Initial Plans for the Nation’s First Jewish Boarding Day High School Completed

Initial plans have been completed for the nation’s first Jewish boarding day high school, scheduled for opening in Albany, N.Y. in September, 1973, under sponsorship of the American Habonim Association and the Solomon Schechter Day School Association, the day school affiliate of the United Synagogue of America, the Conservative congregational agency. Dr. Morton Siegel, director of the education commission of the United Synagogue, said the Jewish community’s first such school will have a double track curriculum for the Jewish courses so that graduates of both Jewish primary schools and public schools could be admitted. About 100 supporters of the coeducational school project signed as charter members of a temporary committee at a charter meeting in Albany on April 29. The projected outlay for the school building and dormitories for out-of-town students is estimated at $1.5 million. Initial stimulus for the projected Hebrew Day High School stemmed from the fact that the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District, which in six years has expanded into a kindergarten-through eighth grade school, is soon to have its first graduating class.

Israel Horowitz, executive director of the American Habonim Association, said concern has been expressed that the intensive Jewish education pupils received in the Hebrew Academy would be dissipated for lack of a Jewish day school but that it was felt the Jewish community in Albany could not finance a day high school. The AHA, which has a Jewish education commission for its American program, invited Philip Arian, educational director of Temple Israel of Albany, to discuss his ideas for maximum Jewish education. He presented the plans for a boarding day high school and asked for AHA help. Mr. Horowitz said that in response, the AHA agreed to assist in curricula problems, fund-raising and recruiting students for the proposed school. The USA education commission and the Solomon Schechter association have agreed to assist in those functions, Dr. Siegel told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Leo Phaff, chairman of the temporary committee for the school project, said that executive committees appointments and committee assignments would be completed this month and that the first draft report of the combined building and capital fund committee would be held on June 10. Mr. Phapp, who is a member of the USA Education Commission committees for both primary and day high schools, also said the first national meeting of supporters of the project would be held on June 23. He also said the Albany capital fund drive will start next May and the national fund campaign in September, 1971.