The Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit

Infobox Secondary school
name = Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit

motto = "Aseh lecha rav, u'kneh lecha chaver"--"Make her your teacher, and let him be your friend" (Pirkei Avot)
established = 2000
type = Private 9-12
founding headmaster Rabbi Lee Buckamn 2000-2008
students = >245 (2008)
grades = 9-12
city = West Bloomfield
state = Michigan
country = ,USA
campus = Suburban
colors = Navy Blue and Silver
mascot = Jaguar
newspaper = "The Paradigm" (student-produced periodical); "Sof Shavuah" (newsletter; translated as "Weekend" in Hebrew)
website = http://www.frankelja.org
picture =

The Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit (FJA), formerly the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit (JAMD), is located in West Bloomfield, Michigan in the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Jewish Community Center. It is currently in its seventh year of existence and is residing for the most part in 18 double-wide modular classrooms (affectionately known as the "trailers") next to the in-line hockey center that is part of the JCC, with full access to the JCC pool, gymnasium, and multi-purpose room (Handleman Hall) for minyan, or daily prayer. There are classes in an addition to the JCC known as the "7500 Area" (so named because the number of square feet it has), with A&A (Arts and Athletics) classes in these locales, and some academic classes held in the 7500 Area. FJA is a college preparatory Jewish day high school. Students that attend FJA come from various denominations within Judaism including Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and Orthodox Judaism.

History of the Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit

History

The idea of establishing a Jewish day high school in the suburbs of Detroit emerged from a group of Conservative and Orthodox day school parents in the mid-1990’s. These parents believed it was possible to build an institution that was religiously traditional and, at the same time, took western civilization seriously. Their interest was derived from a number of factors, not the least of which was the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey that indicated that a majority of Jews were marrying out of the faith.

These parents understood that the key to Jewish continuity was a religiously meaningful Jewish education was sustained through adolescence. They reasoned that only if teenagers saw that Judaism offered something unique and beautiful that was not available in the liberal democratic society surrounding them would they continue to be part of a vibrant Jewish future. Thus, these parents accepted upon themselves the challenge of building such a counter-cultural institution.

Nationally, Jewish communities were awakening to the power of education to shape the future of American Jewry. Although prior to 1990 day high schools were hardly found anywhere but in the Orthodox community, the ‘90’s ushered in an explosion of Jewish day high schools around the country. Fourteen Jewish day high schools were built in a decade bringing the total to 17 by the year 2000. It is estimated that the number doubled by 2005.

In most communities, Jewish day high schools were built by constituents from the Reform and Conservative Movements who had a proven track record of successful K-8 Jewish day schools. Given that the Orthodox community already had established high schools, it made sense for the new schools to be partnerships primarily between Reform and Conservative families. Orthodox is not the main population by any means in our school. Detroit is unique in that it is not blessed with a Reform K-8 school; thus it was traditional Conservative and liberal Orthodox families that were primarily responsible for shaping the vision of the Jewish Academy.

In 1995, another historic event took place that impacted the development of our school. This time it was not a new demographic study, but the assassination of Israel’s Prime Minister Yitschak Rabin by an Israeli Jewish man. The rhetoric of intolerance within the Jewish community had sunk to new depths. Rifts between secular and religious, between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, between those who supported Labor and those who supported Likkud, widened. And the question was: Can we create an educational model that promoted a unified Jewish community? Can we create a school where kids come to school and become friends with teens of a variety of religious and educational backgrounds? The leaders in the Detroit Jewish community, therefore, sought to create a school that was non-denominational in its reach but traditional in its vision.

On the one hand, the school would hold by religious standards, and, on the other hand, it would embrace Jews of all denominations. It would promote kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws), davening (daily prayer at school), shabbat observance, and a dress code that was based on the Jewish values of “tsniut” (modesty) [But girls at our school may wear pants] , “kavod” (honor and respect for others and the self), and “kedusha” (the holiness of the learning endeavor). In other words, it would be institutionally traditional. However, the school also would champion a love of all Jews regardless of their level of observance or faith commitment.

The Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit opened in August, 2000 with 34 ninth graders and 17 tenth graders to a celebration of dancing and singing in the JCC courtyard. Since that time, the school has graduated 163 students who now learn on campuses throughout North America and Israel.

In June 2006 at the fourth commencement ceremony, the school was officially renamed the Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit. A week prior to graduation, the school had raised $6.5 million towards our $8.5 million capital campaign goal. It was at that time that the Frankel family made a $2 million commitment to the capital project helping us to reach our goal. In addition to this crowning capital gift, they established an endowment fund whereby the Frankels match 2:1 for the first four million dollars secured.

In appreciation of their generosity, we proudly renamed the school in the Frankels' honor. "This is a historic night for our community," Bob Aronson told the audience at graduation. "It is the first time an institution will carry the name of a family--not just a building, but an institution."

This sense of permanence was manifest quickly as construction workers broke ground on our new home in July this past summer. The project is scheduled for completion by July 2007 in time for the new academic year. The new facility will amply house our growing enrollment, which exceeds 210 students. Rabbi Buckman is currently on administrative leave and the dean has left. New officers will hopefully come soon.

Even as we grow, we will continue to distinguish ourselves in the personal attention we offer students and the family feel of the school. The Frankel Jewish Academy is not simply a school. It is a community, a community of learners and leaders who have a mission: to take responsibility for a strong and vibrant future for the Jewish people.

taff Changes

On January 23, 2008, it was announced to the staff that the Dean of Academics, Rosie Cohen, would be leaving the school permanently, and that the founding Head of School, Rabbi Lee Buckman, would go on “administrative leave” until further notice. Later that same day this was leaked to the students, and by the end of the week, the local Jewish News was already working on a page and a half long story to put in the following week’s issue. Earlier this academic year, Rabbi Aaron Bergman, Director of Jewish Studies since the school’s opening, announced that he would be leaving the school to take up a post as a congregational Rabbi at local Adat Shalom Synagogue. Over the past summer, another staff departure was announced when Rabbi Eric Grossman, Head of the Bible and Rabbinics Departments, announced that he would accept the Head of School post at a Toronto, Ontario Hebrew day school starting next academic year.

On Friday, February 1st, the entire school (students and staff) was called to an assembly at 3:15 in the Community Center's gym. At the assembly, Board members announced that the current head-of-school, Rabbi Lee Buckman would “pursue other interests at the beginning of the new academic year”, I.E., would not be returning as an administrator. Limited information was released on the situation, causing discomfort and anger among uninformed parents and students. The Board has been continually criticized for this course of action, but it is unlikely that they will be releasing any more information on the subject.

As of February 5, there was no official Head of School physically within the school, though Rabbi Buckman holds the position of "Founding Head of School". Beverly Stone, an interim Dean of Academics was put in place in order to help maintain the school as well as search for a new head of school. On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, Rabbi Eric Grossman, a teacher at the Academy, was appointed Head of School. However, Stone will continue to work with the school for future projects.

References

External links

* [http://www.frankelja.org/ Official website]