Head of School Blog

Dear CJDS Community,

We are shocked and heartbroken hearing the news out of Pittsburgh today. The mass shooting today at the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life) Synagogue is the deadliest attack on the American Jewish community in the more than four centuries of our existence here in what many of our ancestors called the goldene medinah, the gilded land. Eleven people were murdered, others remain in critical condition, many others witnessed a trauma from which they may never fully recover, simply because they opted to pray and study sacred text with their community as Jews. This is a moment for our community - proudly Jewish and proudly American - that will divide time into "before Pittsburgh" and "after Pittsburgh."

By its very definition, terrorism targets civilians as they go about their daily lives. We now add the events of Shabbat morning to the tragedy at the church in Charleston and to the long list of terror attacks in Israel: going to synagogue, praying as Jews, will never feel as safe again. A makom kadosh - a holy space - has been defiled through this heinous act of hatred.

Dear CJDS Community,

An article about Bruce Powell, a legendary Jewish educator, was shared with me this week. In his article, he speaks about the importance of Jewish education. I paused, as it reminded me of the gift of Jewish education that we are giving each child at Chicago Jewish Day School. We not only aspire to be, but, we ARE that school who embraces every way of being Jewish. We welcome every family who wants to belong to our Jewish community. The article also reminded me that the values we transmit to our students will carry them through adulthood. We hope these values will encourage their involvement as a citizen in both their community and our world. I invite you to read the words of Bruce Powell; his wisdom is not complicated, yet noteworthy.

Bruce Powell: Teaching Kindness is as Important as Academics

Shabbat Shalom,

Ms. J (Judy)

Dear CJDS Community,

The Dr. Carol Fuchs Kaufman Playground officially opened on Wednesday! Each grade level had the opportunity to tour and explore our new, natural playground integrated with the new Perlow Family Sports Court!

 “Children learn through play. They must be active participants in the construction of knowledge and need concrete experiences to shape thoughts and concepts. Teachers provide materials and an enriched environment so that children can be challenged and totally involved in play.” -CJDS Educational Philosophy

This excerpt, taken directly from our Educational Philosophy, was evident in new ways as students began to explore our beautiful new outdoor educational environment. As GRG Playscapes states in their mission statement, “We believe unscripted outdoor play builds generations of healthy risk-taking, compassionate and amazingly well-rounded human beings.”

CJDS Grade 8 students, faculty, staff, administration, parents, alumni parents, and Board of Trustees members attended JUF’s 118th Annual Meeting and Luncheon. This year, however, was a very special experience. To begin the day, Irene Lerher Sandalow received the distinguished Samuel A. Goldsmith Young Professional Award. Irene was honored for her leadership and creativity as the founder of SketchPad, a shared workspace and community for innovative, mission-driven Jewish organizations and entrepreneurs. Thank you for influencing our Chicago Jewish community; you are truly an inspiration to us all!

At the luncheon, the legendary JUF President Dr. Steven B. Nasatir delivered his State of the Federation address as he has for almost 40 years. Only this year, there was a quiet sense of awe in the room as he spoke about his intentions to hand over the baton at the end of the year.

Steve gave a thoughtful and articulate address, which included a much-appreciated shout-out to CJDS and our new campus! Steve also delivered a message directly to the day school students sitting in the room that we have reprinted for our community to read below.

Dear CJDS Community,

The sounds of the shofar were heard all week in the halls of CJDS. While walking the school, I would hear the strong, long sounding of the last blast, tikeah gadola, and it was the cry of the shofar, the shevarim call, that caught my attention. Listening to the ancient tradition of sounding the shofar each day of the month of Elul was, at the same time, both powerful and poignant. The idea that a tradition could transcend generation after generation and feel as meaningful today as I imagine it was, in the beginning, is truly incredible. Hearing the shofar being sounded from a mountaintop, I imagine was even more powerful. However, seeing young American Jews learning this ancient skill or simply listening from their seat in a Jewish day school was powerful and moving in a different way.

I couldn’t help but feel introspective even during one busy day after another. I couldn’t help thinking about our journey as a school and the sense of gratitude that is permeating our campus. The appreciation of our new facilities is palpable.

Dear CJDS Community,

Bruchim Ha'bayim, Welcome, to the 2018-2019 school year, 5778-5779!

The year began as four busloads of students, students arriving by car, as well as walkers and bicyclists, entered the doors of CJDS on Wednesday morning, August 29th. Students and parents alike were greeted by administrators and faculty through an entry depicting our school-wide theme of Ya’aleh v’yavo, Rise Up and Aim Higher!

Together, with the quotation from Harriet Tubman, “Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world,” our students walked through a starlit walkway on their way to their first day of class.

Thanks to our dedicated faculty and staff, and our committed administration, along with our brand-new facilities, Wednesday proved to be our best opening day ever!