STRONGER THAN HATE Jewish day schools pay tribute to victims

JANE KAUFMAN | STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@cjn.org | @jkaufmancjn

Jewish day schools in Northeast Ohio responded immediately to the Pittsburgh shootings by informing students, with prayers and study, and by encouraging students to act positively.

In addition, security was tightened at the schools and they made counselors and social workers available to students.

Seniors at Fuchs Mizrachi’s Stark High School in Beachwood were planning to pay a shiva call on Nov. 1 to the family of Devorah Kurin, a science teacher, whose aunt, Joyce Fienberg, was a victim of the shootings at the Tree of Life Congregation on Oct. 27.

“We’re going to do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, the head of the high school, said Oct. 31.

He said he didn’t know where the school would find the funds to hire a bus for the pilgrimage, but hoped Head of School Rabbi Avery Joel would find the funds.

On Oct. 29, the upper school gathered for words from Bruce about the victims. The students then split into groups and engaged in a staff-led reading of the 139 mishnayot in Tractate Shabbat, finishing with a prayer for those who were wounded.

Middle school students asked to hold a bake sale to raise funds for the families, said Rabbi Ben Fried, principal of Fuchs Mizrachi’s junior high school.

“On Monday, our middle school developed a very specific tefillah for the whole school,” said Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, head of school at the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood. He said the program included lighting of candles and specific prayers.

Some students wrote letters to Pittsburgh students and the community, he said.

“Our middle school students had conversations about anti-Semitism and about the freedoms we enjoy in this country,” he said. He added that he sent a note to the school community with the assurance that the day school continually assesses its security.

At the Hebrew Academy in Cleveland Heights and Beachwood, most of the clases were addressed, said Rabbi Simcha Dessler, educational director.

“We recited psalms together. Some classes wrote letters to the families and friends of the victims,” he said. “It was actually gratifying to see that those letters truly portayed a sense of unity as our students conveyed a sense of empathy by sharing stories of personal loss and comfort.”

Dessler said counseling was made available to students.

Sam Chestnut, head of school of The Lippman School in Akron, said staff considered how to respond for each age group appropriately. He said staff listened closely and responded with facilitated conversation. Students and parents were also encouraged to attend a Nov. 1 vigil in response to the shootings.

“Younger students than expected were talking about it,” he said.

In addition, he said the Akron Jewish Community Board of Akron and the Akron Police Department have been helpful.

At Chaviva High School in Cleveland Heights, girls have started United for Pittsburgh on the Whatsapp Chat that will run for 11 days from Nov. 4 to Nov. 14, said Chaviva founder and principal Rochie Berkowitz. Berkowitz said the effort is designed for women and girls to commit to increasing love and sensitivity in their lives, with each day dedicated to a different victim of the shootings. As of Oct. 31, 400 women and girls had signed up, including some in

Pittsburgh.

Rabbi Yitzchok Magareten, dean of Yeshiva Derech Hatorah in Cleveland Heights, said staff spoke to the older students and that students were reciting psalms and studying in memory of the victims.

He said the Jewish Federation of Cleveland increased security at the building.

“We’re very appreciative of the support the federation has given us,” he said, echoing sentiments of other day school principals. “Kids are not looking out worried because they know security’s been beefed up. It’s frightening. It really is frightening. I don’t know if adults have an easier time dealing with it or if kids do.”

Randy Boroff, head of school at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike, said the school sent a letter to parents and focused on the tragedy in the school’s daily service on Monday.

“We used the service as a teaching opportunity,” Boroff said, adding that the school’s student council is working to craft a positive response. He said the school addressed the shootings in social studies classes as well.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Pittsburgh,” Boroff said.