I originally wrote this blog in 2015, and feel it is necessary to update and share again within the context of the violence of these last several weeks in Pittsburgh, Tallahassee, Thousand Oaks, and this week in Israel. It is … Read More
Will Your Children Be Ready?
The tension between the realities of the future and the comfort of a reliably perceived past are palpable. Put another way, the security of “this is the way we have always done it,” versus the uneasiness of preparing for an … Read More
Face Time, Not “FaceTime” – By Robin Pappas
Any time a child spends looking at an electronic screen – a smart phone, an iPad, a computer, a television – is considered screen time. How much time does your child spend looking at a screen? Research shows that children … Read More
For the Love of Israel
We live in complicated times where almost everything seems to be politicized. Israel is no exception, and is a lightning rod when it comes to political divisiveness both globally, and more concerning, within the Jewish community. It is not that … Read More
Why We Tell Our Stories
Do you ever cuddle up with your children and share memories of your childhood – special moments, trips, or family traditions? Do you remember your parents doing the same with you? I clearly remember loving to listen to my parents … Read More
What a Standardized Test Can’t Predict is What our Students Need to Learn
The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, World Economic Forum, and Scientific America run stories routinely about what students need to learn and do to be successful in the future. An endless stream of studies, counter-studies, information, … Read More
The Walkout Matters
If we measure how the world seems to be going at this very moment, we may conclude it is getting worse. However, Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker makes strong arguments that the world is getting better across many measures, as … Read More
Purim Blahhg
It is natural that all of us want our students to achieve at the highest level. Typically, everyone wants an A. We should all relax-it is perfectly fine for students to get a B! Scripture supports this! The Torah explicitly … Read More
It’s Called Growing Up
This is a story about a man who married his childhood sweetheart, and soon after the marriage began, a series of journeys influenced his world view. Soon after marriage, his mother-in–law became very ill, and four years later, at the … Read More
Reflecting on Nearly Ten Years as a Community Jewish Day School
At Hillel, we strive for Jewish unity, not uniformity. Our Jewish traditions and core values help our children grow into knowledgeable, action-oriented Jews who view others with respect and understanding. Children learn by example, so it is imperative that these … Read More
Embracing “The Politics of Hope”
What is the difference between a contract and a covenant? Our times require us to examine that difference, and to understand it as a step in reclaiming the higher moral ground in our communities, country and abroad. We need to … Read More