When Stephanie Cramer left her home in southern Israel for New York City three days after the October 7 Hamas attack, desperate to find safety, she also had to find a school for her three-year-old daughter.
Luckily a friend told her that Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School on the Upper East Side offered to enroll children from Israeli families — and Yarzen, 3, found a classroom, with the school waiving her $30,000-a-year tuition.
He is not alone.
At least 168 Israeli students have been placed in 22 private Jewish day schools in New York City, Westchester and Long Island following the Hamas massacre, according to the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropy of New York (UJA).
And Jewish day schools across the country have seen a historic increase in enrollment as more than 1,000 Israeli temporary students seek safety, according to an Enrollment Trends Report released earlier this month by Prizmah, the Center for Jewish Day Schools.
Stephanie Cramer left Israel a few days after October, 7 with her two daughters. He was able to enroll his 3-year-old son, Yarzen, pictured here, at Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School on the Upper East Side with the school waiving his $30,000-a-year tuition. Sincerely Stephanie Cramer
The schools also saw an increase in requests from US parents who moved children out of public schools since the October 7 attacks, with 32% of those who moved children saying it was because of their school’s previous response to a terrorist attack.
Cramer, 30, who is also a US citizen, leaves behind her husband, Erez, 30, who was deployed to Gaza to fight in Israel and brought their 1-year-old daughters Yarzen and Arava, lives with her father in Hell’s Kitchen and fears finding a place for Yarzen to become difficult.
“I thought it would be more complicated to find them a middle school,” said Cramer, who met her husband when they were both serving in the IDF.
Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School (RASPEDS) sends a memo to parents informing them of the Open Door Policy to Displaced Israeli Families after October, 7. Principal Debbie Rochlin (center) is pictured here with her students. Stefano Giovannini Rochlin said his faculty streamlined the admissions process by waiving all fees and tuition, and providing mental health counseling to students in need. Third grade, he said, saw a certain increase in Israeli students moving in. Stefano Giovannini
“When I called them, they answered my call. The next day we came to see the school and the next day my 3-year-old started classes in the early childhood development program.”
Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School (RASPEDS) welcomed 22 students from Israeli families following Oct. 7, after it sent a memo to parents informing them of its Open Door Policy to Displaced Israeli Families.
“Many schools [in Israel] was closed shortly after the war began. Parents don’t want their kids locked up again like they did during COVID,” Debbie Rochlin, principal of Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School, told The Post.
“Some parents feel they want to come to New York and put their children in a safe place.
At least 168 Israeli students have been placed in 22 private Jewish day schools in New York City, Westchester and Long Island following the Hamas massacre, according to the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropy of New York (UJA). Stefano Giovannini
“Our doors are open, and we are ready to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for these students, ensuring they can continue their academic journey without interruption.”
Rochlin said his faculty streamlined the admissions process by waiving all fees and tuition, and providing mental health counseling to students in need. Third grade, he said, saw a certain increase in Israeli students moving in.
“It’s generally difficult for kids to get into any middle school, let alone a foreign school, but our teachers and students accept them,” Rochlin said.
Other schools that have enrolled Israeli children include Manhattan Day School on the Upper West Side, The Ramaz School on the Upper East Side, Luria Academy of Brooklyn and Westchester Day School.
Jewish day schools across the country have seen a historic increase in enrollment as more than 1,000 Israeli temporary students seek safety, according to an Enrollment Trends Report released earlier this month by Prizmah, the Center for Jewish Day Schools. “Many schools [in Israel] was closed shortly after the war began. Parents don’t want their kids to be locked up again like they were during COVID,” Rochlin, pictured here, told The Post. Stefano Giovannini
Among the complications is the arrival of Israelis who, like Cramer’s daughter, speak Hebrew as their primary language.
“He is learning a lot – his English is improving. He can express his feelings [better] – it’s a great place for him,” Cramer said.
Cramer returned to Israel to reunite with her husband who was released from the Israel Defense Forces in November, but the family is keen to return to New York and re-enroll their daughter in a private Jewish day school.
Cramer, who is also a US citizen, is survived by her husband, Erez, 30, who was deployed to Gaza to fight in Israel and brought their daughter to live with her father in Hell’s Kitchen. He was worried that finding a place for Yarzen to go to school would be difficult. AFP via Getty Images
Westchester Day School, a modern Orthodox Jewish private school for children through eighth grade in Mamaroneck, Westchester, is a haven for Elana, who asked The Post to omit her last name for privacy reasons, and her four children ages 17, 14, 11, and 8.
With schools closed in Israel, the family went to live with family in Scarsdale, New York on Oct. 12. and starts his juniors after Thanksgiving.
“I said, ‘I’ve got to get them signed up for something.’ They are at home doing nothing. We don’t know what happened with the war. Our children did not go to school for a month,” Elana told The Post.
WDS waives tuition fees – up to $29,700 a year – and bypasses requests for transcripts, he said.
Stephanie Cramer and her husband Erez with their two daughters, Yarzen, 3 (left) and Arava, 1. When Cramer arrived in New York a few days after October 7, she was surprised at how quickly she was able to register her 3-year-old son. into Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School. Sincerely Stephanie Cramer
He and his family returned to Israel, but hoped to return to New York permanently.
“Personally when you move, it’s a dark time for you,” Elana told The Post. “This gives us that light in a dark time.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
