(JTA) — A Jewish day school in suburban Cleveland has received a donation of more than $17 million, one of the largest gifts ever to a North American Jewish school.
The 350-student Agnon School in Beachwood, Ohio, will change its name to the Joseph and Florence Mandel School in recognition of the gift from the Cleveland-based Joseph and Florence Mandel Family Foundation. The nondenominational school goes from preschool to eighth grade.
The majority of the donation will go to an endowment for personnel and programs, including funding increased compensation and professional development for faculty, an expanded Hebrew immersion program and the hiring of a gifted and talented specialist.
The donation also provides funding for capital improvements to the school building.
Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, Agnon’s head of school, described the gift as “absolutely transformational.” In a news release issued by the school Tuesday evening, Isaak-Shapiro also said it “will allow us to continue to attract and retain the very best professionals and to support them with superior professional development opportunities.”
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