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October 20, 2000/21 Tishri 5761, Vol. 53, No.4
Be strongEditorial"Hazak, hazak, v'nit-hazeik - be strong, be strong, and together we will strengthen each other."The declaration that traditionally marks the end of the reading of each of the Five Books of Moses will ring out this Saturday evening, Oct. 21, as we celebrate Simchat Torah with the Torah's closing words. This year, that affirmation of strength, and commitment to Jewish knowledge, will be imbued with even greater significance. Just days ago, the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School announced plans to construct an interim facility on three vacant acres on the Temple Chai campus in north Phoenix. It is nothing short of miraculous, that the high school, a unique, transdenominational institution for Valley teens from many Jewish backgrounds, will become a reality. Credit goes to a handful of passionate supporters who had a dream of providing superior secondary school education for their children and the strength and courage to pursue it. The Jewish Federation's Commission on Jewish Continuity and Community also had the foresight to invest in that vision, providing initial seed money and later funding for a feasibility study. Without that first $20,000, say supporters, the project would never have gotten off the ground. Furthermore, it is a credit to our community that a school with an Orthodox headmaster, a board reflective of the variety of Jewish religious life, and a projected student body equally diverse, will open its doors on the grounds of a Reform temple. The arrangement between Temple Chai and the high school reflects a refreshing sense of shared mission and purpose. The school will erect the 7,000- square-foot building on temple land, then sell it to the congregation when the high school is ready to move to a permanent home on the future Jewish community campus in Scottsdale. The temple plans to integrate the space into its master plan. The project is a win-win for both the temple and the school - and a reflection of the strength of our community. Working together, we strengthen each other. |
