Rabbi Shira Leibowitz, Ph.D.

A fourth grade science fair, fifth graders conversing in Hebrew during an Israeli lunch; a visit with fifth graders from a Yonkers public school largely comprised of students from Hispanic, dual-language backgrounds; preparations for our school Passover sedarim.

This only hints at the exciting happenings at Schechter Westchester, and at Schechter schools throughout the country … all in just one day.  Add the bustle of our hard-working maintenance crew keeping our generator up and running after a storm left public schools in our district closed, and you’ll see images of the meaningful life lessons that a Schechter education provides. It wasn’t an exceptionally busy day, just a sampling of the exploration, nurturing, joy, commitment to Jewish values, and critical and creative thinking that happens everyday at Schechter schools.
So, what is the connection between these different activities? Each is important in the way it connects what our children learn in school to real life experiences.

During the science fair, students posed original questions, investigated answers, and presented their findings. While speaking conversational Hebrew in an authentic setting, fifth-graders had “aha” moments when they realized they are ready to make the language come alive during visits to Israel. Our students welcomed children of different cultures and faiths to our school, learning about their guests’ traditions and sharing their own. Throughout the school, our children anticipated adding meaning and substance to our model Passover sedarim and bringing this home to their family sedarim. They also learned from watching the maintenance staff’s hard work to keep the classrooms warm and bright amidst a widespread power outage in our area, gaining a greater appreciation for the creature comforts we often take for granted and the behind-the-scenes efforts that create the backdrop for our school days.

Of course, this is just a snapshot of what happened on a particular day. Life at Schechter Westchester and at Schechter schools throughout the country is vibrant, creative, and energetic everyday. Yet behind the flurry of activity is deliberate thought and planning. Each of these experiences is infused with Jewish values and carefully designed to meet our high educational standards. For me, that is the essence of what Schechter Westchester provides that other exemplary schools, both independent and public, cannot. Within a caring and nurturing community, we impart a potent and sensitive blend of sophisticated contemporary approaches to curriculum and instruction with the enduring values of our Jewish tradition.

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