This is not the blog I expected to write the first week of school. However, the death – and life – of Senator John McCain is so significant to me that I felt compelled to write about him; not about … 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
Who Are We Anyway?
When you ask your child to think of a story about a character taking off shoes, what do you want the association to be? Cinderella, or Moses at the burning bush? This is one of many poignant questions Avraham Infeld … Read More
The Future We Want for Our Children Starts with Us!
There are times in our lives when we cannot be silent. For me, this is one of those times. This is the season of lights. Jews are currently celebrating Hanukkah by lighting candles for eight nights to celebrate the victory … Read More
Grades Fail Students
High school students, vying to get into college, know that the application process is a game with its own set of rules: Get good grades, get enough tutoring to ace the ACT or SAT, and make sure you have lots … Read More
Be Aware of Technology and Social Media
In 1908, in Detroit, cars were seen as a vexing problem. That summer, 31 people were reported to have been injured or killed after being hit by a car, or after a car accident. Many more deaths were not even … Read More
What Makes Us Family
When I arrived at Hillel, in 2003, everyone loved calling Hillel a family. At the time, I did not like the concept of the “Hillel Family;” I preferred calling us a community. We were the Hillel community. Five years ago … Read More
Beyond the Why
Singapore. Hong Kong. New Zealand. Finland. What does Hillel Day School have in common with these far-off countries? A commitment to changing education to prepare children for the competitive and complex world they are inheriting. The schools in these countries … Read More
Hope in These Challenging Times
I am a news junky, and I have to break the habit before serious depression sets in. Corruption, income inequality, sexual harassment, threat of war, uncivil discourse, potential foreign interference in our elections, an assault on free speech. And that … Read More