ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
Two young education workers are formulating a proposal for a pluralist, inclusive Jewish primary school in Borehamwood in the light of growing waiting lists for Jewish schools in nearby areas.
Tal Landsman and Ben Lewis, both 25, have set up the LL educational trust to submit their free school plans to the Department for Education in May.
Mr Landsman, the operations director for Kool Kidz Jewish nurseries, pointed out: "There is no Jewish primary school in the area and a huge deficit of places. A lot of children are travelling outside of Borehamwood and Elstree to go to school."
The pair estimate there will be a deficit of 42 places in September 2016, which is when they hope to open their two-form entry school with an initial 60 places. Mr Landsman said they intended to base the school's ethos on that of Kool Kidz, whose owner and founder is his mother, Adie Landsman, who is also part of the trust.
Mr Lewis, a member of The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, said: "Tal went to a Jewish school and I went to a non-Jewish school. We thought together we could come up with something that would encourage children to love their religion.
"I am hoping anyone and everyone will feel comfortable. We will provide an environment where everyone can thrive. Being inclusive, it is going to provide an environment to learn about others."
The Liberal shul's Rabbi Pete Tobias is backing the project, despite being "opposed to Jewish schools because I find them quite divisive. But because LL has an obligation to involve non-Jewish children within it, I have been prepared to lend it my support.
"The majority of parents at the synagogue want to send their children to a Jewish school. The area needs another Jewish school because there are waiting lists. This would tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people in a variety of ways."
In a more guarded response, Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky of Borehamwood and Elstree United Synagogue said: "We invite anyone who is passionate about Jewish education in Borehamwood to work together with the local spiritual and lay leadership of our modern Orthodox community to find an appropriate and viable solution for the shortage of spaces in our local Jewish schools."