Several professional sports teams and a world-class zoo are just some of the unique features of our focus community for this week. Cincinnati has much to offer as a well established community with the financial and welcoming features of an out-of-town city.
The frum community revolves around three orthodox shuls that welcome and accommodate a range of hashkafot, like most of our out-of-town communities. In the last five years approximately 40 new families have moved into town, according to a source. The community is friendly, and many residents have young children. Looking at the Jewish community at large, it is a very diverse landscape that combines the descendants of those who founded the American Reform movement, a recent influx of yeshivish families and everything in between.
Cincinnati Hebrew Day School boasts over 270 students in separate-gender classes.
Additionally, Ohr Torah Cincinnati is a newer school that incorporates a lot of Montessori methodology in multi-age classrooms with another 60-70 students.
There is a girls’ high school and, starting this coming academic year, a new boys’ mesivta, providing a local option for families in need.
The state of Ohio is unique in that it offers tuition vouchers that parents can use to offset tuition costs for education, which can include yeshiva students. Within Cincinnati’s frum neighborhood, these vouchers are available to everyone regardless of income. The voucher is $5500 per child in elementary school (K-8) and $7500 per child in high school. (https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/programs/ohio-income-based-scholarship-program/) This helps reduce tuition costs which, even before this benefit, are generally lower than the cost in the New York area.
Employment opportunities abound with major employers—including GE, University of Cincinnati, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Standard Textile and Kroger—providing many opportunities for employment.
The local JCC offers a full range of programming, including child care, summer camp and athletic programs with a pool and gym.
There are several kosher groceries as well as several dining options, including pizza at the JCC cafe (which is open to the community), a bagel store, a doughnut store, a meat grill and an Indian restaurant.
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati is an invaluable and unique source of funding for the community, generously supporting many programs and institutions through the sale of the hospital it once owned.
Recent sales are as follows. (Realtor.com):
4 bdrm 1 bath, 1821 sq ft, $199,000 with real estate taxes of $2040.
3 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 2300 sq ft, $315,000 with real estate taxes of $5026
For those willing to consider a community a little further from the center of activity, Cincinnati’s pricing and availability may be more attractive.
At-a-Glance
State income tax—4.797%
Shuls—3
Schools—2
Hours from NYC—10
Incentives—School vouchers, $600 for a pilot trip, and a one-year membership at Congregation Sha’arei Torah
For more information contact Alana Klinkowitz at [email protected], or (513) 939-6534.
David Siegel is a vice president of mortgage lending with Guaranteed Rate Affinity (GRA)—16 Arcadian Avenue, 3rd Floor, Unit C-6, Paramus, NJ 07652—a leading national retail mortgage lender. GRA is licensed in all U.S. states except Hawaii and works with many investors, which allows it to provide competitive pricing and a broad channel of unique options to handle the often very specific needs of the community.
David has over 15 years of experience at both major banks and mortgage bankers and understands the guidelines of different lenders to help direct his customers to the best loan type for their needs. No one lender is the best option for everyone. David will help you find the right choice for you. [email protected]. 201-725-9527. NMLS 277243. Guaranteed Rate Affinity NMLS 1598647 Equal Housing Lender. For licensing, go to nmlsconsumeraccess.org [add branch address] Licensed by the NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance.
*Guaranteed Rate Affinity is not affiliated with Congregation Sha’arei Torah nor does Guaranteed Rate Affinity sponsor or endorse Congregation Sha’arei Torah.
