Reflecting on Judaism

          1972 was the year which saw the consolidation of the sixteen years’ work, started in 1956, for the establishment of the school. It also saw the resolution of a number of problems which had troubled the Managers over several years. On 31st January 1972 I reported to Tom Philips, the previous Chairman of Managers, bringing him up to date with developments. I told him that the school was doing very well in such a short space of time due to a large extent to the efforts of Mr. Rosslyn, the Headmaster, and that the Hebrew Studies were reaching a standard far beyond anything which we might have hoped for. I also drew his attention to three difficulties which the Managers were still facing namely: -
          1) The enormous pressure from parents demanding places in the school, such demand exceeding supply by some 2/300%. The Managers were in constant trouble with the Local Authorities because of the moral obligation they felt by accepting siblings, which often took the total numbers on roll above the statutory limits. Fortunately this problem was partly resolved later in the year when the school received permission to expand to a two-form entry on site.
          2) The differences between the Managers of the school and youth club concerning both the apportionment of building costs and the terms of the lease which was to be granted to the club. It was remarkable that the members of both committees, though they had on a personal basis, very good and friendly relationships nevertheless began talking in terms of litigation to resolve their differences. Fortunately, the financial differences were sorted out later in the year through the good offices of mutual friends although the differences regarding the terms of the lease lingered on for several years and was eventually sorted out by the then Honorary Correspondent of the school, Peter Tobias.
          3) The school building was still giving all kinds of problems with defects appearing regularly and it took some considerable time for the building to become acceptable.
          Another minor problem arose, which was not mentioned to Tom Philips, concerning a difference between the newly formed Parents’ Association and the ‘Friends’ of the school. They both wished to raise funds but whilst the Parents Association required only small sums to cover their minimal running costs, the ‘Friends’ required large sums to help towards the substantial costs of running the school. The ‘Friends’ complained that the Parents’ efforts were hindering their efforts. A meeting was arranged between Jeremy Goldstein, Chairman of the ‘Friends’ and Philip Finlay, Chairman of the ‘Parents’ and a formula was arrived at that suited both parties.
In July 1972, after the school had been opened for over two years, it held its first prize day. In his report the Headmaster, Mr Rosslyn, referred to the official opening ceremony the previous year by Sir Isaac Wolfson; to the enormous effort made by the staff in helping to open and then transferring pupils from Stepney to the new school; the 375 then on roll and the future difficulties concerning new intakes of pupils; the modern layout of the school and the new methods of teaching; the plans which were being discussed with the authorities concerning the establishment of a Jewish secondary school in the area. He did not mention, because he was unaware of, the meeting which had taken place between Nat Rubin of the London Board and Mrs M. Thatcher, the then Minister of Education, during which she encouraged us to proceed with our plans. Mr. Rosslyn also paid tribute to the Management, past and present, and particularly to Mr. Tom Philips, the Guest of Honour at the prize day, for their keen interest and help in setting up the school.
I mentioned in earlier chapters the work done by Mr. C. Wertheimer, a Shaliach from the Jewish Agency attached to our school, in introducing a new and novel syllabus for teaching Jewish studies, which he himself wrote and compiled, and which was successful beyond expectations. His three-year term of office was due to expire in July 1973 and we invited the Jewish Agency to extend his stay by another two years.
          We reported to them that the top class of the school was expected to complete a thorough study of fifty chapters of Chumash, the Book of Berashit, by July 1973 and the Chief Rabbi had promised to participate in the Siyum (a celebration to acknowledge the completion of a portion of our literature) which was planned. They were also notified that the children were beginning to use Hebrew as a language and that the school is clearly creating a positive attitude towards Judaism and Israel. They sent us a list of people who wished to attend the Siyum and in due course they were suitably impressed.
          In spite of the successful Siyum, our letter of request for the extension, a letter from the Headmaster and a meeting with the Department’s Representative, we did not prevail and a search for a new Shaliach began. I believe, and I hope that I do not exaggerate, that by refusing the requested extension the cause of Jewish Religious Education in our school, and beyond, was stultified and has yet to be resuscitated to the level he achieved. Mr. Wertheimer’s departure was a terrible loss to the school. Although his successors were genuine, enthusiastic and competent within their own limitations they did not continue with Mr. Wertheimer’s syllabus because, I think, that they did not quite understand it, did not put in necessary thought, time and effort and, as a result, his high achievements were, sadly, not maintained.
By 1975 the problems with the school building were sorted out and the builders wanted the final payment. The responsibility for payment rested with the school’s Trustees who should have been put in funds by the Authorities. Unfortunately, the Authorities were tardy in putting us in funds and so on 6th February 1975 a writ was issued on Raymond Rudie, acting on behalf of the Trustees of the school, by the builders in the sum of some £10,000. The Local Authority did not meet until the end of March 1975 to approve the final account and pass the money over to us and we were lucky that Moshe Davis, of the Chief Rabbi’s Educational Fund, loaned us the money, which we repaid shortly afterwards.
          Because we were not entirely satisfied with one of the appointments by the Jewish Agency of a Director of Jewish Education, we applied for and were granted permission to interview prospective Directors in Israel before they were appointed and this procedure continued until our connection with the Jewish Agency ended.
Mr. S. Rosslyn retired as Headmaster in July 1975 after many, many years with the school, both in Stepney Green and in Ilford. He was a good man, a kind man and a very successful Headmaster. Mr. Harry Balkin, the Deputy Head of the school was appointed in his stead in September 1975. Mr. Balkin too had been with the Stepney Jewish School and transferred to Ilford together with Mr. Rosslyn. A new Shaliach, Mr. Moshe Graz, was appointed Director of Jewish Education and a new era was to begin.

Woolf Abrahams
April 2004