Ida Crown Jewish Academy

Ida Crown Jewish Academy

Inspiring Bnei and Bnot Torah to thrive in the Modern World
Address
8233 Central Park Ave.
Skokie, Illinois 60076
United States
Information
Type Parochial; Coed
Religious affiliation(s) Modern Orthodox
Established 1942
Dean Rabbi Leonard Matanky
Number of students 250
Campus Suburban
Color(s)              Blue, White, and Red
Mascot Ace
Nickname Ida Crown, ICJA, The Academy
Rival Rochelle Zell Jewish High School
Website www.icja.org

Ida Crown Jewish Academy is a Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in Skokie, Illinois,[1] overseen by the Associated Talmud Torahs. Its current Dean is Rabbi Dr. Leonard Matanky.[2] Ida Crown places emphasis on both Judaic and Secular studies and holds its students to high academic standards. The Academy prides itself on its college-preparatory environment, yet still encourages its students to pursue a year in yeshiva or seminary in Israel before attending college. Ida Crown serves students from all over the northern Chicago area, including Chicago, Lincolnwood, Skokie, Northbrook, Highland Park, Glencoe, Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, and Evanston.

History

Leaders from the Associated Talmud Torahs (ATT) and Hebrew Theological College met in 1942 to address growing educational concerns. The primary problem centered around the fact that many Jewish children began to drop their studies around Bar Mitzvah time, setting the scene for rampant assimilation and a loss of tradition. They eventually established a plan: to create a high school which combined the secular studies taught in public secondary schools and Judaic studies under one roof. With a day from 8:05 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., students would be the most receptive, and would not have to endure tiring evening classes at Hebrew high or similar institutions. Ideally, these students would move on to pursue Jewish higher education, or at least continue to serve the community.

The school began as Chicago Jewish Academy and was first located on the West side on the corner of Douglas Blvd. and St. Louis Ave. It was a coeducational junior high school with grades 6-10, subsequent grades were added with each upcoming year. The school became a complete four-year secondary school in September, 1945. The first Commencement ceremony took place in June 1946.

By that time, the school outgrew its previous facilities. The ATT purchased the building of the Metropolitan Masonic Temple in the Garfield Park area; the school moved to the building in 1947. The three-story building was remodeled during the two-year waiting period to accommodate the needs of a modern academy. The University of Illinois officially recognized its existence shortly thereafter. Later, the State placed the Academy on the official list of accredited high schools in 1949.

Despite ample room and much progress, the West side of Chicago began to deteriorate as a whole by the early 1960s. The Academy was forced by virtue of circumstances to relocate in 1961 to the Torah Center. The move helped catalyze the institution of a new branch, a Yeshiva; a section of the high school for boys, which included intensified Talmudic studies. To satisfy the needs of parents and help hinder overcrowding, a third branch, a Girls' school, was established in September 1967.

The Chicago Jewish Academy made another move in 1968 due to overcrowding. To fund the move, the ATT proposed a campaign to raise funds for a building to house up to 400 students. This building, in the West Ridge area, a center of Jewish community regionally, was named the Ida Crown Jewish Academy, after a generous donation from the Crown family.[3]

Later, the Academy would drop its junior high school, and both branches became their own separate Jewish high schools. The Yeshiva became Fasman Yeshiva High School, in Skokie, and the Girls' School became Hannah Sachs Bais Yaakov. Still, the atmosphere and philosophy has generally remained the same over more than fifty years of progress.

Ida Crown Jewish Academy made another move, this time to Skokie, to satisfy a student body that is primarily from the North Shore area and to address overcrowding at the current building. A festive ground-breaking ceremony was held at the new site in Skokie on November 2, 2014. The Building officially opened for learning on January 4, 2016.

Quick Facts

Statistics

Faculty

Academic Recognition

Recent Athletic Achievements

Men's Teams Women's Teams
Basketball Basketball
Baseball Softball
Cross Country Cross Country
Fencing Fencing
Wrestling Soccer

Associations

Notable alumni

Curricula

General Studies

Judaic Studies

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Home." Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Retrieved on February 5, 2011. "2828 West Pratt Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60645."
  2. ↑ http://www.icja.org/pages/administration/44.php
  3. ↑ Rapoport, Rabbi Shlomo (1967). "A Quarter Century of Progress By the Academy". Retrieved 2006-04-17.
  4. ↑ "Getting to Know Ida Crown Jewish Academy" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Recognized Nonpublic Schools for 2010" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "List of Tournament Champions".
  7. ↑ "Schools benefitting from AMODS endowal fund".
  8. ↑ "GreatSchools entry".

Coordinates: 42°00′20″N 87°42′04″W / 42.005618°N 87.701225°W / 42.005618; -87.701225

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