NORTHRIDGE : TV Writer’s Gift Aids Jewish Studies

A writer for such television shows as “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons” has given $35,000 to the Jewish studies program at Cal State Northridge--enough money to restore four of five classes canceled this fall because of state budget cuts, school officials said Tuesday.

Michael Ross, a resident of Los Angeles, gave the money after reading in a Jewish newspaper that the CSUN program would lose its part-time instructors, unless it received private donations. State budget troubles have prompted CSUN to lay off about one-third of its instructors and cancel hundreds of classes.

“The courses are important to the Jewish community because they want to know their history and literature are being taught,” said Jody Myers, director of Jewish studies at CSUN.

About 1,000 students each year enroll in Jewish studies courses, which cover aspects of 3,500 years of Jewish history, Myers said.

Ross’ donation, along with two others totaling $5,000, will allow the program to offer all nine classes it had originally planned for the fall semester, Myers said.