Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School is launching Raise Your Yad (hand), a campaign to break down the barriers of entry to a Jewish day school education. Already, more than 75 families have donated a collective $4.71 million so that St. Louis’ only pluralistic Jewish Day school remains financially feasible and able to offer comprehensive support services for diverse learners.

“Our Jewish future will be shaped by the independent thinkers, creative learners and ethical leaders that emerge from Mirowitz,” says Sue Fischlowitz, who is co-chairing the campaign with her husband David Roberts. “Yet not every family can afford a Mirowitz education; that is why this campaign is so important.”

Fischlowitz and Roberts are inviting the community to “Raise Your Yad” to endow financial aid and learning support services. The public phase of the campaign will culminate with a 36-hour Raise Your Yad Challenge on May 16-17. The day of online giving will include match incentives. Donors also may give a gift in advance of the Challenge online.

“We know that the single most important parenting decision we made was sending both our boys to Jewish Day School,” says Missy Korenblat-Hanin, a donor to the campaign. “We gave our boys a gift that nurtured their minds and shaped their souls. We support Raise Your Yad so that all parents can do the same for their children.”

Mirowitz is unique in its ability to serve diverse families. “Except for schools created to serve special needs, no other St. Louis independent school offers the level of learning support that Mirowitz does,” says Raquel Scharf-Anderson, head of school. “But the reality is that it’s expensive to provide learning support for gifted children and those with varied learning needs. This campaign will ensure, in perpetuity, our occupational therapy, speech therapy, social services and learning support, and also help us make the school financially accessible to more families.”

Board member Galia Movitz explains that this campaign is a Jewish responsibility. “Doesn’t our tradition compel us to teach our children — no matter their learning style or ability to pay? We owe it to future generations to ensure that children do not opt out of Jewish life because they felt alienated by Jewish day schools.”