The latest round of funding from JEWISHcolorado’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund will help support Jewish education.

With over $550,000 distributed since March, the Fund has turned its sights on education, just in time for the start of school. In July and August, the following organizations received the good news:

• $50,000 in early childhood education scholarships to the Colorado Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative, to address an increase in need among families enrolling for the 2020-21 school year;

• $33,333 each to Denver Jewish Day School, Denver Academy of Torah, and Hillel Academy for technical assistance and personal protective equipment;

• $20,000 to Jewish Family Service to replenish the safety net fund for Jewish community members; and

• $1,200 to Adventure Rabbi for weather-resistant tents to house their religious school programs.

The impact of the pandemic on young Jewish families and Jewish life is potentially severe. With gaps in federal, state, and local funding for tuition and teacher salaries and training exacerbated by a nationwide economic contraction, institutions of Jewish learning face an uphill battle, and fewer Jewish families enrolled means fewer opportunities for hands-on Jewish learning. That means fewer challahs baked, fewer blessings learning, fewer homemade Hanukkah menorahs, and fewer hamantaschen shared with friends.

High quality Jewish education has always provided a door through which Jewish families can walk to join our communal life. But it has also enabled more women to enter and stay in the workforce and given unaffiliated and interfaith families a way to learn and practice new Jewish skills in their homes. JEWISHcolorado is committed to the present and future of Jewish education, and we’ve put our money where our values are.