The Grade 8 Graduation ceremony on Monday was a remarkable affair.\u00a0 In the morning, students and their families came in small cohorts for a social-distanced greeting with their teachers.\u00a0 They picked up end-of-year gifts, caps, and graduation certifications.\u00a0 In the evening, a Zoom celebration included videos by students, parents, and a beautiful series of messages from teachers to each individual student.\u00a0It was a most fitting culmination to a period in which we have been held together as a community by unique and special connections we have with one another.<\/p>\n
This connection was evident throughout the last week of school with the Grade 1 Siddur Ceremony, the SK end-of-year celebration, visits to children’s homes, and the Lehitra’ot\u00a0events hosted by teachers throughout the grades.\u00a0 We are incredibly\u00a0grateful as a community to have teachers who have nurtured such special relationships with children and families.<\/p>\n
As we enter into the summer, I also want to personally thank each and every Heschel child, parent, caregiver, grandparent, friend, and community member for helping get us through this challenging time.<\/p>\n
Our parashah this week is Korach.\u00a0 It is named after a person who questioned the leadership of Moshe and sought to overthrow him as leader.\u00a0 Under the banner of personal indignation, Korach threatened to endanger the community.\u00a0The past months have been challenging for all us, as we have had to give up many of our personal privileges and desires for the sake of community cohesion, health, and well-being.<\/p>\n
In the coming weeks, our school leadership, in consultation with our Health and Safety Committee, Public Health, and other relevant agencies, will be trying out best to balance the needs of the community with the needs of our children, as individuals.\u00a0 \u00a0Our hope is to be all together in person in the Fall \u2013 a community of individuals \u2013 the Heschel way.\u00a0 At the same time, we are planning back-up scenarios, in case we can\u2019t always be together in person.\u00a0\u00a0 Whatever we do, you can be sure it will be with the utmost consideration of the physical and social-emotional well-being of our children and our community.\u00a0Please look out for information and updates from the school over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
To conclude, I want to share a song I wrote for last week\u2019s parashah.\u00a0 The title is based on the name of the Jewish year \u2013 \u05ea\u05e9”\u05e3 : \u00a0\u201cTav, Shin, Peh, didn\u2019t quite go our way.\u201d\u00a0 I think it sums up the year and how we made it through, together.<\/p>\n
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