02/17/2025
Mandel Foundation-led Jewish Day School Initiative to Benefit Entire Community
ABIGAIL PREISZIG
Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jewish Day School Transformation initiative provides the community with an opportunity to participate in a generational transformation project, according to Jewish Cleveland leadership.
The multi-million-dollar initiative is funded in part by the Mandel Foundation and led by the Federation. It aims to provide capital and endowment support to five Jewish day schools in the Cleveland area, benefiting the entire Cleveland Jewish community.
“We perceive this as a communitywide endeavor,” Stephen H. Hoffman, chair of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “This is not an initiative of the Mandel Foundation. This is an initiative of our whole Jewish community, which requires the participation of lots of folks in the Jewish community to make this work.”
The Federation, located in Beachwood, announced on Jan. 21 that it received a $90 million grant from the Mandel Foundation that will serve as matching funds for a $180 million initiative, the CJN previously reported. Fundraising will run through December 2026.
The schools, all beneficiary agencies of the Federation, should feel the benefits of the endowment fund within two to three years, Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Federation, told the CJN. She attributed the timeline to the Mandel Foundation’s “generosity and willingness to accelerate the payments of its match when there is a signed irrevocable gift agreement.”
“We are thankful for the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation for their vision and for our future,” she said. “They see beyond, and they see not just the possibilities, but they understand the impact that day school education has had, and that importance will only grow.”
The initiative comprises a $100 million endowment fund for Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood, Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike, Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights, Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood and Yeshiva Derech Hatorah in Cleveland Heights and a capital improvements fund of $80 million, the CJN previously reported. The Jospeh and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School completed a capital transformation in 2024 and will be exempt from capital improvement funds, Rudin-Luria said.
The Federation spoke with every school to understand its capital needs before creating its financial ask to the Mandel Foundation, Rudin-Luria said. The Federation works closely and transparently with each of its beneficiary agencies.
Ideally, each school will receive $20 million in endowment funds, she said. The amount and timing of receipt will depend on how donors give to the endowment fund.
“Some donors are making testamentary gifts that will only come after they’ve died,” she said. “Other donors are paying in cash. Others are fully funding life insurance policies. Generally, assigned irrevocable gift agreements will then allow the (Mandel Foundation) funds to be accelerated.”
The organizations have talked about the Day School Transformation initiative, chaired by Jeffrey J. Wild, chair of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights, the Federation’s educational planning arm, for several years, Rudin-Luria said.
Concerned with the sustainability of Jewish Cleveland’s day school education, the Mandel Foundation hoped to bolster its network as a community which led to the matching grant, Hoffman said. The initiative will enlarge each school’s capacity to educate, helping the Jewish community improve sustainability and become more dynamic.
“If you help the schools transform themselves today, you’re providing for the future,” he said. “Without (education) we’re finished. And it is one of the most embedded traditions of our people, every Jewish community is compelled in Talmud to provide a school for its children.”
Leadership from most schools involved told the CJN it expects to receive about $20 million from the initiative.
Rabbi Sender Stoll, executive director of Yeshiva Derech Hatorah, told the CJN it is working with the Mandel Foundation and the Federation to define its needs.
Fuchs Mizrachi School is planning a significant building expansion, only feasible through these funds, Rabbi Avery Joel, head of school, told the CJN. The school also hopes to enhance educational programming by investing in faculty and providing new, innovative educational programming like STEM initiatives with a new Maker Space and Design Lab.
“This initiative is transformational for the entire community,” Joel said. “The funds will certainly ensure the long-term sustainability of the Jewish day schools in the community – which in turn means that Cleveland will continue to develop the Jewish leaders of the next generation.”
Gross Schechter Day School will use the funds to grow the school’s endowment fund and improve its facilities and campus, including adding a wing and gathering space, enhancing its early childhood and infant care space, improving entrance security and increasing its faculty’s salaries and benefit packages and affordability for families, Ginny Galili, head of school, told the CJN.
“The importance of the Jewish day school initiative is a loud and proud amplification of the transformative power of Jewish Day School education,” Galili said. “The funds will increase dramatically the number of future Jewish leaders educated for generations to come.”
Hebrew Academy of Cleveland will use the funds to recruit and retain educators by providing competitive salaries, benefits and professional development; expand academic programs including Judaic studies and STEM education; and expand and enhance its facilities, Rabbi Eli Dessler, financial director, told the CJN.
“The Hebrew Academy is proud to have been the first day school in America to become an agency of any Jewish Federation,” he said. “The collaboration with the Jewish Federation began in 1943 and going strong. Our community is a better place due to the enormous efforts and resources the Federation provides. We are deeply indebted to Steve Hoffman and Dr. Jehuda Reinharz of Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation for their leadership and transformational vision with launching this initiative.”
Mandel Jewish Day School will use the funds to enhance staff compensation, attract and retain talented educators, address the challenge of stabilizing rising tuition costs and expand innovative program areas including STEM, fine arts, Judaic studies and experiential learning, Jay Leberman, head of school, told the CJN.
“This gift sends a powerful message about the essential role Jewish day schools play in fostering strong Jewish identity, a commitment to tradition and the Jewish people, and leadership,” he said. “The Mandel Foundation’s investment reflects its confidence in our mission and its belief in the profound impact our graduates will have on the Jewish community and beyond. The impact of this investment will be felt across every aspect of our school, enabling us to inspire excellence in our students while deepening their connection to Jewish values and traditions.”
One of Yeshiva Derech Hatorah’s most pressing needs is finding more space as it experiences significant growth, Stoll said. The initiative will also allow the school to build stronger dual curriculums with the best educators.
“… We have outgrown our current space,” he said. “This grant opportunity will be a great help as we find that space. …
This transformation initiative is another example of the strength and vision of Cleveland’s Jewish community.”
