The Greater MetroWest Day School Council is comprised of Day School visionaries and stakeholders, many of whom are also generous donors of the Herskowitz Society of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest. Founded in 2007 by Paula and Jerry Gottesman (z”l) alongside other donors, the Council oversees financial support of the Greater MetroWest Day School Initiative with grants and programs to support JKHA/RKYHS as well as JEC/Bruriah in Elizabeth, Gottesman RTW Academy in Randolph and Golda Och Academy in West Orange. 

The Greater MetroWest Day School Initiative is a collaborative investment to enhance academic excellence for every educator and every learner, to make the Jewish day school experience more affordable for families, and to secure the future of Jewish Day School education in our community. Both the Quest for Teaching Excellence professional development program as well as the community-wide “Tuition MAX” middle income program have been nationally recognized for their innovation and impact. The Day School Initiative also supports efforts across the schools to enhance sustainability through endowment development, recruitment and retention efforts, and political advocacy. 

The Council has reaffirmed its commitment to GMW schools by enhancing its support during times of crisis. During the covid-19 pandemic, the Initiative provided $300,000 in emergency grants to hundreds of families across the community and provided grants to support reopening costs in the fall of 2020. In the immediate aftermath of October 7th, the council distributed security grants to each Greater MetroWest Day School, facilitated the welcoming of Israeli families seeking refuge in our community, and enabled the participation of 17 buses full of Day School students and staff at the rally for Israel in Washington DC last November.