While our schools face many expenses, faculty salaries typically account for 80 to 85% of a school’s budget. The math, therefore, is straightforward: If tuition remains low and fundraising is minimized, who absorbs the difference? The faculty.
Tuition combined with fundraising—however the balance is structured—is what ultimately determines teacher salaries. Certainly, schools can work to trim administrative costs, cut expenses in non-personnel areas, rely more heavily on parent volunteers and find other cost saving measures. But when those savings are limited because they are such a small part of your budget, the only way to save significantly is to believe that higher teacher salaries are not a top priority. Teacher salaries are directly related to tuition plus fundraising. A message that we can keep tuition low and don’t need to grow our fundraising significantly will only accelerate an already troubling trend: fewer talented young men and women choosing careers in Jewish education.
We should be moving in the opposite direction.
Ideally, our community would embrace the view that from a Torah perspective, funding Jewish education is a communal responsibility, not merely a “user” responsibility. Until we fully realize that vision, the next best path is clear: Our community must advocate for increased fundraising. It is the only sustainable way to keep tuition manageable while also ensuring that our teachers receive the compensation they deserve. Our community is a wealthy community. Fundraising for our schools, and specifically for our teachers, should be a top priority on the agenda. And the funds should come from anyone committed to our community, whether their children are in Jewish day schools or not.
Teaching in a Jewish day school is one of the most meaningful ways one can spend their life. The impact on our children is immeasurable. Teachers are klei kodesh. But great teachers are not going to display interest in teaching in schools that cut costs, claim they don’t need to do significant fundraising and say we are doing our share. That is unfair to our teachers. They deserve more. Let’s increase fundraising among all our schools exponentially so we can pay our teachers closer to what they deserve.
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When talented educators see that the profession they dedicate their lives to cannot provide a dignified livelihood, they will understandably choose other paths.
Unfortunately, this challenge is not limited to the classroom. It exists in the rabbinate as well.
Recently, I saw a rabbinic position advertised offering $400 per week for approximately 10–15 hours of work. With respect, seeing such an offer is deeply troubling. Lo bashamayim hi—Torah is not in heaven. A rabbi and his family live in the real world. They must pay rent or a mortgage, tuition, groceries and health insurance. In many communities, especially those with limited kosher infrastructure, the cost of living can be even higher.
To offer such a salary is simply not realistic. A kehilla that values Torah leadership must value the human being who carries that responsibility.
It is worth noting that in other Jewish movements such compensation would not even be considered. If we truly believe Torah leadership is sacred, then it must also be treated with dignity in practical terms.
The unfortunate result is not surprising: Fewer people are choosing careers in Jewish education or the rabbinate. Why would a talented young man dedicate years to Torah study and rabbinic training only to face financial insecurity and constant pressure from parents or congregants?
In earlier generations, many rabbis had to supplement their income through other work. My own grandfather, who served as a dayan in Morocco, also maintained a successful business importing textiles. But today the cost of living a committed Jewish life, with day school tuition, kosher food and housing in Jewish communities, is far higher than it once was.
If we want strong schools and strong synagogues, we must be willing to support those who lead them.
For this reason, I respectfully call upon rabbinic and communal organizations, to address this issue seriously. Torah leadership is not inexpensive. But the cost of neglecting it is far greater.
The Jewish Link
