A week after announcing that Kadima Day School was at risk of closing due to financial shortfalls, the school confirmed it has raised over $943,000 and will remain open for the next school year. This extraordinary show of support not only secures Kadima’s immediate future, but lays the groundwork for a more sustainable and visionary path forward.
The Jewish day school, which offers classes from early childhood through middle school, has faced financial challenges for years. Those struggles led Israeli-American real estate developer and CEO of the Balaciano Group, Shawn Evenhaim, to step in and offer support more than 20 years ago.
Thanks to Evenhaim’s ongoing support, the school has been able to offer students a 45% reduction in regular tuition. Over the years, he also loaned Kadima $6 million to cover essential expenses including salaries, utilities and maintenance.
“We expected other people in the community to support the school as well, but it didn’t happen,” Evenhaim told the Journal in a phone interview. “No school or community institution should be dependent on a single family for two decades.”
After years of personal and financial investment, Evenhaim and his wife Dorit made the difficult decision to step back. In a letter to the school’s board, they wrote, “We had long hoped that others would join us in supporting this vital institution, and that the broader community would prioritize sending more children to Jewish day schools. Sadly, that did not happen. Despite our best efforts, we found ourselves almost alone in carrying the financial responsibility of keeping Kadima open.”
In an interview at the start of the fundraising effort, Karin Koskas, director of Hebrew and Judaic studies, said: “I truly believe we’ll receive the support we need. At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, we can’t afford to lose an institution that strengthens Jewish identity and education. We are a resilient and proud community.”
The announcement that the school might close down sparked a wave of concern and mobilized the school to seek immediate help from the broader community. Parents launched a campaign, and prominent figures including Noa Tishby and actress Moran Atias posted social media videos urging people to donate and help keep the school open.
By Friday, June 6, the school had raised close to $1 million which ensures the operation of the school for the coming academic year. Of that amount, $250,000 came from a single anonymous donor, with the remainder contributed by a large and diverse group of supporters.
“It was not something that we fully expected because it was on a very tight time frame,” the head of school, Dr. Steven Lorch, said. “The school community has never been called upon to response with such urgency so it was very gratifying to see them come through as they did. We are profoundly grateful to the community.”
Evenhaim noted that one of the school’s major challenges is the consistently low enrollment. Kadima currently has 272 students, a number that has remained relatively unchanged over the years.
“There are only three independent Jewish day schools in the West Valley — Ilan Ramon, Heschel and Kadima — and together they serve approximately 600 students,” he said. “That’s both absurd and disheartening for us as a community. There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Jewish children living in the West Valley. The fact that so few are enrolled in Jewish schools reflects a collective failure to make Jewish education truly accessible.”
The school believes its independent status offers a valuable opportunity to build diverse partnerships and explore innovative funding models aimed at securing long-term sustainability.
“Our independence is a strength,” Koskas said. “It allows us to build broad-based connections and think creatively about how to sustain and grow our school for the future.”
Kadima Day School was founded in 1970 with just eight students and one teacher, guided by Rabbi Eli Schochet of Congregation Beth Kodesh and Penina Schochet. Rooted in Jewish values and learning, Kadima grew to become a vital part of the West Valley Jewish community.
True to its name — “Kadima,” meaning “forward” — the school expanded steadily and at its peak it had over 300 students. Over the years, it added a preschool, middle school, extended daycare and after-school programs. In 2004, Kadima moved to its current home: the four-acre Evenhaim Family Campus in West Hills.
Karen Hovav, a member of the Board of Trustees and a parent of three children at Kadima, said that what happened over the past two weeks was nothing short of a miracle — one made possible by the hard work and resilience of the parents.
“It’s about more than just the money. The money is wonderful but secondary,” said Hovav. “What moved me most was seeing fellow parents, grandparents, and the entire community rise to the moment and respond to the call. At first, I wasn’t sure it was possible — we needed nearly a million dollars — but the way the community stepped up was extraordinary. They didn’t just give financially, they gave their time, their energy and their heart and worked tirelessly, often until two in the morning, planning. They are deeply engaged and incredibly proud.”
Margaret Sinai, a parent at the school for 18 years and President of the Board of Trustees, acknowledged that the threat of the school closing was very real, but what followed was nothing short of transformative.
“I was overwhelmed and deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community. This is not just about staying open, this is about reaffirming the importance of Jewish education, a recommitment to Israel and Zionism education in a post-Oct. 7 world, and as an anchor for Jewish continuity in the west valley for our children.
“I feel that this experience ignited something powerful in our community,” said Hovav. “The Jewish world is engaged and we matter because we nurture the soul of our children’s Jewish and Israeli identities. We remind them and ourselves, that community is essential, and it takes all of us, together, to build something lasting and sacred — a holy community — a kehillah kedusha.”
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