Jewish school tuition is expensive. One man, a father w/ his kids in Jewish school, is stepping up & helping families in need. His goal? To address the tuition crisis
Jewish school tuition is expensive. In the United States, some families are paying six figures a year to send multiple children to these schools. While scholarships are helpful, many families still struggle to cover these bills along with all of life’s other expenses.
One man – a father with his kids in Jewish school – is now stepping up and helping out families in need. His goal? To address the tuition crisis and make sure Jewish children get a Jewish education.
Meet Zack Kaplun.
Zack Kaplun, who is originally from Ukraine, is a senior business analyst in corporate healthcare. He lives and works in Miami and is a father to children in Jewish school. His family emigrated to the United States when he was young, and he was raised in New York, where he became religious as a teenager.
Four years ago, while looking at a local community group in Boca Raton, a man who had just moved to South Florida from Israel asked what public school he should send his child to. Zack replied, “Nope. Send to yeshiva. If money is the issue, message me.”
Pretty soon, Zack started hearing more and more about how families all around him were struggling to pay tuition. He decided he was going to help them. Singlehandedly, he was going to send them funds to ensure their children enrolled in – or stayed in – Jewish schools.
“I have seen how money could be a potential roadblock and how expenses can add up for a family,” Zack told Aish.
He built a website called Yeshiva Tuition Org and began advertising it with a flyer around the community, stating, “Switch your kids from public school to a Jewish school. No Jewish child should attend public due to finances! I can help with tuition and placement/acceptance.”
On the website, Zack lists reasons for a yeshiva education, among them, “Best way to ensure your kids have a lasting connection to Judaism,” “Higher chance of having good morals and ethics,” “Reduces chances of assimilation,” and “Consider it an investment in the continuity of the Jewish nation.” He also states, “This initiative is funded by ONE Jew and his own personal money. We are not a company/501c3. Will try to help as many Jews as we can on a case-by-case basis.”
Zack gave out his personal phone number as well, urging people to get in touch. He soon received calls from all around the country and has, so far, given funds to hundreds of families.
“I use only my own money to fund this,” Zack said. “I don’t do any fundraising. It is too much drama to do fundraising. But of course, if someone wants to donate, then I don’t reject them. The bigger our war chest, the bigger the impact we can make.”
Zack believes helping with tuition makes a significant impact. “In my opinion, it is the most important charity. Not only does this support Torah study, but this shapes the entire future of a child, in a positive way.”
With his work, he aims to accomplish two things: make an impact and be efficient, “So I can help many families and spread the wealth… It is the top of the food chain, in terms of charity options.”
In addition to assisting families whose children might be going to public school, he helps parents whose children are already in Jewish schools as well.
Read the full article: https://aish.com/this-man-is-addressing-the-tuition-crisis-one-family-at-a-time/
