Essay 1
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Dickens’ memorable opening captures a dynamic that feels familiar to observers of the world of contemporary Jewish day school education. What do you believe are the two greatest strengths and two greatest challenges in modern Jewish day schools and yeshivas from a cultural and curricular point of view? What are your concrete ideas to address the challenges? Please respond in no more than 1,500 words.