we know it. Our rabbis have emphasized the priority of supporting our local institutions.
Studies have shown that Jewish education is the first line of defense against assimilation and inter-marriage. Support from families in the day school movement is an essential component of advocacy and support of Israel in the diaspora. Just look at the number of students the day schools send to study for a year in Israel after high school and the number of day school graduates who then promote Israel on college campuses and beyond. Some of Israel’s greatest supporters nourished their sense of Zionism and commitment to the State of Israel in our day schools.
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We need those voices to speak out loud and clear.
These are trends that we cannot afford to diminish or reverse.
Q: Why is our community ideal as a model for other communities also dealing with issues of day school affordability?
A: While other communities have established similar funds, no other community has initiated such a project with the level of broad-based support NNJKIDS enjoys. Our schools, our rabbis, and our lay leaders have all demonstrated enthusiastically backed this endeavor.
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