The Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit

{{Short description|Jewish high school in metro Detroit}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit | logo = Frankel_Jewish_Academy's_Logo,_the_FJA_Pomegranate.png | logo_size = 200px | logo_alt = | seal_image = FJA Seal 4Color.png | seal_size = | seal_alt = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | motto =  | motto_translation = | address = 6600 West Maple Rd. | city = West Bloomfield | state = Michigan | zipcode = 48322 | country = USA | coordinates = {{coord|42|32|38|N|83|24|07|W|region:US-MI_type:edu|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | other_names = {{Hlist|Frankel Jewish Academy|FJA}} | former_names = {{Hlist|The Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit|JAMD}} | schooltype = | fundingtype = | type = Independent Jewish day school | religious_affiliation = Jewish | denomination = Non-denominational | established = {{Start date|2000|08|28|df=yes}} | founder =  | status = | closed =  | locale = | sister_school = | school_board = | district = | us_nces_district_id = | local_authority = | educational_authority =  | category =  | oversight =  | trust = | authorizer = | superintendent = | trustee = | specialist =  | session = | ceeb = 233729 | us_nces_school_id = {{NCES Private School ID|A0301852|school_name=Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit|access_date=Feb 9, 2022|ref_name=nces_psch}} | president = Mark Weinbaum | head_of_school = Rabbi Azaryah Cohen | grades = 9 – 12 | gender = Coed | enrollment = 117<ref name="nces_psch" /> | enrollment_as_of = 2025-2026 | grade9 = | grade10 = | grade11 = | grade12 = | avg_class_size = | ratio = 5.2:1 (2017-2018)<ref name="nces_psch" /> | system = | classes_offered = | language = | schedule_type = | schedule = | hours_in_day = | classrooms = | campuses = | campus = | campus_size = | area = | campus_type = | student_union =  | colors = {{Color box|cyan|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|maroon|border=darkgray}} Cyan and maroon | slogan = | song = | fight_song = | athletics = | athletic_conference = MHSAA and CHSL | sports = | mascot = Jaguar <br />100px | nickname = | teams =  | team_name = FJA Jaguars | rival =  | accreditation = NAIS via ISACS | publication = | newspaper = | yearbook = | products = | endowment = | budget = | tuition = $27,300 + $1,300 material fee (2021-2022)<ref name="Paying for FJA">{{cite web |title=Paying for FJA |url=https://www.frankelja.org/admissions/paying-for-fja |publisher=Frankel Jewish Academy |access-date=12 February 2022 |ref=fja-paying-for-fja}}</ref> | feeder_schools = Hillel Day School | feeder_to = | graduates = | graduates_year = | affiliation =  | alumni = | alumni_name = | nobel_laureates = | information =  | website = {{URL|https://frankelja.org}} | footnotes = | picture = | picture_caption = | picture2 = | picture_caption2 = }}

'''Frankel Jewish Academy''' '''(FJA)''', named after its major benefactors Jean and Samuel Frankel, is a college-preparatory independent Jewish day school in West Bloomfield, a city in the Detroit metropolitan area. Opened in 2000 primarily for providing continuity of Jewish education for the graduates of Hillel Day School, a local Conservative K – 8 school, it became the first multi-denominational Jewish high school in Michigan. It provides both secular and Judaic studies instruction for ninth through 12th grade students coming from various denominations within Judaism, including Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox.

== History ==

=== Founding === From c.1996 a group of Hillel Day School parents led by Jeff Garden pitched to the local community leaders the idea of starting a new Jewish high school. Eventually they earned support from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 1998-04-03">{{cite news |last1=Nevins |first1=Rabbi Daniel |title=A New High School That All Can Share |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.1998.04.03.001/30 |access-date=9 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=3 April 1998 |ref=jnews-19980403 |quote=For the past few years, a committee led by Jeff Garden has struggled to shepherd this vision from dream to reality. Thanks to a remarkable show of support from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, we are prepared to take the next crucial steps.}}</ref> In April 1999, Rabbi Lee Buckman of Congregation Beth Israel (Milwaukee) was named the future school's headmaster.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 1999-04-30">{{cite news |last1=Wiener |first1=Julie |title=Headmaster Hired |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.1999.04.30.001/10 |access-date=9 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=30 April 1999 |ref=jnews-19990430 |quote=Rabbi Lee Buckman was recently named headmaster for the Jewish Academy of Detroit. ... In the planning stages for over two years, the new school will differ from Detroit's existing day high schools, all of which are Orthodox, by reaching to a broad spectrum of the community ... The Jewish Academy's board is composed mainly of Hillel Day School parents and Conservative rabbis.}}</ref><ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2000-08-25">{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Diana |title=Top Man |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2000.08.25.001/10 |access-date=9 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=25 August 2000 |ref=jnews-20000825 |quote=In April 1999, Rabbi Lee Buckman left his post at Congregation Beth Israel in Milwaukee to take over as head of a nonexistent, multi-stream Jewish day high school in Detroit}}</ref> In January 2000 the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit (JAMD) held an open house, helped by guests from Boston's New Jewish High School. By that time the academy had already identified department heads of social sciences, mathematics, science, performing arts, Hebrew, and Jewish studies, and selected the leads of professional development, recruitment, and academic affairs.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2000-01-07">{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Diana |title=Look Us Over |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2000.01.07.001/14 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=7 January 2000 |ref=jnews-20000107}}</ref> The school was set to open with ninth and 10th grades to start, tuition for a year would be $10,000, and every family whose child was accepted would receive a $2,000 subsidy.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2000-01-05">{{cite news |title=Jewish High School Plans on Schedule Facility Will Be First in Detroit Metro Area |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436239060 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=5 January 2000 |id={{ProQuest|436239060}} |ref=freep-20000105 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The school opened on August 28, 2000, at the lower level of the Jewish Community Center building in West Bloomfield.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2000 08 25b">{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Diana |title=No Longer a Dream |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2000.08.25.001/6 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=25 August 2000 |ref=jnews-20000825b}}</ref>

Gabriella Burman of The Forward noted on the occasion of JAMD opening that it was part of a national explosion of new non-Orthodox high schools: from 30 to 45 within three years, with 12 of the 15 new schools being community, or non-denominational, schools. She added that "the boom in Jewish high school education outside of the yeshiva world, where high schooling has been standard practice for much of the last generation, is further proof of the triumph of day schooling as a communal response to rising intermarriage rates and a perceived decline in Jewish affiliation."<ref name="Forward 2000-09-08">{{cite news |last1=Burman |first1=Gabriella |title=School Craze: Upper Grades in Building Boom |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/367754807 |work=The Forward |date=8 September 2000 |ref=forward-20000908 |pages=1 |id={{ProQuest|367754807}} |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Frankel gift === In 2002, JAMD received a $20 million endowment, the largest endowment ever received by a Jewish high school. The donor, who requested anonymity, set only one stipulation — that the funds not be used for construction.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2002-07-19">{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Diana |title=Breathtaking Gift |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2002.07.19.001/18 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=19 July 2002 |ref=jnews-20020719}}</ref> In 2003, Jean and Samuel Frankel were revealed as contributors of this gift, made in the form of a 2-1 challenge fund: to receive the full $20 million, JAMD and the Jewish Federation must raise $10 million.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2003-11-07">{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Diana |title=A Transformational Gift |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2003.11.07.001/17 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=7 November 2003 |ref=jnews-20031107}}</ref> Jean Frankel and her husband, longtime Detroit-area real estate developer Samuel, had a long and distinguished history of involvement with and giving to the local university, cultural organizations, hospitals, and Jewish schools.<ref name="Frankel Center for Judaic Studies">{{cite web |title=Frankel Family |url=https://lsa.umich.edu/judaic/about-us/frankel-family.html |website=Frankel Center for Judaic Studies |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=10 February 2022 |ref=umich-frankel |quote=LSA alumna Jean Frankel (BA ’36) (z′′l) and her husband, longtime Detroit-area real estate developer Samuel (z′′l), and their family have a long and distinguished history of involvement with and giving to the University of Michigan. ... Their heritage of philanthropy has endowed not only the University of Michigan, but also has sustained the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Jewish schools in metro Detroit and Jerusalem, the Jewish Welfare Federation of Metro Detroit, and Children’s Hospital of Detroit}}</ref> Soon after, the JAMD was renamed ''The Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit (FJA)''.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

=== Campus === When the academy opened in 2000 with 51 ninth and 10th grade students, classes were held in the basement of the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. In 2001, students moved to modular classrooms. In 2007 the school, having grown to 81 faculty and staff and more than 220 students, moved to a newly constructed facility on the third floor of the Jewish Community Center. Thanks to an $8.5-million campaign, the 50,000-square-foot facility has 27 classrooms, a fully equipped science suite that includes four classrooms and two labs, and an 1,800-square-foot Beit Midrash/Chapel, which houses the academy's Judaica library collection. There is also a performing arts studio, several student lounges and a media center.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2007-08-29">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Lori |title=Metro Detroit: Students Get Early Start at Schools: Some Make Transition to New Buildings, Too |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436836956 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |issue=29 August 2007 |id={{ProQuest|436836956}} |ref=freep-20070829 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="Detroit Free Press 2007-09-16">{{cite news |title=School Bulletin Board |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436857287 |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=16 September 2007 |id={{ProQuest|436857287}} |ref=freep-20070916 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2019, FJA signed a 10-year lease to remain at the JCC, received a 17,000-square-foot expansion in the JCC's lower level and started converting the 4,550-square-foot-space of the Aaron DeRoy Theatre into a black-box theater to enhance its performing arts offerings. The students use the JCC's café, lounge area, pool, gyms, soccer fields, art studios and other JCC amenities.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2019-08-22">{{cite news |last1=Gittleman |first1=Stacy |title=Jewish Day Schools Welcome Students Back |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2019/08/22/jewish-day-schools-welcome-students-back/ |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=22 August 2019 |ref=jnews-20190822}}</ref>

=== Controversy around hiring policies and governance === FJA went into 2008-2009 year under a new headmaster, Rabbi Eric Grossman.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2008-06-01">{{cite news |title=School Bulletin Board |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436951020 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=1 June 2008 |id={{ProQuest|436951020}} |ref=freep-20080601 |quote=The Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Rabbi Eric Grossman as the new head of school at the academy in West Bloomfield. Grossman is the founding head of the Bible department at the Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit, a position he has held since 2001. He also serves as rabbi (non-resident) of Shaar Hashomayim Congregation in Windsor. Before moving to Detroit, he served on the administration of the Gann Academy/New Jewish High School of Greater Boston, where he also taught Bible, philosophy, and Jewish law. In Israel for four years, he studied at Yeshivat Hamivtar and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The academy, founded on the premise of welcoming students from all Jewish denominations, had a large body of Reform and non-affiliated students. However, the school's elected board had few Reform representatives, and the school's Judaic department's hiring policies remained biased against Reform rabbis (the policy required all who teach Judaic studies courses or lead minyans to be shomer Shabbat, i.e. Shabbat observant). Some students felt that the school was not offering an "open" attitude toward liberal Judaism. The disagreements had been brewing for several years and finally became public, as a fresh incident involving a "Denominational Differences" class at FJA pushed things to the forefront. In August 2011 a group of Reform rabbis wrote a formal letter to FJA complaining at a "marked lack of denominational sensitivity".<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2011-08-25">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=At the Core. Reform Rabbis Challenge Frankel Jewish Academy's Denominational Sensitivity |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2011.08.25.001/1 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=25 August 2011 |ref=jnews-20110825}}</ref> In response, the FJA board at its November 2011 meeting passed a resolution "reaffirming its support of our school's mission, philosophy, head of school and hiring practices".<ref name="Detroit Jewish News (Standoff) 2013-06-27">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=School Standoff |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2013.06.27.001/8 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=27 June 2013 |ref=jnews-standoff-20130627 |pages=8}}</ref> The conflict kept steaming.

In 2012 FJA changed its governance from the original membership model, in which parent members elected the board, to a directorship model (self-perpetuating board) in which current board members select their own replacements. This model was popular among independent schools: the neighboring Hillel Day School had the same directorship model since 2009. However, a group of FJA parents felt violated by perceived lack of transparency and in 2013 filed a legal complaint against the FJA board in Oakland County Circuit Court. FJA board president Bill Newman maintained that "the process we conducted was equitable, legal and binding".<ref name="Detroit Jewish News (Parents) 2013-06-27">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=Parents React To FJA Policies With Action |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2013.06.27.001/10 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=27 June 2013 |ref=jnews-parents-20130627 |pages=10}}</ref> A few months later, parents dismissed their complaint.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2013-09-19">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=Legal Action Dropped |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2013.09.19.001/24 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=19 September 2013 |ref=jnews-20130919}}</ref>

=== Recent years === In 2015 FJA received a new head of school Rabbi Azaryah Cohen<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2015-03-12">{{cite news |title=Changes at FJA |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2015.03.12.001/12 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=12 March 2015 |ref=jnews-20150312}}</ref> who improved the school's outreach to Reform rabbis and launched a STEM lab.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2017-10-10" />

In 2020, FJA was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2020-03-06">{{cite news |last1=Colf |first1=Corrie |title=Metro Detroit Jewish Schools Actively Prepare for Coronavirus |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2020/03/06/metro-detroit-jewish-schools-actively-prepare-for-coronavirus/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=6 March 2020 |ref=jnews-20200306 |quote=Farber, Hillel and FJA are all beginning to explore and discuss strategies to provide remote instruction via technology to ensure that students’ learning is not disrupted.}}</ref> On Governor's orders, all Michigan schools closed in March and went online. However, recognizing the limitations of virtual learning, FJA started the 2020–2021 academic year returning to on-campus, in-person instruction with stringent health safeguards. Remote, synchronous classes were made available online for students who preferred not to be physically present.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2020-08-20">{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Shari |title=Jewish Day Schools Plan for In-Person and Remote Learning |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2020/08/20/jewish-day-schools-plan-for-in-person-and-remote-learning/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=20 August 2020 |ref=jnews-20200820}}</ref>

== Academics == FJA offers a strong college-preparatory dual curriculum in secular and Judaic studies. Researchers at Niche.com repeatedly ranked FJA one of the best private high schools in Michigan: #5 in 2017<ref name="ClickOnDetroit 2017-08-15">{{cite news |last1=Bartkowiak Jr. |first1=Dave |title=Here Are the Top Private High Schools in Michigan, According to Review Site |url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/education/2017/08/15/here-are-the-top-private-high-schools-in-michigan-according-to-review-site/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=ClickOnDetroit |date=15 August 2017 |ref=clickon-20170815}}</ref> and #6 in 2020.<ref name="CBS Detroit 2020-10-14">{{cite news |title=The Best 2021 Private High Schools in Michigan |url=https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2020/10/14/the-best-2021-private-high-schools-in-michigan/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=CBS Detroit |date=14 October 2020 |ref=cbsdet-20201014}}</ref>

The school utilizes modern technologies; for example, in 2011 it gave iPad 2s to all its students.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2011-09-15">{{cite news |title=Jewish Day Schools Go High Tech |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2011.09.15.001/28 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=15 September 2011 |ref=jnews-20110915}}</ref> FJA has the ''Genesis S.T.E.M. Lab'' that "bring[s] study of science, technology, engineering and math into the 21st century".<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2017-10-10" /> In 2018 Frankel robotics team represented U.S. in Israel at international competition,<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2018-03-22">{{cite news |last1=Headapohl |first1=Jackie |title=Technion Bound – RoboTraffic |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2018/03/22/technion-bound/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=22 March 2018 |ref=jnews-20180322}}</ref> and in 2019 received first place for its 3D CAD design of a fuel injector.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=FJA Students Win Israeli Robotraffic Competition |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2019/03/15/fja-students-win-at-israeli-robotraffic-competition/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |publisher=jnews-20190315 |date=15 March 2019 |ref=Detroit Jewish News 2019-03-15}}</ref>

The school's business elective course produced a few entrepreneurs. In 2012, juniors Matthew Tukel and Sawyer Altman started their own energy drink business ''313Energy''.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2012-03-29">{{cite news |last1=Headapohl |first1=Jackie |title=Young Entrepreneurs |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2012.03.29.001/14 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=29 March 2012 |ref=jnews-20120329}}</ref> In 2015, junior Max Feber developed a cold coffee brewing apparatus ''BRUW'' and raised more than $10,000 from more than 180 backers on Kickstarter for its production.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2017-02-23">{{cite news |last1=Headapohl |first1=Jackie |title=Entrepreneurial Teenager Takes His Product to Market on TV's Hatched |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2017/02/23/entrepreneurial-teenager-takes-product-market-tvs-hatched/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=23 February 2017 |ref=jnews-20170223}}</ref> Eventually, he landed a deal with Mark Cuban on ''Shark Tank''.<ref name="MLive 2019-01-07">{{cite news |last1=Pevos |first1=Edward |title=Michigan Teen Lands Deal With Mark Cuban on 'Shark Tank' |url=https://www.mlive.com/life/2019/01/michigan-teen-lands-deal-with-mark-cuban-on-shark-tank.html |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=MLive |date=7 January 2019 |ref=mlive-20190107}}</ref>

In 2019 the school changed its schedule with a later start time, with school days running now from 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM. Starting one hour later helps the physical and mental well-being of teens, who were often too sleepy to be focused for early-morning classes.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2019-08-22" />

As part of its mission, FJA inspires students to dedicate themselves to Jewish tradition, peoplehood, and the State of Israel. The senior-year Israel trip is now part of the curriculum.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2007-05-13">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Katharine P. |title=5 Questions With... W. Bloomfield Student Retraces WW II History: from Poland to Israel, Tears to Joy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436808581/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=13 May 2007 |ref=freep-20070513 |quote=As part of the international program March of the Living [...] After spending time in Poland, the teens were flown to Israel, where they observed Israel Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day. The march strives to help the students understand the importance of remembering the Holocaust, and the stories of individual survivors |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 2019 the school created the ''Frankel Merit Scholars Program'', a four-year, merit-based $20,000 per year scholarship for up to 15 new students. At that time, tuition was $25,000 per year.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2019-06-20">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=Frankel Jewish Academy Pilots New Merit Scholars Program |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2019/06/20/frankel-jewish-academy-pilots-new-merit-scholars-program/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=20 June 2019 |ref=jnews-20190620}}</ref> To increase enrollment, in 2022 FJA introduced the ''Shorashim Grants'' where current and incoming families, regardless of the ability to pay, can choose up to $10,000 per student annually.<ref name="Jewish News 2022-02-16">{{cite news |last1=Headapohl |first1=Jackie |title=Frankel Jewish Academy Introduces Shorashim Grants for All Students' Tuition |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2022/02/16/frankel-jewish-academy-introduces-shorashim-grants-for-all-students-tuition/ |access-date=16 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=16 February 2022 |ref=jnews-20220216}}</ref>

== Extracurriculars == === Performing arts === FJA has an active theater program that produces up to two productions per year under direction of Mitch Master, the school's founding director of fine and performing arts.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2000-01-07" /> Occasionally, the school invites younger local actors for its bigger productions, such as Munchkins and Flying Monkeys for 2004 production of ''The Wizard of Oz''<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2004-09-10">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=Looking For Munchkins |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2004.09.10.001/13 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=10 September 2004 |ref=jnews-20040910}}</ref> or orphans and Fagin's gang of thieves for 2012 production of ''Oliver!''.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2012-08-02">{{cite news |title=FJA Youth Casting Call For Oliver! Production |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2012.08.02.001/26 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=2 August 2012 |ref=jnews-20120802}}</ref>

=== Sports === The school's mascot is the Jaguar. The FJA Jaguars (or, Jags for short) participate in interscholastic sports, competing in the Catholic League division.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaguars Athletics |url=https://frankelathletics.com/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=FrankelAthletics.com |publisher=Frankel Jewish Academy}}</ref> The school doesn't play from sundown Friday to sunset Saturday because of the Jewish Sabbath. In 2005, the school sued the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) that discriminated against it by scheduling tournament games on Saturdays. In 2009, FJA won the ruling in the state appeals court.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2009-06-18">{{cite news |title=Jewish Academy Wins in Court |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/437043442/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=18 June 2009 |ref=freep-20090618 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 2021, FJA junior Merrick Michaelson who qualified for state meet was given an accommodation by MHSAA: he ran the challenging Michigan International Speedway cross country course all by himself on Friday, one day before the actual state meet Saturday. Running solo was something that had never been done in the nearly 100-year history of the cross country state meet.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2021-11-26">{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Steve |title=Frankel Jewish Academy Cross Country Runner Merrick Michaelson Runs Alone at State Meet |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2021/11/26/frankel-jewish-academy-cross-country-runner-merrick-michaelson-runs-alone-at-state-meet/ |access-date=12 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=26 November 2021 |ref=jnews-20211126}}</ref>

== Heads of school == '''Rabbi Lee Buckman''' (1999–2008). Rabbi Buckman, 37, from Conservative Congregation Beth Israel in Milwaukee, was recruited as the future school's founding head in April 1999,<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 1999-04-30" /> having been chosen from about 80 applicants for this position.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2000-08-25" /> He built a group of administrators and faculty that shared his passion for the school and opened it in 2000. During his nine-year tenure, the school grew from 51 students to 223. "It is very difficult to make all Jews happy, but Rabbi Buckman was able to walk that line," said Debbie Wrotslaysky, FJA mathematics department head. "He did an unbelievable job in keeping all of his constituents happy." Rabbi Buckman served the FJA until 2008. In 2009 he departed Michigan to begin his post as head of school at the Katherine and Jacob Greenfield Hebrew Academy in Atlanta, leaving behind "a joyous legacy of learning".<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2009-07-02">{{cite news |last1=Liebman Dorfman |first1=Shelli |title=Fond Memories |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2009.07.02.001/17 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=2 July 2009 |ref=jnews-20090702 |quote=Off to Atlanta, Rabbi Buckman leaves behind a joyous legacy of learning}}</ref>

'''Rabbi Eric Grossman''' (2008–2015). Rabbi Grossman became the head of school for the FJA in 2008, after serving seven years as founding head of its Bible department.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2008-05-22">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=New Head Of School |url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/djnews/djn.2008.05.22.001/21 |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=22 May 2008 |ref=jnews-20080522 |quote=Rabbi Eric Grossman has been named new head of school for the Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield. Grossman has taught at FJA for seven years and is founding head of the school's Bible department}}</ref><ref name="Detroit Free Press 2008-06-01" /> His tenure as FJA's head of school was tainted by school's prolonged standoff with the local Reform rabbis over FJA hiring policies.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2011-08-25" /><ref name="Detroit Jewish News (Standoff) 2013-06-27" /><ref name="Detroit Jewish News (Parents) 2013-06-27" /><ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2013-09-19" /> Rabbi Grossman left FJA in 2015 to become head of school at Manhattan's Ramaz School; at his departure, FJA had 225 students.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2015-03-12" />

'''Rabbi Azaryah Cohen''' (2015–present). Rabbi Cohen became the head of school in 2015, after several years of serving as its Judaic studies principal and Talmud teacher.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2015-03-12" /> In 2017 he was lauded for improving the school's outreach to Reform rabbis.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2017-10-10">{{cite news |last1=Guten Cohen |first1=Keri |title=FJA Head of School Works to Build Bridges That Will Benefit the School and Beyond |url=https://thejewishnews.com/2017/10/10/fja-head-school-works-build-bridges-will-benefit-school-beyond/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=The Detroit Jewish News |date=10 October 2017 |ref=jnews-20171010 |quote=Rabbi Azaryah Cohen began as head of school of Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield in 2015. Since he assumed this role, the high school has improved its outreach to Reform rabbis, earned accolades for its ability to place students in colleges of their choice and has launched its Genesis S.T.E.M. Lab that will bring study of science, technology, engineering and math into the 21st century.}}</ref>

== Notable alumni == * Noah Arbit (class of 2013), politician, member of the Michigan House of Representatives<ref name="FJA">{{cite web|title=Mazal Tov to FJA alumnus Noah Arbit '13|url=https://www.facebook.com/Frankelja/posts/pfbid02yTr4q9LfPpkngCsZt7sNNctzqyorFQCQd4UPsdwz7x56ibWSp7XJfRrY2Pmsn71Ml|publisher=Frankel Jewish Academy|access-date=December 22, 2023|location=West Bloomfield, MI, USA}}</ref> * Max Feber (class of 2017), entrepreneur, developed a cold coffee brewing device ''BRUW'' while in high school and eventually sold a share of his company to Mark Cuban on ''Shark Tank''.<ref name="Detroit Jewish News 2017-02-23" /><ref name="MLive 2019-01-07" />

== See also == * History of the Jewish people in Detroit

== References ==  {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.frankelja.org/ Official website]

{{West Bloomfield Township, Michigan}} {{Oakland County, Michigan High Schools}} {{Religion in Detroit}} {{Jewish schools in the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit The}} Category:2000 establishments in Michigan Category:Educational institutions established in 2000 Category:High schools in Oakland County, Michigan Category:Jewish day schools in Michigan Category:Jews and Judaism in Michigan Category:Private high schools in Michigan Category:Schools in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan Category:West Bloomfield Township, Michigan