The Rashi School | Classroom Blog

An Improbable Relic of Auschwitz:  A Shofar that Defied the Nazis Cry Aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a shofar.                                                                                           - Isaiah 58:1 As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we are mindful as Jews that a huge and meaningful opportunity is before us to do deep self reflection, right our wrongs, return to our best selves and "lift up our voices like a shofar." Over the generations, we have heard many stories of Jews who went to tremendous lengths to affirm their Judaism - even when that meant risking their lives. Recently a powerful story was shared in the New York Times about a shofar that was blown during the High Holidays in Auschwitz - amidst all odds - a...

As our country takes a day to mourn the loss of one of our leaders, I was moved by this piece in the Washington Post by President Bill Clinton reflecting on his friend and esteemed colleague, President George H.W. Bush. President Clinton's words address the soulfulness of who President Bush was and who he was as a leader of our country. About Bush, Clinton recalls, "we knew we would never agree on everything, and we agreed that was okay. Honest debate strengthens democracy." This is what Kavod looks like. Read the Article: Bill Clinton: George H.W. Bush’s Oval Office note to me revealed the heart of who he was

What Would Mr. Rogers Say? Since Fred Rogers' death in 2003, this question comes up regularly when tragedies and difficult topics arise that leave people reeling:  What would Mr. Rogers say? It has not been lost on many that the tragedy at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue happened in the very neighborhood where Mr. Rogers lived and filmed his television show -  Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood . And so, people have been wondering:  What  would  Mr. Rogers say? On the website for the Fred Rogers Center, it says:  "Fred believed that the foundation of every child's healthy development is the power of human connection. Whether we are parents, educators, media creators, or neighbors, each of us has unique and enormous potential to nourish children's lives with positive interactions." A well-known quote: "Anyone who has ever been able to sustain good work has had at least one person - and often many - who have believed in him or her. We just don...

What Does  Ahavat Israel  (Loving Israel) look like at Ben Gurion Airport? by Stephanie Rotsky This past June, over 2,000 young adults from all over the world arrived at Ben Gurion airport as Birthright participants  to experience Israel for the first time. As they made their way through the airport, they were given a welcome and a spirited rendition of Heveinu Shalom Aleichem like no other!!!  150 dancers, singers, and musicians from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance took part in this flashmob. And what a welcome this was! Birthright Israel arranged the flashmob to mark the program's 18th anniversary as well as Israel's 70th birthday. There is so much to love about Israel! Click here to wa tch the video. Enjoy!

From Boston to Israel with Love! by Stephanie Rotsky and Ellen Berkowitz The entire Rashi School community got involved in sending love, encouragement, sweet new year's wishes and a spirited affirmation that we are thinking about you to families living in the southern region of Israel. CJP's initiative - Sweet Wishes for a Sweeter New Year - engaged students and families all over the Greater Boston area during the High Holidays in reaching out and showing our enduring connection and support for Israel & her people through heart-felt beautiful new year's cards. It was a privilege to be in every classroom last month to work with students and teachers to create these cards for Israeli families. Might we even say it felt like a sacred moment... Dena Rashes, Rashi parent and CJP Israel participant, will be part of an upcoming mission to help hand- deliver these new year's cards to families living in southern Israel. Thank you, Dena! ...