Should the newly arrived families involve themselves in the politics of their new town or city?
I believe that the level of involvement mainly depends on how large the community is. If it's a relatively small town or city, then I think that somebody (or more than one person) from the community should run for some sort of higher office. This is because the individual(s) will have at least some sort of chance at winning the election. If the town or city is relatively large, it'll be much harder for the person running to win and, I feel, that it should wait until there is a greater need or until the community grows larger.
I definitely feel that the community should involve themselves with the politics of their new town/city. I feel that way about any Jewish community anywhere in the world. The only way to get things done for yourselves is to show the elected officials that you care and that you VOTE. Nothing frightens an elected official faster than seeing his/her dream job go down the drain because a street won't get paved/trash won't get picked up Erev Pesach/ they won't give vouchers for private school... Never mind that last one. That's my dream for NYC/NYS.
Separately.... a thought just popped into my head. What if some sort of charitable fund was created. The fund would collect money and help people with the down payments of their houses. These donations would be tax deductible as well as counted against ones maiser amount. So while I might pay for your down payment, you would pay for my neighbors and he/she would pay for mine through the organization. It seems legal to me and it also seems Halachically acceptable. I think that as long as nobody can say, "Well, I gave $25,000 and I only got $22,000. I deserve another $3,000", it should be fine. This is where the Rabbi is necessary, as well as a lawyer.
Again, just a thought.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
School
The raising of children is (almost) never easy. One of the main concerns parent shave is deciding which school or Yeshiva to send their child(ren) to. In a place like Brooklyn or Queens that probably has 50-100+ schools/yeshivas the decision is hard. In a place with 1 or 2 yeshivas I believe that the decision is much easier. It's either A or B.
When forming a new community, the members of the community have to decide what it is that they want initially. There are a few options that I can think of. Post a comment if you can think of more.
1-Create a mixed school. Start of with the younger grades (as most of the children will probably be under fifth grade) and build up. This would require at least one principal, and eight teachers. Nursery, Kindergarten, Pre 1-A, 1st-5th grades. This is assuming that one teacher teaches both Hebrew and English studies. If you have a Hebrew teacher and an English teacher, you will need 16 teachers.
2-Create two schools, one for boys and one for girls. Obviously the total must be doubled. At least two principals and either 16 or 32 teachers.
3-Enroll the children into the local Public School and have some sort of private class after school to teach Hebrew studies. This would require less teachers and would be able to mix the grades a little. (Ex: Nursery & Kindergarten; Pre 1-A & 1st grade)
4-Bus the children in to the nearest established Jewish community to go to an already established school/Yeshiva. Obviously this has a positive and a negative. The positive is that the children will be in a "real" school, meaning that it is not a start-up. The negative is that the children will have to leave their homes pretty early and come home pretty late, which is not very feasible for young children. I believe that this option is not a good one, because if people want to form a community, then at some point they will need a school and the sooner they start it, the better it will be for the children and the community.
So... which is the option and are people willing to move to a community that doesn't have a school readily available?
This tough decision and many more is what a new community will face as they start fresh and build new.
When forming a new community, the members of the community have to decide what it is that they want initially. There are a few options that I can think of. Post a comment if you can think of more.
1-Create a mixed school. Start of with the younger grades (as most of the children will probably be under fifth grade) and build up. This would require at least one principal, and eight teachers. Nursery, Kindergarten, Pre 1-A, 1st-5th grades. This is assuming that one teacher teaches both Hebrew and English studies. If you have a Hebrew teacher and an English teacher, you will need 16 teachers.
2-Create two schools, one for boys and one for girls. Obviously the total must be doubled. At least two principals and either 16 or 32 teachers.
3-Enroll the children into the local Public School and have some sort of private class after school to teach Hebrew studies. This would require less teachers and would be able to mix the grades a little. (Ex: Nursery & Kindergarten; Pre 1-A & 1st grade)
4-Bus the children in to the nearest established Jewish community to go to an already established school/Yeshiva. Obviously this has a positive and a negative. The positive is that the children will be in a "real" school, meaning that it is not a start-up. The negative is that the children will have to leave their homes pretty early and come home pretty late, which is not very feasible for young children. I believe that this option is not a good one, because if people want to form a community, then at some point they will need a school and the sooner they start it, the better it will be for the children and the community.
So... which is the option and are people willing to move to a community that doesn't have a school readily available?
This tough decision and many more is what a new community will face as they start fresh and build new.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Process Begins
For a new community to flourish, it will need a Rabbi of some sort. It doesn't need to be a 40 or 50 or 60 year old Rabbi, but he must be somebody that is legitimate. Nobody wants to start off on the wrong foot with some faker Rabbi.
Every community needs a Mikvah. Now, I'm no Mikvah expert, but I assume that even a "cheap" one would cost upwards of $100,000 - $200,000 or more. It would be hard, but not impossible, to have a Mikvah immediately. And by immediately, I mean within a few months. I think the more feasible time period would be one year. I know what the ladies are thinking (although I probably don't, as I have yet to ever be right after saying that phrase), "What the Hell are we going to do for a 'few months' or 'a year?' " That is one of the reasons why the community should be within reasonable distance to an already established community. Obviously, the Friday or Yom Tov night Mikvah would be tough. I don't know the Halacha (that's what the Rabbi's for), but maybe a Friday night Mikvah could wait until Saturday night. The Mikvah issue is obviously something that has to be addressed.
Kosher food is necessary and, once again, explains why this community should be within a reasonable distance to an already established community. I hate to make assumptions but I will anyway. I assume that soon after a community is established, a Kosher grocery will open or a nearby supermarket will start to sell Kosher food. As a friend of mine said: "Someone will see a need and fill that need. That's capitalism at it's finest."
Schooling.... That's a big one....
Every community needs a Mikvah. Now, I'm no Mikvah expert, but I assume that even a "cheap" one would cost upwards of $100,000 - $200,000 or more. It would be hard, but not impossible, to have a Mikvah immediately. And by immediately, I mean within a few months. I think the more feasible time period would be one year. I know what the ladies are thinking (although I probably don't, as I have yet to ever be right after saying that phrase), "What the Hell are we going to do for a 'few months' or 'a year?' " That is one of the reasons why the community should be within reasonable distance to an already established community. Obviously, the Friday or Yom Tov night Mikvah would be tough. I don't know the Halacha (that's what the Rabbi's for), but maybe a Friday night Mikvah could wait until Saturday night. The Mikvah issue is obviously something that has to be addressed.
Kosher food is necessary and, once again, explains why this community should be within a reasonable distance to an already established community. I hate to make assumptions but I will anyway. I assume that soon after a community is established, a Kosher grocery will open or a nearby supermarket will start to sell Kosher food. As a friend of mine said: "Someone will see a need and fill that need. That's capitalism at it's finest."
Schooling.... That's a big one....
Sunday, October 28, 2007
A New Start
I'm not sure how this will help or if it even will. I am starting this blog as a means of expressing my frustration with the community that I live in. It is too damn expensive for me to continue to live here.
I want to move to a new community, but as anyone who has ever moved or who has thought of moving knows, it's not easy to just pick up your family and go.
What I want to do is to find a nice group of people who want to move out as well. These people (maybe, you) should be ready, willing and able to go.
This new community will be cheaper and cleaner and friendlier than the one that I (and you) live in now. Children will know their neighbors and not look at them as strangers. People will own the place that they live in and not be paying rent for somebody's mortgage. While I understand that it will not be easy, (Heaven knows that nothing ever is as easy as it sounds) it will be worthwhile. The commute will probably be longer to your work but at least you will come home to your own residence. There will be grass in your front and back yards.
Think about it.
Talk about it.
Take action.
It's your lives.
It's your money.
It's your family.
Are you ready to make the move? I know that I am. What is the next step?
I want to move to a new community, but as anyone who has ever moved or who has thought of moving knows, it's not easy to just pick up your family and go.
What I want to do is to find a nice group of people who want to move out as well. These people (maybe, you) should be ready, willing and able to go.
This new community will be cheaper and cleaner and friendlier than the one that I (and you) live in now. Children will know their neighbors and not look at them as strangers. People will own the place that they live in and not be paying rent for somebody's mortgage. While I understand that it will not be easy, (Heaven knows that nothing ever is as easy as it sounds) it will be worthwhile. The commute will probably be longer to your work but at least you will come home to your own residence. There will be grass in your front and back yards.
Think about it.
Talk about it.
Take action.
It's your lives.
It's your money.
It's your family.
Are you ready to make the move? I know that I am. What is the next step?
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