STUDENT LIFE

Our students know how to think for themselves and outside the box. They speak up for what they believe in and for those who cannot. 

To walk into Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School is to feel like you’re coming home. Children, parents, and teachers alike are encouraged to learn, to grow, and not only to be themselves, but to become their best selves.
For more than 70 years, Bernard Zell has united Jewish learning and traditions with the most innovative and beneficial educational practices. We challenge our students to excel in core academic subjects, athletics and the arts by encouraging their interest in ideas and their enthusiasm for discovery. Our students are explorers and problem-solvers, learning ethical behavior and self-advocacy, recognizing how actions impact those around us.
At Bernard Zell, we embrace our differences and we support each other both in academics and daily lives. We honor and celebrate meaningful Jewish occasions and personal milestones. We’re just as much a community as a school, and new community members are always welcome.
As our students grow in knowledge, they grow as people. Finding their passions, understanding their Jewish identity, and preparing for success in the larger world.

Be Curious: The Latest Student News at Bernard Zell

Video: Community Hanukkah Project—Create Your Own Chagall Window
BZ Shinshinim, Eitam and Lihi
We invite you to take part in a community Hanukkah project—creating your own Chagall window—bringing together the light of the holiday and Jewish history. Students received an envelope today with materials and instructions. What better way to celebrate the ‘Festival of Lights’, than through the vibrant, jewel colors of Marc Chagall’s stained-glass windows. These windows are brought to life with the light that shines through them.
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was an amazingly joyful person with a positive outlook on life. His early years were in the Shtetl town of Vitebsk, which was, at the time, part of Russia. His family survived through pogroms and economic hardship, yet somehow he held on to the happy memories of life in a small, rural village. He was able to focus on the joyful moments, the connection to the land and simple pleasures. He saw light where many others would have seen darkness.
His parents supported him going to art school, and afterwards made his way to Paris to join the rich and diverse artist community there. Chagall was always proud of his Jewish heritage, especially in times when other artists in Paris hid their Jewish identity and chose to present this in his work. He loved working with stained glass, as this was a media that allowed sunlight to shine through the imagery he created. Some of his famous work is presented at The Art Institute of Chicago, the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and in the Anshe Emet Synagogue hallway outside of Blum!
As we get closer to the holiday of Hanukkah, we remember our responsibility to spread light. We look forward to creating a BZ community window representing the light we all hope to bring to the world, in the spirit of “״בָּאנוּ חֹשֶךְ לְגָרֵשׁ - Banu Hoshech Le’Garesh - We came to drive away the darkness. 

Please send your window back to school in the envelope provided by December 12. You will find a woven container by Ms. Huston’s desk in which you can place it. 
Thank you for your participation in this community project!
The Fifth Annual Hanukkiah Contest Has Begun
Lisa Goodman, Learning Lab Coordinator
The fifth annual Hanukkiah Building Contest has begun! Students are encouraged to create a flameless and *kosher Menorah using any materials they have on hand—recyclables, art supplies, blocks, LEGOS, etc. Use your imagination and most importantly, Be Creative! 
Menorahs are due by Monday, December 12, and will be on display in the library (learning lab) for all to see. View or download this flyer for specific guidelines. We can't wait to see your creative designs! 
*For a menorah to be kosher, all eight candles should be on the same level, not some higher than the others. The candles should be set in a straight line (for example, not a semicircle or a zigzag pattern).