The Lakewood school who stated “our doors are open to every Lakewood child who can succeed here,” is about to shut its doors forever.
Parents explained:
The start of the school year is just days away, and Ateres Tzipora will be forced to close its doors because of financial issues unless $180,000 can be raised within the next few days. Ateres Tzipora has an enrollment of 154 girls in Primary through Eighth Grade, some of whom were students at a different school that closed down for financial reasons just weeks ago. The school has 26 families asking for acceptance, and is willing to give it to them provided they can assure the future.
An infusion of $180,000 will go a lot further than just opening the school. Your donation will be helping secure financial security for Ateres Tzipora for many years to come.
For many years, Ateres Tzipora was supported by two families whose daughters attended the school. Eventually those girls moved on to high school, and Ateres Tzipora needed to find new ways of paying its bills. For the past two years, there were plans imposed on it from the outside that were doomed for failure. The suggested leadership were outsiders, who merely punched in and punched out. Ateres Tzipora now has a board of directors from within the school, who have a three-year plan to make the school financially self-sufficient. They have also included within the plan to bring on the leadership of Rabbi Yosef Insel who understands the school more than any outsider can, and believes in it more, and has a stronger desire to see it thrive again. However, to initiate the plan we need your help. Which is why we am turning to you today, on behalf of 154 girls, who may soon have no school to go to.
Right about now, you are probably rolling your eyes and getting ready to tune out, because let’s face it, there is no one out there who wants to read a fundraising pitch.
But hear us out.
This is about a warm and loving school, one that doesn’t care what nusach you daven or whether or not you are a member in the “right” shul. Ateres Tzipora is a place that is known for its warmth and acceptance and is the only all-inclusive school in Lakewood, embracing every talmida from a Torahdik home with open arms. The true embodiment of Ahavas Yisroel, every girl is nurtured in order to maximize her true potential, and it makes no difference if she comes from a Sefaradi, Ashkenzi, Litvish, Chabad, Heimish or Chasidish home. A quick visit to the office of Ateres Tzipora Menaheles Mrs. Shulamith Insel proves that point, with rows and rows of thank you letters from students and parents covering the walls of her office. There is no doubt that Ateres Tzipora isn’t a cookie cutter school. But that’s okay, because, let’s face it, our kids are people, not cookies.
If Ateres Tzipora is forced to close, dozens and dozens of girls will suddenly find themselves with no school to call their own. Will the rest of the Lakewood school system accept these talmidos? Or will they, at their young ages, face the harsh reality of rejection, of being told that nobody wants them?
We need $180,000 to get Ateres Tzipora back on its feet so that it can open this year. There are 154 little girls who are looking to you right now so that they can put on their uniforms, pack up their knapsacks, and hold their heads up high, knowing that they have a place to go.
Shocked that this school may close. Wow!
We as a community need to figure this out.
Every girl really can succeed there. I know first hand.
Instead of rejecting people left and right they really hear you out and make you feel worthwhile. You walk out of an interview confident and feeling like a million bucks.
I know because I was a parent at one of these interviews. This was after we got no’s from every other school.
I hope we can stay open.
We really need this and have no place else to go. We cannot go thru all the rejections again.
Please help. Please.
With 154 girls in the school that just over $1000.00 per child.
Maybe the parents can speak with friends & family to raise $1000.00 per child. I’m not saying its easy but many if not most of the parents ill bet have enough family & friends to put together 1000 (or a few thousand if you have more then one child there)
I’m not trying to make light of the situation but its an idea. Tell the grandparents and the cousins that your children are going to be left with no school. If grandparents uncle’s aunts cousins give a few hundred the money will cover .
we have thought of that and have already asked for that
And?
Wow cant believe we can allow a good school to close down we must supprt this school. I am a chasidesher guy that doesnt send to this school and gave a nice donation as I feel we have responsibility as a community to help out other yidden we never know when we will need help with schools foe our own children
I wish I could give more but I donated whatever I could because every child deserves a school that makes them feel welcome and special.
I was so inspired to read a few posts back that within 48 hours 95% of the money for a sefer torah lezecher nishmas Shmuel Gellis a”h was raised. Clicking on the link showed me that by now the amount raised is actually above the original goal! Wow, that is really special!!
Here we are talking about 150 precious sifrei Torah, plus all of the future ones who will need Ateres Tzipora to thrive! How can we not support them with the same zeal that we supported that campaign? How can we as a community allow such a school to close down?
Lakewood truly is a beautiful, kind, warm and generous community and I have no doubt that we will do right by the children of Ateres Tzipora.
Who are all the people speaking in the video
Kindly have them set up something on the chessed fund. I would donate and don’t have a child in the school.
To set up a fund:
http://www.SaveTheSchool.org
Send you to chesed fund page.
Thanks
The link sends u to the chesed fund
@Lakewood Driver – I am one of the people speaking in the video.
@Set up a fund – the link in the article takes you to a Chesed Fund campaign. Here it is again: https://thechesedfund.com/cause/secure-ateres-tzipora-s-future
This is probably the most vital school to have in a community like Lakewood. It saves so many souls with its warm acceptance. I graduated from there and there is no other place that can do what Ateres Tzipora does.
It would be a tragedy if it’s forced to close.
I went to that school it is the best most loving and caring school.I would go back in a flash.The amount of effort put into every child is amazing and the school does not deserve to close.
Sounds like they are trying hard to get RECHNITZ to donate the money they are missing!
Yosef,
Wasn’t his message true? The community is responsible for their own. Yes, it would be amazing if RECHNITZ would help but I dont think thats the point.
If you dont wanna help that’s your choice but dont ruin it for the many others who see the vital mission here.
This is going to be the hardest time for more than a 150 sweet children if g-d forbid this school closes.
I truly hope you never feel the endless pain of rejection day after day after day.
I did and still feel it.
If the community was responsible for its own ,then we would have another 5 high schools . Responsible means building schools before they are needed ,not waiting till schools,are ready to close down before helping out .
Is there a Paypal account where funds can be sent to?
JustWondering – Thank you for your interest in saving the school!
the best way to donate is by going to
http://www.savetheschool.com
If you would like to donate through paypal, then email me at [email protected], and I will make the arrangements.
CORRECTION
The webiste to donate is:
http://www.savetheschool.org
Rechnitz will probably not give. He was lambasted in Lakewood a few years ago when He dared stand up and speak the truth. We made the bed, now we have to sleep in it.
It wasnt the truth. That was the problem. It was because space doesnt meet the demand. As we see ten times more now.
Yakov and busy mom.
You may not agree with all he said but truth it was. How do I know? Because a lot of what he said we experienced.
Busy mom, my girls deserve a shot in life. It seems everything is fine and dandy on your end. Thank hashem for that. Oh and btw things are not all fine and dandy on my end. From one yid to another please show some rachmanus.
Rechnitz is not the issue here. The issue here is and needs to remain the future of all these precious girls.
Ad you’re right. You’re girls deserve a shot. But what he said was wrong. The reason there is a problem is because Lakewood is growing out of control and the schools can’t keep up!
I am not trying to be insensitive and if I come across as such I apologize but the last school that closed down was a school that was also “open to all” and “accepted everybody”, is there a common thread here?
Mr. Rechnitz spoke the truth. The problem was and still is the truth hurts.
If Rechnitz really wanted to solve the problem, he could have opened one school that is open to everybody who applies .
Mike, why build a new school if one already exists. ATERES TZIPORA
This school has the highest of standards for acceptance. We are just not used to a school that sets its standards with the correct priorities.
Ateres Tziporah will not reject a girl because the parents are working, father wears a colored shirt, mothers shaitel is too long…They WOULD reject a girl who’s family background does not meet true frum torah standards. AT would never allow for a presence within the school that would be detrimental to others. That’s why the girls who graduate do so well!
Other schools set the highest of standards as well, except it revolves around what the family background “looks like” and what people would say against the “schools reputation.” Fathers learning?shirts are white? shaitel just right? you are 90% there ( lack of space is a convenient excuse-it seems that those who fit the externals +some money+pull manage to gain acceptance).
The unfortunate reality is that there are many non-learning fathers who are on a far higher madreiga than someone learning (this does not include me). This is just the reality. But the one learning will always have a one up because of that external factor.
Most parents would be shocked to learn what their kids are exposed to in even the “brand name” schools. moreover, most of the “teens at risk” we see come from the most right wing schools in lakewood. I’m not certain as to this statement, but I heard that AT has not had ONE girl go off the derech after graduation!
I teach in a girl’s high school that has some AT graduates, and I can personally attest to the fact that some of these girls have such great middos and such potential to make future imahos B’Yisroel. It is an enormous zechus to help them.I wish them much Hatzlachah!
I am touched by this video. It represents everything I always hear people say they want in a school policy. It’s time to stand up and be counted. I have will BL”N donate $180. Let’s challenge others to do the same or more. Hatzlacha!
It Will be a shame if it closes.my sister loves it