Dear Middle School Families,

As the 2025-26 school year winds down, lockers are being cleaned out, final projects completed and the warm energy of summer begins to take hold. I am filled with immense pride and gratitude, as I reflect on the incredible journey our Middle Schoolers have taken this year. Together, this kehillah (community) of inquiry navigated a year of deep intellectual curiosity, incredible athletic triumphs, beautiful artistic breakthroughs, and profound personal growth. This year has been a testament to the resilience, brilliance, and spirit of our Bernard Zell students, faculty, and families.

A definitive highlight of our final weeks together has been the 8th Grade Siyum. Watching our oldest students stand before their peers, teachers, and families to celebrate the completion of this significant chapter of their Jewish and academic journeys was truly beautiful.

The 8th grade Siyum is a reflection of years of study, critical thinking, and character development. These students wrote and spoke with eloquence and maturity about how their time at Bernard Zell has shaped their identities and prepared them to step into the world as confident leaders. They leave a lasting legacy of good humor, creativity, and kindness, setting a standard of intellectual rigor and compassionate community life for those who follow. 

In Jewish tradition, as Rabbi Harper explained, when we finish studying a tractate of text, we recite the words Hadran Alach (We will return to you). This beautiful concept perfectly captures the spirit of this year's entire Middle School reminding us that learning is never truly finished. It is a lifelong cycle of returning, uncovering deeper meanings, and applying our knowledge to make the world a better place.  As our 8th graders graduate, we hold them in our hearts, awaiting their return to share their journeys and inspire those who will follow.

As we watch our rising 5th graders transitioning into Middle School and our 8th graders heading off to high school, I am confident the foundation built here ensures they will always return to the core values of Bernard Zell: “Celebrate Jewish Identity, Cultivate Community, Inspire Curiosity, Lead the Way, and Live with Integrity and Compassion.”

An exceptional year like this does not happen in a vacuum. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our extraordinary Middle School faculty, whose dedication to nurturing both the minds and hearts of our students is unmatched. Thank you also to our families, for their unwavering partnership, trust, and support. And to our students: thank you for your joyful senses of humor, for your dedication to the Bernard Zell Mission of “developing exceptional young people who put Jewish values into action,” and for your vibrant energy that fills our building every day.

As we scatter for a well-deserved summer of rest, exploration, and rejuvenation, I wish you all a safe and joyful break. To our graduates, Mazel Tov—we cannot wait to see how you change the world! To our continuing students and families, we look forward to welcoming you back in the fall, ready to begin this beautiful cycle of learning all over again.

Have a wonderful summer and know that we are here preparing and eagerly awaiting your return for the 2026-27 school year!

Warmly,
Eileen Wasserman