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At Bernard Zell we develop exceptional young people who put Jewish values into action!

Read the reflections below from students, current parents, parents of alumni, and our teachers as they share how Bernard Zell nurtures every child through celebrating Jewish identity, cultivating community, and inspiring curiosity.

The image features the title "The Bernard Zell Journey to High School" along with details about an event on Thursday, February 5, including in-person and Zoom options. The background appears to be a blurred image of people, suggesting the event may be related to high school or education.
Confident, Curious, Ready: The Bernard Zell Graduate
Students come to Bernard Zell to discover themselves—as thinkers, explorers, risk-takers, and as Jews. Over the course of their journey from Nursery through 8th Grade, they do all that and more. We invite families into the warm embrace of a community that inspires students to let curiosity guide their education. By exploring their own identities against the backdrop of a vibrant Jewish community, our graduates leave Bernard Zell with a profound understanding of who they are in the context of tradition, history, and community
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Building Thinkers, Leaders, and Menschlichkeit
Building Thinkers, Leaders, and Menschlichkeit
When our boys first started at Bernard Zell, we were looking for a place that would nurture their natural curiosity. Looking back now, we found so much more—a community that treats their ideas with respect from day one. Our youngest still talks about his time in Senior Kindergarten, when he and a friend created a "pretend food pantry" during exploration time. That simple spark of an idea grew into a grade-wide project where students visited a grocery store and toured a local pantry to donate goods. It’s a perfect example of how Bernard Zell takes a child’s interest and turns it into a meaningful lesson in empathy and leadership.
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Enrichment Clusters: Student-Driven Learning in Action
Enrichment Clusters: Student-Driven Learning in Action
At Bernard Zell, one of our pivotal programs is our Lower School enrichment clusters. Teachers volunteer to lead groups of 1st-4th grade students in clusters which the students choose based on their passions. These multi-age groups bring students together around shared curiosities and strengths. Guided by the Renzulli philosophy, learning is driven by student interests, creativity, and real-world connections. We encourage them to ask questions, explore topics they care about, and take ownership of their learning through hands-on, inquiry-based projects.
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Finding Home at Bernard Zell
Finding Home at Bernard Zell
Moving from Manhattan to Chicago at five years old was definitely not my first choice. In fact, my family moved in the middle of the year, and we just happened to move on New Year’s eve. We moved to be closer to the rest of our family, but there didn’t seem to be any other upsides to moving. Being a kid who doesn’t like change, I was terrified. When it came time to go to school, I was unfamiliar with everything. In spite of this, the fear didn’t last long; everyone was so welcoming to me, that I forgot how scared I was! My teachers assured me that school would be fun, and it was. Within a week, Bernard Zell already felt like home. Bernard Zell is a community that welcomes new families and children with open arms, and encourages them to become their best selves with Jewish values.
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A Note from our Director of Jewish Studies
A Note from our Director of Jewish Studies
Research shows that when children know their family histories—stories of joy, struggle, and overcoming challenges—they grow into more resilient people. They are able to draw on inspiration from the past to face the present and to  build the future. At Bernard Zell, we help our students make the story of the Jewish People their own. We do this by weaving sacred texts, history, values, culture, and joyful celebration of holidays and personal Jewish milestones throughout our curriculum.
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Jacoby Family
Reflection: Board Chair, Parent, & Alumna
Bernard Zell has had a huge impact on helping me not only understand but celebrate my Jewish identity. After graduating from Bernard Zell, I went to the University of Chicago Lab schools. Feeling firm and confident in my Jewish identity after my years at Bernard Zell allowed me to not only explore my new friends’ different cultural and religious backgrounds but also to share Judaism and Jewish identity with them.  
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Kaplan Family
Finding our BZ Mishpachah (Family)
When exploring schools for our daughter, Scarlett (Junior Kindergarten), we weren’t just looking for a place of learning - we were really hoping to plant roots and build a true community. Not being from the Midwest, that felt especially important. From the very beginning at Bernard Zell, we felt welcomed in the best way. It didn’t take long before it started to feel like home. What’s been so special is how organically our community has grown across grades.
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James (8th Grade)
A Special Community for Life
My name is James, and I am an 8th grade student at Bernard Zell. My parents sending me to Bernard Zell was one of the best decisions they could have made. The thing that is so special about the Bernard Zell community is how close I have gotten with everyone, through all of the wonderful experiences we were able to do together. At the beginning of every new school year, I had that anticipatory feeling of finding out who was in my homeroom and advisory and knew that no matter what, I was going to have a great group of friends with me that year.
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Sara Morris and Family
The BZ Community for Every Parent
It's rare to find a school that meets the academic, emotional, and spiritual needs of your child while also offering a place for you, the parent. When searching for a school, there are so many considerations that go into your decision. Community was one of the most important factors for us and it’s why we chose Bernard Zell. We love being part of this warm and welcoming kehillah (community).
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Leah Frydman and Students
Cultivating Community in Lower School
My name is Leah Frydman and I am the Lower School Social Worker here at Bernard Zell. Although ‘social worker’ sounds like a formal title, the students here know me as their feelings and friendship teacher - the person (aside from their regular teacher) they go to when they are having a tough time. We do so much in Lower School to cultivate community. Some of the most special ways are through  a variety of social groups I lead throughout the year. The students see these social groups as an opportunity to meet three goals: practice playing with others, talk about their feelings, and feel good about themselves.
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Chamlin Family
Eleven Years of Love and Support
For the past 11 years, we have had the privilege of being parents in this incredible Bernard Zell community, and can honestly say it has been one of the greatest blessings for our family. From the very first day, we felt the warmth and closeness that make this school so special — teachers who truly know and care about their students, administrators who lead with heart, and families who show up for one another time and time again. It’s the kind of place where children are not only educated, but genuinely known, encouraged, and supported as individuals.
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Questions

Rebecca Frazin-Chan
Director of Admissions

Rebecca Bloom
Assistant Director of
Admissions & Marketing

773.572.1290 or 
admissions@bernardzell.org