The Brooklyn-based Litvishe yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs have reached a consensus to commence the upcoming academic year earlier, according to an announcement made by Torah Umesorah, Matzav.com has learned. The aim is to reduce the gap between summer camp and yeshiva, ensuring a smoother transition.
With Rosh Chodesh Elul falling on an earlier date in the calendar, yeshivos will commence on the 12th of Elul, while the girl schools will start on the 14th of Elul. This adjustment will be compensated by concluding the previous school year earlier. These dates align with August 31st and August 29th, respectively.
Acknowledging the potential challenges of implementing this change at such a late stage, Torah Umesorah emphasized the importance of making an effort to initiate the new schedule sooner rather than later, recognizing the benefits it would bring.
Torah Umesorah had communicated its proposed dates to the yeshivos through a letter from its Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, and the agreed-upon schedule is a result of this correspondence.
It is noteworthy that the summer vacation period will remain unchanged. The decision was made with the approval of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky.
It is anticipated that the chassidishe yeshivos will likely have a later departure for camp and subsequently return later as well.
The following is the text of the letter released by Torah Umesorah and obtained and transcribed by Matzav.com:
L’chvod Roshei Yeshiva, Roshei Mosdos, Heads of School, Menahalim and Menahalos,
Earlier in the year, Torah Umesorah forwarded a letter to all yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs regarding the need for a change in the school calendar, which urged schools to schedule their start dates around Rosh Chodesh Elul and not Labor Day.
In conjunction with this effort, zekan rosh hayeshiva Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit”a, who should have a refuah sheleimah, stressed that it is imperative to have the schools start earlier to prevent the unnecessary extra time between camp and school. The rosh hayeshiva also stated that the Bais Yaakovs should start the same week as the yeshivos.
Over the past few months, the Brooklyn yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs worked together and at long last reached a consensus, confirming an earlier start date for the ’23-’24 school year. We understand that it may be difficult to implement at this late date, but it is important to make the effort to initiate this new schedule, sooner rather than later.
The plan is for the yeshivos to start the school year on Tuesday, August 29 / 12 Elul, and the Bais Yaakovs to start the school year on Thursday, August 31 / 14 Elul.
We look forward to the yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs continuing to work together in the coming years to ensure that the school calendar is arranged in a way that provides the proper chinuch structure for our children.
We thank the roshei mosdos, menahalim, menahalos, rabbeim and moros for heeding the call of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, and we laud the efforts of the Brooklyn community for seizing the opportunity to make a change that will iy”H have a positive impact on the chinuch of our children.
We request that other communities consider joining this movement and working together on this important chinuch issue.
{Matzav.com}
This is closer to Labor Day than to Rosh Chodesh so i dont see any changes.
Why was this done?
Thank you Torah U’mesorah! This is fantastic news. I truly hope as we go forward that all our schools, girls and boys, will start Rosh Chodesh Elul. I could never understand this summer vacationing into the month of Elul.
Which Yeshivos are signed on this?
Torah Umoesorah can’t decide school policy.
Kol Hakavod!
It’s about time we abolished the stupid practice of running Jewish school and camp schedules based on the Goyishe calendar. This started out when most teachers were non-Jews and their schedules had to match those of the public schools. Nowadays, with people going upstate at all times, even during the school year, there is no longer any reason why we should stick to the July 4th – Labor Day “summer season”.
Scheduling school based on the Goyishe calendar creates years when there is no time at all to do any meaningful Yomim Noroiom prep, or long stretches of empty time between camp and school.
It’s time we switched over to a Jewish schedule. Have the official “camp season” run between Rosh Chodesh Tamuz and Rosh Chodesh Elul. That’s almost 9 weeks of camp time – more than enough time to relax, while providing a solid month before the next vacations for Rebbes, Morahs, and teachers to establish classroom schedules, get to know their new students, and actually teach something substantial.
Whats wrong with my comment? Do u only want to post comments opposing the plan? Shame on you Matzav
No. It’s because you are INCORRECT. They want yeshivos to start on the 12th day of Elul this year, NOT Rosh Chodesh Elul! If one is a Bais medrash bachur, they start on Rosh Chodesh. A little 8 year old does not start on Rosh Chodesh Elul.
Clearly it’s New York because most places outside New York start school in August already.
The other thing that we don’t see here is that Torah U’mesorah just gave the camps a big you know what because they’re changing this at such a late date. You want to do something constructive, do it so that it’s for next year, don’t do it now that the camp dates are set and this means that kids are going to have to leave camp early or that camp will have to end early. Who is giving refunds to the parents? I’ll bet that ain’t happening!