Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School announces the ‘Raise Your Yad Challenge’

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School is launching Raise Your Yad (hand), a campaign to break down the barriers of entry to a Jewish day school education. Already, more than 75 families have donated a collective $4.71 million so that St. Louis’ only pluralistic Jewish day school remains financially feasible and able to offer comprehensive support services for diverse learners.

“Our Jewish future will be shaped by the independent thinkers, creative learners and ethical leaders that emerge from Mirowitz,” said Sue Fischlowitz, who is co-chairing the campaign with her husband, David Roberts. “Yet not every family can afford a Mirowitz education; that is why this campaign is so important.”

Fischlowitz and Roberts are inviting the community to “Raise Your Yad” to endow financial aid and learning support services. The public phase of the campaign will culminate with a 36-hour Raise Your Yad Challenge on May 16-17. The day of online giving will include match incentives. Donors also may give a gift in advance of the Challenge by visiting Mirowitz.org/raise-your-yad.

“We know that the single most important parenting decision we made was sending both our boys to Jewish day school,” says Missy Korenblat-Hanin, a donor to the campaign. “We gave our boys a gift that nurtured their minds and shaped their souls. We support Raise Your Yad so that all parents can do the same for their children.”

Mirowitz is unique in its ability to serve diverse families. “Except for schools cre- ated to serve special needs, no other St. Louis independent school offers the level of learning support that Mirowitz does,” said Raquel Scharf-Anderson, head of school. “But the reality is that it’s expensive to provide learning support for gifted children and those with varied learning needs. This campaign will ensure, in perpetuity, our occupational therapy, speech therapy, social services and learning support, and also help us make the school financially accessible to more families.”

Other volunteers involved include Honorary Co-Chairs: The Mirowitz Family; Campaign Advisor: Michael Rubin; Campaign Cabinet: Rabbi Micah Buck-Yael, Lauren Cohen, Dr. Barbara Green, Sara Lander, Scott Levine, Marty Levison, Cyndee Levy, Jeremy Lieb, Cheryl Maayan, Sue Matlof, Galia Movitz, Dr. Diane Rosen, Wendy Rosenblum, Betsy Rubenstein and Sherri Frank Weintrop.

For more information, contact Marianne Chervitz, director of development at mchervitz@mirowitz.org or 314576-6177.