Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor

Counting down to graduation! Today, we are honored to share a beautiful insight from Solly as part of our 5th-grade "I Am Jewish" project:

"I love the Jewish community.
I love seeing a lot of Jews in one place, at one time...
I love that I am Jewish and I think that I will always know that."

So beautifully said, Solly! 🌟

There is no greater reward for an educator than watching their students undergo a meaningful journey and grow as true mensches.

This is exactly the heart and soul of the "I Am Jewish" project, led by HaMorah Leah (Lisa Bernstein). As part of this beautiful project, our 5th-grade students dive deep into exploring their personal Jewish identity and the community around them. They reflect on profound questions, interview their parents and other key figures, and ultimately share what being Jewish truly means to them.

Every day leading up to graduation, we will be sharing a special insight from one of our graduates. We invite you to follow along and celebrate their growth with us!

To kick off the project, here is a beautiful reflection from Eva:

"We share a belief, as Jews all over the world, even people we’ve never met and never will meet, that one day, there will be world peace. This is one of my favorite things about being Jewish."

And to that, we say Amen! 🤍✨

Stay on the lookout for tomorrow's post!

Is there anything sweeter than bunnies? 🐰
Yes! HDS students holding bunnies!
We had a wonderful visit to Real Life Farms, where we learned all about different farm animals and how to care for them.
A huge thank you to our hosts, our dedicated staff, and our wonderful parent volunteers for making this trip possible.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Shabbat! 🕯️✨

On this Passover eve, we wish our HDS community and the entire Jewish community in Ann Arbor and around the world a meaningful and joyful חג שמח 🌟
🕊️ May this holiday bring with it winds of togetherness and peace.
🌟 We are so proud of our 2nd graders, led by Morah Milka, who brought the story of the Exodus to life in an extraordinary way - learning the script in Hebrew, rehearsing with dedication, and delivering three performances full of talent, humor, and heart.
🎭 This year, we had the special privilege of performing for our friends at the WISE Seniors Center at the JCC - fulfilling together the mitzvah of telling the story of the Exodus.
🌿 Wishing you a joyful Passover and a wonderful spring break!

Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

WHAT A WEEK!
🎤 Tuesday brought out the best of our students' creativity and talent at our annual Talent Show - WOW! It was an amazing evening!
🌱 On Wednesday, we welcomed over 80 participants for a lively and thought-provoking conversation with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Let Grow movement. Her philosophy of building independence and resilience in children is at the heart of our school-wide theme this year — and the energy in the room was proof that this conversation is one our community was ready to have.
🍷 Thursday? We celebrated Rosh Chodesh Nisan the Hebrew Day School way, with a school-wide assembly. Let the Passover countdown begin!

We head into the weekend inspired by our students, grateful for this extraordinary community, and proud to lead 50+ years of excellent Jewish education in Ann Arbor!
Shabbat Shalom ✡️

Jewish and Hebrew Storytime at the Ann Arbor District Library ! 📚✨

Join us this coming Sunday, 3/22, for a celebration of stories and creativity at the Downtown Library!

This time, we’ll be getting ready for Passover with special stories and a fun holiday craft activity led by Diana and Aviv.

🗓 Sunday, March 22
📍AADL Downtown Branch (343 S 5th Ave)

Activity Schedule:
• 10:30 AM – Jewish storytime & activity (English)
• 11:30 AM – Hebrew storytime & activity

Please note: This will be our last storytime for the current school year, so don't miss out!

We look forward to seeing you there! 🍷

Winnie the reading dog, fresh homemade burekas, Sababa club, a visit to our friends at the ECC, and a goodbye to a beloved shinshin - today we had it all at Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor!

🐾 Winnie rocked her new pink highlights while helping 2nd graders build their reading confidence - best study buddy around!
🥐 4th and 5th filled the whole building with amazing smells of their fresh homemade burekas, Israeli-style.
🎵 We visited our friends at the ECC - little ones joined in as our own Morah Milka led beautiful Shabbat songs together. Thank you Peretz and the ECC team for the warm welcome!
🌟 Sababa club met for the third time this year, with guests all the way from Wisconsin, Chicago, and even Israel - we were so glad to have you over!
💙 And we said a warm goodbye to Ori - our beloved shinshin heading off to his next adventure. Thank you!
Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom ✨


JCC of Greater Ann Arbor Early Childhood Center

We’re bringing "America’s Worst Mom" to Ann Arbor! 😱

We are excited to host Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Let Grow movement for a truly special evening to our community!
Lenore was famously dubbed "America’s Worst Mom" after she wrote about letting her 9-year-old son ride the NYC subway alone in her book, "Free-Range Kids".
Her message about raising resilient, independent children is more relevant today than ever.
The evening will include a live presentation by Lenore, followed by a Q&A led by Dr. Beth Pearson, director of the Ann Arbor location of Arbor Psychology Group, Hebrew Day School consulting psychologist.

📅 Wednesday, March 18th
🕡 6:30-8:15 PM
✅ Free of charge
🍽️ Dinner provided
👶 Bring the kids! KidZone staff will be on-site with youth programming (ages 5+)
👉 RSVP here: https://www.jlive.app/events/14688

! 📖❤️

March is officially Reading Month at HDS! This year’s theme takes us through the rich tapestry of American history, honoring the nation's 250th birthday.
What’s happening at Hebrew Day School this month?
🔹 Special reading packets for our early readers.
🔹 The thrilling "Battle of the Books" tournament.
🔹 Exploring American heritage through diverse stories.

We are also thrilled to share that our librarian and teacher, Janice Lieberman, is the cover story of this month's Washtenaw Jewish News! As she approaches her retirement after 20 years of dedication, we invite you to read about her lasting impact on our school and community. 📰🌟

Happy reading to all our students!

Explorers, Nature, and Community! 🐾
​We had a wonderful PJ Explorers gathering with Hebrew Day School at the Leslie Science & Nature Center - LSNC this Sunday! ☀️
​A huge thank you to our guides, Ari and Maggie, for showing us the beauty of different habitats and teaching us all about the animals.
​Missed out?
PJ Explorers is a free, engaging monthly activity for Jewish families. We travel around Ann Arbor to discover our community and the wonderful nature we have right in our backyard.
​Save the Date: Our Next Meet-up!
📅 When: April 19th
📍 Where: Gallup Park
🌸 What: Celebrating spring with special activities and a bagel brunch.
​Looking forward to seeing you there! 🥯✨