I am writing in response to a letter in last week’s Jewish Link titled, “Defining a Jewish Education” (May 27, 2020), in which the writer seemed to discourage reverting to the old “Talmud Torah” model of education. He cited, in part, that we left that model to avoid being “subject to/ influenced by them.” He also indicated that subjects like the Holocaust would not be taught like it would be in a Yeshiva Day School.

While I appreciate Mr. Hochman’s concerns and opinion, I would like to offer an alternative perspective. Imagine if we used this “crisis” to revamp the Jewish educational model and work with the broader public education system so that our children can be comfortably integrated for secular studies. Holocaust studies can be included as part of their existing overall education on racism, racial tolerance and equality for everyone.

Our children would have an opportunity to learn how to associate with the broader population while still holding to their own religious beliefs. After all, they will eventually be exposed to the broader population, and this offers them, and us, a time to prepare them for what awaits. Hopefully, by mingling closer with them, they will come to value and appreciate us for our contributions, and our children will come to do the same for their new peers.

This is what I would consider a real win-win:

Parents will save enormously on tuition costs

Yeshiva Day Schools can focus on their specialty, limudei kodesh

Salaries for rabbis and teachers will increase

Schools can reduce costs on staff, programming and administration

We have an opportunity to think out of the box and solve some of our previous problems.

Let us use this “crisis” as an opportunity to explore other educational options to improve the pre-existing broken system. As a parent who has had experience in both public school and Yeshiva settings, I think this “crisis” could be just what the doctor ordered.