Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor

For our final feature before graduation, here is a heartwarming reflection from Noga as part of her "I Am Jewish" project:

"For me, to belong to a Jewish community is like another family: we go together to school, celebrate the holidays and live together. We also help each other."

What a perfect reminder of the power of community. Thank you, Noga! 🤍

Goodluck class of 2026! We are excited to see what great things you all get to do!

The insights keep inspiring us!
Today, we are proud to share Davina’s perspective from her "I Am Jewish" project:

"I love how being Jewish shows me things that I never saw before.
Being Jewish shows me how to live my life and how I want my life to be."

Such a beautiful and meaningful outlook, Davina! 🌟

Another profound thought from our graduating class.
Here is Ori’s perspective from his "I Am Jewish" project:

"I think that God can see what your true intention is in life even if you don’t.
I think God doesn't see the future but I think God creates it and He makes it into reality."

Incredibly deep, Ori! 🙏

Shavua Tov!
As graduation approaches, we are inspired daily by our students.
Here is what Ellie shared about her Jewish identity:
“I think that learning Jewish values makes you a good person because it teaches kindness. Being kind is important to me because without kindness the world can’t function.”

Thank you for reminding us of the power of kindness, Ellie! 💖

Our countdown continues!
Here is a meaningful reflection from Yonatan from the "I Am Jewish" project:

"One of the most important traditions for me is lighting Chanukkah candles; it’s important to me because I think it’s important to remember those miracles."

Keep shining your light, Yonatan!

Shabbat shalom 🕯️✨

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 ✡️