By Dana Greene 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. —How we treat people in the Jewish professional community is important. 

There are three ways to be Jewish -- believing, behaving and belonging.  That’s what I learned as a child attending the San Diego Jewish Academy, a pluralistic Jewish day school now located in Carmel Valley.  I attended kindergarten through sixth grade, and at the time, it was considered a big deal to be the first class to graduate sixth. I learned from a young age the importance of community and tikkun olam. My parents were active in starting the school, in fact the first organizational meeting was held in my family’s home. 

So I have great sadness when I tell you we’ve just suffered a huge betrayal within our Jewish community.

I was a late bloomer and still not reading by second grade.Karen Rund taught me how to put it all together.  And we practiced that year in the quiet of her home.  Then I was fortunate to have her again for two more years, in third and fifth, although, there were moments I’m sure she wanted to kill me – I could be naughty and was sent to the principal’s office more than once. But on the whole, I loved my teacher, my teachers, my experience at SDJA and feel it gave me the grounding I would need as an adult to be a proud Jew. I know my sentiment is shared by many alumni.

Karen Rund spent 27-years, almost the majority of a person’s career, in service to this school. She’s a former SDJA principal, past dean of testing and admissions, former president of the principal’s council for the AJE, and past president of the National Community of Day Schools. And in 2004, she won the Grinspoon from the National Jewish Educators Award for outstanding educator.  She’s considered a Jewish educator of national standing.  And to win that award, a teacher must have repeatedly received perfect evaluations. 

So it brings great sadness when I hear that after honoring her as one of the pillars of our community, a matriarch who has touched the lives of hundreds of children, Karen Rund has been fired. 

Ok, so what’s the big deal? You might be wondering—people get hired and fired everyday.  Well, this teacher was honored last year at an SDJA fundraiser for her dedication to the Jewish Academy and is now being terminated.  It makes no sense.

What does it mean to the school if a year ago, she was honored, but now she’s being terminated?  What are we teaching the students?  Even in the Bible, it’s the ones with the experience that we want to emulate.  We listen to them.  We look up to them. And now we fire them?

Where’s the reward for wisdom and experience?  If she was worthy of honor a year ago, then she’s worthy of much better treatment than this, right?

So who made the decision?  Who dropped the ax?  A little sleuthing can go a long way.  From several employees, current and former, I got the same answer, “Everyone is expendable at the academy. It’s run like a business now.”

“No, it had nothing to do with the board of trustees,” said SDJA President Leo Spiegel. “We don’t get involved in personnel issues.”

So, it was an administrative decision. “I can’t discuss it.  It’s confidential information,” said Lower School Principal Marna Weiss Padowitz. 

“The academy is cutting back and there will not be a job for her next year. She shouldn’t take it personally,” it was explained to me.

Oh, it’s all understandable now.  Ms. Rund is an expensive teacher.  She’s been there 27 years. Gotta throw her out!  We’ll get two for the price of one! It may be legal, but is it moral?  Does this reflect Jewish values and teaching? 

Ever heard of letting the new hires go first? That’s generally how it’s done in corporate America.

Apparently, our community isn’t happy with this “corporate” style of educating and perhaps the declining student numbers reflect that.  Certainly building a gymnasium should not be more important than a child’s education.  If there are budgetary issues, stop building for a while, lower tuition costs significantly, and create a happy place.  After all, what good is a soccer field if there are no kids to play there?  

It should be noted none of my information for this column came from Mrs. Rund. She is the kindest of souls and would never seek media attention or the spotlight.  Also, she is one of two who’ve been let go. Rita Cohen was not my teacher, but she was my brother’s teacher and she was there that first year and has been there for the majority of the years of the school’s existence.  Both women are exceptional educators and neither one is ready to retire.

The San Diego Jewish Academy was my school. And this was my teacher. This should not be how Jews behave in our San Diego.