Abraham Joshua Heschel High School (NY) prides itself on building and cultivating an engaged and connected student body. As in many Jewish day schools, our students would report that a defining characteristic of their high school experience is the community. As our school has grown significantly in the last ten years, it has gotten harder to ensure that the unique nurturing atmosphere in the high school is preserved. With this in mind, in the summer of 2023 we created a new program that we refer to as Hachanah le’Shabbat. We feel privileged and blessed that we piloted this program in September of 2023. Following October 7th, this program offered us a weekly opportunity to pray for the hostages and learn about the war in Israel. The events of October 7 transformed our program, and this allowed us to ritualize and process our response and o

Five years ago, a former Ida Crown Jewish Academy (ICJA) parent and board member approached the school with an idea to help increase student connection and engagement, as well as help with future enrollment. His recommendation was to focus on separate gender programming, specifically starting with the girls. He felt that this type of programming would create meaningful opportunities for involvement in leadership roles and activities, connection to other students and to the school, and pride in being an ICJA student. He also felt that this type of program would appeal to parents whose children had been enrolled in non-coed elementary schools, providing a more comfortable landing for them. What began as an experimental program has grown into a cornerstone of our culture, reshaping the student experience and strengthening the school communit

How do we inspire students to use their talents to help others in a society that encourages self-interest? How do we shift their focus from personal recognition to servant leadership? How do we guide our most capable students to excel academically while simultaneously developing their most compassionate selves? These questions have shaped our vision since the doors of The Jewish Leadership Academy (JLA) of Miami first opened in 2023.Our answer lies in the Service Entrepreneurship Program (SEP)—a cornerstone of our school that empowers students to practice kindness while developing entrepreneurial problem-solving skills. Over the course of seven years, our students will blend field experience with Design Thinking, enabling them to discover their passion for service and innovate solutions to existing societal challenges.The SEP Journey: A R

Imagine a conversation in a Jewish day school hallway:“Kapara, yesh matzav ata ba lamesiba?” “Ken, ani zorem”“Yaalla balagan!”This lively exchange is not just a snapshot of teenage chatter—it’s a direct result of an innovative Hebrew slang program that has taken root in our school. In our Upper School, we have found a way to make Hebrew vibrant, relatable, and fun for middle and high school students through our weekly Hebrew (Ivrit) slang program. This collaborative initiative introduces students to modern Israeli slang through engaging videos shared across the school community, bridging language learning with creativity, connection, and relevance.We teach Hebrew using the communicative approach aligned with ACTFL proficiency guidelines. Students learn in proficiency-level courses designed to develop their language skills effectively. The

Lunch and Learn is such a powerful space, and it’s a safety net—not because it’s purely Zionist, but because it’s a space where we can talk about things and not come to conclusions and not agree with other people. We’re talking because we’re talking, not because we’re trying to get somewhere, and that’s the point. It’s Lunch and Learn—not lunch and persuade or argue or even agree. We pause our conversation when lunch ends, but the conversation itself doesn’t end. It’s this beautiful, beautiful space of us coming together to talk, and nothing else matters. – Eden ‘25Who We AreThe Jewish Community High School of the Bay (JCHS) is a pluralistic, San Francisco-based school and community where diversity—both in Judaism and beyond—is not only celebrated but is also considered essential for deep learning. We are committed to teaching students to

In a world where our focus is pulled in many different directions, and identity is constantly evolving, helping students tap into their Jewish sensibilities is more crucial than ever. And we are quickly discovering that traditional methods alone don’t always spark that deep, personal connection. Enter the duo of arts and culture on the one hand and Jewish text study on the other; a fusion where creativity meets tradition, and ancient wisdom finds a fresh voice. Through this integration, students don’t just learn; they experience, interpret, and make Jewish thought their own. And here’s the twist; this research isn’t just about students, it’s by students. They aren’t just the subjects of study; they are the scholars, the artists, the explorers of their own Jewish journeys. At Gross Schechter Day School (Cleveland, OH), we dove headfirst in

Over the course of forty-three years, I have coached over 1,300 basketball games. Some of those were in a Synagogue Basketball League, some in a Yeshiva Elementary School League, but most at the high school varsity level in the NY area Yeshiva High School Basketball League. I have seen situations others could not even imagine—from players and their parents to coaches and senior school officials. And I have seen how a sports coach can impact on much more than the game.

The Shifra Hanon Pathfinders Department at the Yeshivah of Flatbush High School (Brooklyn, NY), plays a crucial role in empowering students to develop their individual and unique potentials. Working collaboratively with college guidance, secular, and Judaic departments, we advance experiences inside and outside of the classroom to help students explore who they are, nurture their interests, and develop professional skills. The program focuses on four main goals with every student: self-exploration, career exploration, professional skills, and extracurricular involvement. The program began in 2011 when a surge in applications impelled colleges to become increasingly selective. Mrs. Shifra Hanon, an English teacher in the school, began researching mentoring programs used in the NYC public high school system and the Women in Science program

Picture, if you will, an entire school eagerly gathered in one room. Nearly 600 people—students, faculty, and staff—all charged with excitement for what is to come after months of waiting and wondering. It’s a moment when the energy explodes, the building comes alive, and lifelong memories are created. At Katz Yeshiva High School of South Florida, we have a name for this event: Stormania.More than merely a series of games comprising the highly anticipated annual Color War competition, Stormania is a celebration and demonstration of everything we stand for. This multi-day signature event brings students and faculty together in a vibrant display of school pride, Jewish heritage, and community spirit. Featuring varied challenges designed to ensure that participants with disparate strengths and interests can all contribute equally and meaning

Genesis 1:27: And God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Betzelem Elohim. Every child is made in God’s image. This idea is fundamental to creating learning environments that honor the unique potential and worth of every child in a school. When truly embraced, this belief fosters a culture of deep respect, equity, and belonging, ensuring that every student feels valued and seen. It also serves as a guiding principle for meeting the diverse needs of all learners, ensuring that each child receives the support and challenge necessary to thrive. However, sustaining this perspective requires intentional effort, as the daily demands and stress of teaching—lesson planning, classroom management, assessments, and administrative responsibilities—can easily shift educator