One of the most daunting challenges facing Jewish communities in North America is the high cost of living an Orthodox lifestyle. Particularly in these difficult economic times, when so many are either unemployed or...
READ MORE »News
Circles of Change
This article first appeared in The Jewish Press on September 27, 2011 and has been reprinted with permission. It was the kind of event I attend frequently these days, and I was in a role in...
READ MORE »
Day School Affordability: Realigning Priorities
I have read, with great interest, the series of articles and letters in Jewish Action (Fall 5772/2011) regarding the cost of Jewish education. I take issue with some of Dr. Katz’s writing, where there is a...
READ MORE »
A Message for the New Year, From The OU 
Orthodox Judaism: Do We Have an Economic Model that Works?
The article below first appeared in Ami Magazine on August 21, 2011. It is also available in PDF format: Ami_Magazine,_Op-Ed.pdf I’ll never forget a phone call I received from a wonderful man in Suffolk County,...
READ MORE »
Charity In a Changed Economy: An Interview with Rabbi Hershel Schachter
JA: How much money should one give to tzedakah? RHS: If one can afford it, the recommended amount is one-tenth of one’s annual earnings, which includes salary and interest earned. There are different opinions as to...
READ MORE »
Let Your Voices Be Heard—Day School Affordability, Part 2
In response to my last column in Jewish Action (“Making Orthodox Life More Affordable,” summer 2011), I received a flood of responses—some critical, others positive—from Jewish Action readers. Obviously day school affordability is on...
READ MORE »
From the Desk of Rabbi Steven Weil, Executive Vice President: It’s MY Responsibility
The tuition crisis is one of the most significant issues challenging our community today. School administrators and board members know the staggering costs of providing a quality education. The parent body, frequently both mom...
READ MORE »
Why Does it Cost So Much?
This article first appeared August, 10, 2011 on Text & Texture and has been reprinted with author’s consent. Why does it cost so much to educate a Jewish child? The single largest element of any school...
READ MORE »
“Backpacking”: A Potential Solution to the Tuition Crisis
The Blaine Amendment, which is currently written into 40 state constitutions might be show stoppers in getting government funds for private schools. With that in mind, I refer our readers to Howie Beigelman’s recent...
READ MORE »