The Epstein School

This Passover, we are especially grateful for our freedom. Wishing our community a meaningful Pesach with those you love!

Our students celebrated Passover with model seders—learning the story and journey to freedom and exploring the symbols of the seder plate. Our students connected to all that Passover represents—remembrance, gratitude, and hope. 🍷🌿✡️
We pray for peace, joy, and happiness this Pesach.
Chag Pesach Sameach! חג פסח שמח

Mazel Tov to Ari Thaler on his in-school Bar Mitzvah this morning! Ari is well respected by his Epstein teachers and peers as someone who thinks deeply and asks questions that often take discussions to a higher level of analysis and understanding. Ari did just that today as well. He took the parsha from his Bar Mitzvah and broke it down into a message we could take with us. Everyday routines should be viewed as opportunities; opportunities to embrace gratitude, recognize our shortcomings, make corrections in our actions, and connect with the people and world around us. If we repeat these life choices every day, our lives will be fulfilling, and we will be making the world around us better. Ari explained that routine, consistency, and commitment are imperative to success; when you add in our Jewish values and prayer, these traditions become holy. There is no greater gift we can strive to achieve than working toward holiness, day after day. Ms. Ames told Ari that he is so connected to this parsha, that he knows that growth doesn’t come from one big moment, but rather, from showing up, day after day, putting in the work to make a difference. We all wish Ari a hearty Yasher Koach and his family a huge Mazel Tov on this important milestone in Ari’s life.

Yasher Koach to our amazing fourth graders! What a meaningful milestone, Hagigat HaCherot, the Celebration of Freedom; a milestone celebration that truly illustrates the cross-curricular work that defines an Epstein education. As the students walk through the Passover Haggadah, they learn the passages and examine their meaning and value in their lives. The students are given the opportunity to question what they are learning, dig into what THEY believe are the lessons to embrace, and reflect on traditions passed down from generation to generation. Their artwork, their essays, their stage performances… they all demonstrate the deep learning and personal connection that the students have made. We are so proud of these young people—the future of Jewish leaders is bright! Kol HaKavod to the many teachers who worked with the students on today’s milestone. It is a meaningful showcase of what the students are taking with them as they advance to middle school in a few short weeks! Mazel Tov to all!

What do Hippos, Pandas, and Penguins have in common?! They’re the precious 3s at Epstein who had their Smilestone this morning! While some of us might have teared up watching these little ones sing their hearts out during Hatikvah, Aleph Bet, and One Little Voice… we were all in AWE when they sang/recited the Pesach Four Questions… with such confidence! They can definitely answer the call for the youngest at their seder this year! We are all so grateful for the love, compassion, patience, and care that the team of teachers pour into these children every day. It was on full display today! Please join us in a hearty Yasher Koach to the students and their teachers! We are so proud of you!

What a ROAR-ing success! 🦁✨ Our Lion King Jr. cast absolutely shined, bringing this powerful story to life with talent, teamwork, and heart. Huge applause for our incredible directors and choreographers who guided our students every step of the way. A huge shout out to our Drama Director, Ms. Hunt, on her 36th production at Epstein! From the wildly creative, realistic costumes to the powerful storytelling, every detail shined. This production was truly pride-worthy. Bravo to our stars!

Yasher Koach to the Epstein 3rd Grade! Wow, wow, wow! We have an amazing team of teachers who developed the most creative spin on the third-grade milestone, Hagigat HaTorah. Showcasing the students’ knowledge of the Torah service and their interpretation of several Torah stories—Abraham and Sarah, Lot, and more—while also allowing space for the students’ individual personalities to SHINE, was brilliant, extraordinary, and beyond entertaining. The students radiated joy from the minute they processed into the Bet Tefilah, until their upbeat exit. Their expressions, enthusiastic participation, and authentic understanding of what they were performing illustrated exactly what makes an Epstein education so special. Once our journey through Torah stories concluded, the students took their families to their classrooms where they received their own Chumash and shared the second part of their milestone—their artwork demonstrating the cross-curricular components of their learning. We are in awe of these students and faculty. Kol HaKavod to all of you!

Mazel Tov to Yona Bachar on her Bat Mitzvah today. The morning was filled with ‘sunshine’ even though the weather was dark and gloomy. Yona’s smile lit up the room as she led Tefilah, read her Torah portion, and delivered her d’var Torah. Her innate warmth and thoughtfulness were palpable as she explained the lessons of her parsha. Responsibility, reflection, and intentions were the key components she focused on and the key character traits Ms. Ames recognized in Yona, “…you lead in a way that already comes so naturally to you—noticing when someone needs help, stepping forward when something needs to be done, and bringing the steady kindness that makes people feel seen and supported.” We share a collective Yasher Koach with Yona and we wish a hearty Mazel Tov to the entire Bachar family on this important milestone in Yona’s life!

Some people we meet inspire us. Some stories we hear stay with us. Some experiences we live, we don’t want to end. Some moments in life change us. The students, faculty, and Epstein community felt all of this, and more, as Omer Shem Tov, freed Israeli hostage, spent an unforgettable day with us last Thursday. From the moment he waved the Israeli flag and sang Hatikvah with our little Lions (toddlers), to sitting in a circle with our 8th graders answering their questions, Omer was open, engaging, warm, and transparent about his 505 Days [in captivity]. During the school assembly, “We Will Dance Again,” Omer was given a front row seat into the world of an Epstein education. That evening, Omer spoke to the adult community about those harrowing 505 days and how he is choosing to move forward with his life as a ‘Free Man.’ As the crowd rose to thank Omer for his courage and heroism, he thanked us—for praying for him and never forgetting he was there—waiting to come home. Our students will one day tell their children, and their grandchildren, Omer Shem Tov, an October 7th Israeli hostage survivor came to their school; they met him, they danced with him, and they learned from him: Always Be Proud You Are Jewish.

Mazel Tov to Harper Furman on her in school Bat Mitzvah this morning. Harper was amazing! She had such a long parsha to learn—her delivery was flawless. The smile on Harper’s face throughout Tefilah never waned. Clearly, she was in her element. As Ms. Bekerman delivered a charge to Harper, it became clear that smile was not a coincidence. Ms. Bekerman said that Harper’s teachers all described her as someone they admire, someone who is a good friend, with a welcoming smile, and always willing to help someone in need. In her d’var Torah, Harper explained ‘karet,’ being cut off from our communities and from G-d because we did not follow commandments. Harper’s perspective of how to avoid this from happening is truly inspiring. She believes that to avoid ‘karet,’ you are basically doing the bare minimum. But, to be an impactful member of your community, you have to do more than just what is expected to make a real difference. And that’s exactly what she wants to do—make a lasting impact in the world. Yasher Koach, Harper! We are all so proud of you, and we wish you and your entire family a hearty Mazel Tov!

Eden was poised and confident in the Bet Tefilah this morning with her contagious smile on her face while reflecting on Parashat Ki Tissa by looking closely at Moses, a leader who, even after receiving a second chance, struggled to recognize what was already in front of him. Eden noticed that while Moses wanted more proof, God was offering patience, forgiveness, and another opportunity. From this, Eden helped us learn an important lesson about gratitude: even when things aren’t perfect, we are called to pause, appreciate the effort of others, and respond with respect. Eden connected this message to her own life, recognizing how easy it can be to take help for granted and how meaningful it is to acknowledge kindness with intention. She brought this value to life through her bat mitzvah projects, most notably by creating activity bags for children in the hospital — inspired by her own experience of fear and uncertainty during a hospital stay. By leading others, stepping outside her comfort zone, and turning empathy into action, Eden showed real growth and confidence. Ms. Ames’s (principal and aunt) charge to Eden was to continue finding and using her voice — to lead with gratitude, courage, and compassion, and to bring light to others through kindness and action. Mazel tov, Eden!