Jewish Education
A Community Conversation Series
Led by Director of Jewish Studies, Rachel Jury
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | 8:30 - 9:20 A.M. OR
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 9:15 - 9:55 A.M.
Parents are invited to join Rachel Jury, Directorย of Jewish Studies, for an informal conversation about Bernard Zellโs Jewish education in relation to our Portrait of a Graduate outcomes.
We want to hear from families across all grade levels! Come prepared to offer insights into what we are doing well and what you would like to see improvement on in the future.ย
RSVP and review the material in advance of the meetingย by scrolling below.
A Community Conversation Series on our Approach Jewish Education
Required
Our approach to Jewish education is best described by seeking to imbue our students with a Jewish identity that is:
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Pluralistic
We firmly believe in supporting Jewish pluralism, and consciously encourage curious and respectful exploration of a wide range of Jewish belief, culture, life, and practice. -
All-inclusive
We support, encourage, and celebrate the diversity of our Jewish community, and recognize the inherent value of K’lal Yisrael. -
Joyful
We celebrate our shared history and practices, including the joys of holidays, ritual practice, life cycle events, and fulfillment of mitzvot, with special emphasis given to engaging in Tikkun Olam. -
Applied
We believe that Judaism is also a toolbox for living well—with ourselves, with each other, and with God; and that students should be capable of considering important personal, familial, and communal decisions through a Jewish lens. -
Meaningful
We honor our shared history, the courageous sacrifices of those who came before us, and the importance of passing down traditions l’dor vador, and find meaning in our shared texts and common practices. -
Active
We seek to purposefully engage in activities, work, and study that sanctify the Jewish people and our mitzvot. -
Spiritual
We seek to provide our students with the tools and encouragement they need for a lifetime of spiritual growth, engagement, and “God wrestling.”
Our intended Jewish outcomes:
We prepare our children for Jewish living in five domains—what they should be, do, think, believe, and know as graduates of Bernard Zell:
Be:
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Community:
Our students have a strong positive connection to their school, their community, their nation, and the Jewish people -
Identity:
Our students are proudly and joyfully Jewish, and are appreciative of diverse perspectives within the Jewish community -
Leadership:
Our students develop the skills and abilities necessary to lead the Jewish communities for decades to come.
Do:
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Chesed:
Our students act with the understanding that every individual is made in God's image, and should therefore always be afforded honor and dignity. -
Social Action:
Our students embrace their responsibility to help heal an imperfect world, and actively engage in Tikkun Olam as a matter both of habit and conscious decision-making
Think:
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Applied Philosophy:
Our students are capable of critically reading and engaging with Jewish texts, and applying Jewish values so as to live ethical and purposeful lives. -
Ethics:
Our students can engage in nuanced, complex thinking about difficult social problems, and approach contemporary topics through the lens of Jewish values and texts.
Believe:
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Ritual:
Our students can engage in spiritual practice and Jewish ritual with nearly any Jewish community, and understand why it is important to be able to do so. -
Spirituality:
Our students are "God-wrestlers" who possess the tools and sense of self to engage in a lifetime of personal and spiritual growth. -
Zionism:
Our students care deeply about Israel, and understand the complex and nuanced issues facing the Jewish homeland.
Know:
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Cultural Literacy:
Our students are Jewishly literate, and understand the value of Jewish literacy in connecting our people around the world, and l'dor vador. -
History:
Our students are conscious of, knowledgeable about, and passionate about preserving our shared historical memory.