President of MetroWest Jewish Day School (MWJDS) and a new Trustee of Hebrew College, Susan Ain is a woman committed to Jewish study as a key to building Jewish community. “It is clearly what the community wants,” she says, noting the growth of the four-year-old MWJDS in Framingham. Now a second year MAJS student, Ain remembers her own excitement at the opportunity to take Me’ah in her community in 2000—what she calls the real beginning of her Jewish journey of learning.

A resident of Holliston, Ain and her husband have lived in MetroWest for over 20 years, where they both became involved at Temple Beth Torah as board members, and she, as Sisterhood President. In her Me’ah class, Ain connected with more members of the MetroWest Jewish community, who not only grappled with Jewish texts, but also debated issues relevant to their community. The students were concerned that there was no Jewish day school in the MetroWest area, so Me’ah graduate Renee Finn Me’ah’00 decided to start one. Ain and others volunteered their enthusiastic support.

The MetroWest Jewish Day School, known for its pluralistic and egalitarian mission, now serves 11 towns and expects an enrollment of 60 students in the fall. Ain hopes to attract even more students and families, and to expand the physical plant.

She believes the success of the MetroWest Jewish Day School is an example of how adult education makes an impact on the community. “Me’ah has been transformative for adult learners, but why should people be 45 to learn Jewish texts?” she says. “This is why the day school came about. Kids are learning what people from my generation missed and want to learn now.”

In addition to her master’s studies at Hebrew College, Ain has spent the past two summers studying at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. She is inspired by many of her HC classmates. “This is where the next generation of leadership will come from,” she says. “It is critical to ensure Hebrew College is a viable institution and to continue its growth.”

In addition to serving as a Trustee at Hebrew College, Ain has remained active on the Board of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston for the past three years. She and her husband, Aron, were awarded the Seas the Dream Honor from Jewish Family Service of Metrowest on April 29. Aron became President of the Board of JFS Metrowest this May. They have two daughters—Danielle, a junior at Hamilton College this fall, active in Hillel; and Hillary, who will join her sister this fall as a freshman at Hamilton.




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