Frequently Asked Questions
Our family is not that religious. We are not necessarily looking to enroll our child in a Yeshiva. How is Mazel Day School different than a Yeshiva?
As a Day School, MDS is different than most Yeshivas in that both boys and girls attend school together, and it is open for all Jewish children regardless of their level of religious observance. You will not be asked what you observe at home, nor will your child be told that they “have to” become more religious. Every family is respected for their own level of involvement in Jewish life. No one is made to feel uncomfortable and everyone is free to choose their own path. Children learn that Jewish identity is important for all Jews but “different families observe in different ways”. Another major difference between this day school and other Yeshivas is that the general studies program takes up 70% of the day (compared to 50% in other schools).
Is Mazel Day School orthodox?
All Judaic studies taught at Mazel Day School are aligned with traditional, Orthodox Judaism. However, students attending our school are from observant, non-observant or non-affiliated homes. Judaism is presented as vibrant, relevant and meaningful - while also open to any and every Jew whether or not they affiliate themselves with a particular "brand" of Jewish practice.
As a private school, in what way is Mazel Day School held accountable for the quality of its education?
MDS is registered with the NYS Department of Education. Our school participates in all state-wide exams issued by the DoE. In addition, our students participate in other nationally recognized testing programs. These assessments enable us to evaluate our academic program on a regular basis, and make adjustments accordingly.
Won't putting my child in a Jewish Day School create an insular and "shtetl-like" environment that will not prepare them for life in the modern world?
Children in the 21st century are bombarded with images and values of contemporary society, often contrary to those that Jewish parents hope to impart. Attending a Jewish Day School provides a child with a framework of Jewish values and living from which students engage in the larger world with a strong sense of who they are. Social justice, responsibility and tolerance are key values taught in Jewish Day Schools. It is well-documented that awareness of one's own ethnic group is critical to social development and identify formation, and to the capacity to be an active and committed citizen within the broader community.
If our family does not observe all Jewish traditions which my child will learn about at Mazel, won't this create a conflict between home and school?
At school, teachers encourage children to understand that "different families observe Judaism differently" and that each family is a wonderful and special Jewish family, for whom parents choose what level of observance is right for them. Our experience has been that as long as parents know to respond to their children's questions in a similiar way, there is no conflict. Suppose a child comes home and asks: "How come we do not observe Shabbos like my friend's family?" or "Why does Daddy wear a Kippa only when we go to Synagogue?" The best way for a parent to respond is to explain that "in our family this is how things are done; perhaps when you get older you will be able to choose to do things your way". This would be the same approach a parent would take if the child came home and demanded a later bedtime or a new toy that their friend has. Just as in that case, children can understand that parents make the choices for the "family rules". In general, at Mazel Day School, we encourage parents to seek out the school's support in cases such as these, or where their child is unintentionally placing pressure on the home environment to conform to Jewish observances which the parents may not be ready to undertake.
What is the difference between a Jewish Day School and a Hebrew Charter School?
Charter schools are public schools in the United States funded by the state that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter. Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field - ex: arts, mathematics, etc. In the case of Hebrew charter schools, the Hebrew language and culture is the specialty. In contrast, Jewish day schools are privately funded, indepedent schools that integrate general education with Judaic studies. Because Jewish schools are not public schools, they can teach Jewish observances, students can study Jewish texts and Jewish values are transmitted throughout the school experience.
