Just reward
I refer to the article headed Roller-Coaster JFS Studies by Simon Rocker. The trip Mr Rocker is referring to is simply a form of reward to the boys and girls at the school for regularly attending minyanim and usually takes place midweek on Lag B’Omer I know from my own boys’ experience this has done them no harm, in fact it has “enriched” their Jewishness. Speaking from experience, perhaps certain synagogues might wish to follow the JFS lead on rewarding those who attend minyanim! tion over the past five years.
But, I can honestly say, I was hugely and mightily impressed, following a one-to-one meeting that my son and I had last week.
JFS really want all of the students to do well and are totally committed to helping students in whatever way they can.
They told me that if they do not provide individual students with the right help and resources to achieve their full potential, then they as a school will have failed their students.
So as a parent with two children currently at JFS, I feel really reassured. in response to this incident but I write, I should emphasise, in a personal capacity.
I can assure you that Cambridge Jsoc took the incident seriously. What might be confusing Mr Roiter-Jesner is the fact that, in the national press, he then accused Christ’s College of attempting to cover up the incident. This was a serious (and baseless) accusation that hurt his cause. A number of students and the Jsoc leadership at the time took the decision that such an accusation was damaging, needless and false. The victim of antisemitism is obviously to be believed. The individual who accuses an institution (which has already made provisions for its Jewish students) of a cover-up is not afforded the same right.
It is a shame that the JC decided to further this individual’s publicity stunt. Your readers should be reassured that there is a vibrant and flourishing Jewish community at Cambridge that will do its utmost for its members. I will be sad to leave it at the end of this year. Raphael Levy
Cambridge, CB3