A group of leaders at Keneseth Israel has started preliminary work on a feasibility study to determine the level of demand in bringing to Louisville a new Jewish Day School affiliated with Schechter Day School Network. The group, which represents a cross section of the community, is embarking on the study in response to growing interest expressed by numerous local Jewish families.
The group believes in the importance of Jewish education for Louisville’s youth, and that a Schechter Network school might provide a viable alternative to the secular private schools and public schools currently available in Louisville. The group also believes that affiliating with the Schechter Network would demonstrate a clear commitment to a quality Jewish educational experience that also offers a secular educational experience at the highest level in Louisville.
“The Schechter Day School Network is pleased to learn of the initiative in the Louisville Jewish community to explore the opening of a new Schechter day school. Louisville has a long and proud tradition as a center of Jewish learning and living, and the community is to be commended for its vision and foresight in proposing this new initiative,” said Dr. Steven Lorch, President of the Board of Directors of the Schechter Day School Network.
“We’ve been in contact with Dr. Elaine Cohen, director of a new Jewish Day School affiliated with the Schechter Network in New York, and she has encouraged us to go forward with this marketing research,” said Sharon Goodman, a member of the planning group. “We know, anecdotally, that quite a few families would be interested in a private Jewish educational experience in Louisville,” she said.
Additionally, Rabbi Michael Wolk said “I’m proud to be a product of a day school in New York, where I received the strong foundations of my Jewish education and I’m excited about the beginning of the exploratory process in Louisville.”
Dr. Cohen explained that the Network serves the needs of its community of schools for connection, innovative Jewish programs, professional development, also inject humor into the dialog, resulting in the lightening of a previously austere meeting into a collective effort that informs and benefits all.
