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D’var Kesher
September 29, 2017/ 9 Tishrei, 5778
Leviticus 16:1 - 16:34 & Numbers 29:7 - 29:11
Jenny Glick
Director of Admissions and Marketing
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Greetings!
I get to walk through the hallways of CJDS every day, and it is impossible not to find inspiration and connection around every corner. It is also a supreme highlight of my work that I get to see our school regularly through the eyes of first-time and long-time visitors to the school. Inevitably, here’s what happens: there is an instant spark of excitement and curiosity that only builds as we tour our expansive dual classroom suites full of experiential and sophisticated learning, across the General Studies and Jewish Studies curriculum. Excitement continues to build as we “walk the walls” of breathtaking student art and work, and by the time we explore our school’s outdoor classrooms as a Wild Site School, with our gorgeous butterfly garden, pond, and talk about our environmental education program, our guests feel what I feel. They feel the pride and excitement over the unique educational opportunity that exists for our students and faculty. They have a curiosity to learn more.
And we’ve had some fascinating guests visit CJDS this past year! Local and international educators, current, alumni and prospective families, students, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, realtors, artists, donors, rabbis, cantors and an array of Jewish professionals, lay leaders, board members, elected officials, reporters, local and federal law enforcement representatives, and even
Susannah Heschel
- the daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.
So on this eve of Yom Kippur, we reflect on beginning our 19th year, and celebrate how the history of our school’s pioneering spirit permeates strongly today.
Did you know
that our school was founded by Jewish communal volunteers, as a direct result of the
Wexner Heritage Program
?
Did you know
that our board is engaged in learning too? They strengthen their governance practices through day-long retreats led by nationally renowned board coaches, using tools that set the standard for excellence in board leadership.
Did you know
that we have 7 CJDS gardens?
We have donated over 2000 pounds of food
in partnership with Whitebarn Organics, providing an important source of fresh produce for food insecure families and individuals.
Did you know
that our curriculum of inspired integration is a big part of what attracted both of our top leaders, Dr. Zelkowicz and Rachel Arcus-Goldberg to our school?
Did you know
that over 150 students have graduated from CJDS and gone on to world-changing work? For example, last week we featured
Pierce and Isle Grossman
(CJDS ‘2016) who were in the Columbus Dispatch for their Pay It Forward Bnai Mitzvah Project. This week, you will read about Zach Rodier (also CJDS 2016), and you will see how the CJDS learning experience inspires far beyond the classroom to really make a difference in our world.
Here is another way you can inspire. Invite families to join us all at CJDS for a dynamic and interactive family friendly CJDS Open House on Sunday, November 19 (from 1:30-4:30 p.m.). There will be sample classroom lessons, mini-tours led by current and alumni students, a CJDS art gallery, an information fair, and more!
Let’s let everyone know why hundreds of Columbus families have said YES to something different for their children.
Whom will
you
inspire this year with a tour of our school? Call or Email me today. (614-939-5311 or
admissions@cjds.org
)
Gmar Hatima Tova, may you be inscribed for a year of all good things, full of inspiration!
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Jenny
Jenny Glick
Director of Admissions and Marketing
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Pictured Above: 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade classes enjoyed their field trip to the Columbus Zoo!
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Pictured Above & Below: The weather has been perfect for outside fun and friends this week.
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Pictured Above: Rosh Hashanah activities awaken the senses and engage the hearts.
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Pictured Above: Each year our students make cards for the Columbus Jewish Community. These cards were delivered with JFS in special holida gift bags.
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Pictured Above: Thank you to CJDS parent and Rabbi Jay Moses who was our recent guest scholar for Mishna & Midrash: Moral Values in Jewish Law, or simply, "M&M." CJDS' unique M&M series is offered every other year to 5th and 6th grade students, immersing them in chevruta with a wide array of local Jewish scholars.
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Pictured Above: This morning, our students participated in the Tashlikh Ceremony, casting off crumbs of this year's mistakes into the water.
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Local area Bee Keeper, Will Merrill, came in Kindergarten classroom as a guest speaker to talk to the kids about bees and honey production. Students learned many sweet fun facts for Rosh Hashnaah including: Only female bees sting, and the queen is the largest bee in the hive.
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Click on the image above to see a full calendar of events.
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SEPTEMBER
Sat. 9/30: Yom Kippur
OCTOBER
Wed. 10/4: Sukkot Kabbalat Hag 2:40-3:20pm
Thur. 10/4 - Fri. 10/6: Sukkot NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Mon. 10/9: Sukkot Celebration & Kite Flying 1:00-3:15pm (Kite Flying 2:45pm-3:15pm)
Wed. 10/11: Simchat Torah Kabbalat Hag 2:40-3:20pm
Thur. 10/12 - Fri. 10/13: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
Wed. 10/18: PICTURE DAY: Wear CJDS Polo
Wed. 10/18: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm
Thur. 10/19: Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00pm
Fri. 10/20: Professional Development Day for Faculty NO SCHOOL OFFICES CLOSED
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MAZAL TOV Zach Rodier!
“This mitzvah project is not a project. It is now part of who I am.”
-Zach Rodier
Zach Rodier (CJDS 2016) has always had a smile on his face, and passion for inspiring others to make the world a better place. Zach grew to be
a talented leader (Read More HERE)
while he was at CJDS. While Zach was a student at CJDS, he also met a remarkable woman named Rae Nutter. Because CJDS regularly affords students the chance to learn from a wide variety of experts, professionals, and local community leaders that, Zach's life was changed. Rae, who herself, uses a wheelchair, works with the Columbus Recreation and Parks division of Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Sports Program.
As the guest speaker, she
spoke to CJDS students about adaptive sports and Sled Hockey. Sled Hockey is a game that was invented in the early 1960‘s for players with physical disabilities. Players sit in specially designed sleds built on top of two hockey skate blades. Sled hockey players use two hockey sticks instead of one, and the sticks are modified with metal piks on the ends so that players can propel themselves forward across the ice. As you will read
HERE
in Zach’s Bar Mitzvah speech, his connection to Rae Nutter inspired him to take action and make the world a better place. This classroom inspiration led to Zach’s bar mitzvah service project, which was featured nationally on NBC during the Stanley Cup Playoffs
HERE
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Yasher Koach to our Alumnus of the week, Zach Rodier!
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THANK YOU, JULIE BUSH!
A Message from our Head of School
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When I began at CJDS in August 2016, there was one person who served as an instant anchor for me. She has provided me with perspective, institutional memory, and wisdom every day since, and I am so deeply grateful to her.
Two months ago, Julie Bush came to me to announce her resignation. As Julie says, this was not an easy decision for her, but marks an important new life chapter for which she is ready. As you can hear in her letter below, Julie has shown truly endless dedication, devotion, and commitment to the school which she has cared for with all her heart and soul.
“Dear CJDS Community,
I am proud to have been part of the first 20 years of the school. It is now time for me to open another chapter in my life. This was not an easy decision, because I think of CJDS as my baby. I’ll be so sad not to see the kids move through each grade. I love the friends I’ve made here who are more than friends, they are family. It has been remarkable to spend a third of my life being able to watch CJDS go from an idea to a school that has transformed the lives of hundreds of alumni. These kids, now young adults, are anchored in their learning and growth thanks to the amazing faculty and staff at CJDS, and are truly changing our world for the better. Today, I see a CJDS that is thriving, with a very bright future. Knowing that this beautiful school will flourish and grow under strong and thoughtful leadership, I can rest easy.”
Thank you, Julie, for believing in this school, for dedicating so many years of your life to just about every aspect of the school’s functioning.
Julie has served in multiple positions since 1997 (the year before CJDS opened) – including administrative support, development, admissions, marketing, and then as Business Manager since 2007 – she has cared for CJDS like her very own child. In fact, her daughter Zoey is about the same age as CJDS, and has grown up right alongside the school. Because she witnessed CJDS’ very birth and growth over these past 20 years, there are many, many families whom she has touched.
I cannot imagine an individual more dedicated, and I know the entire school community joins me in thanking Julie for all that she has done for CJDS. Each and every family found comfort in her leadership and turned to her for so many different things! On behalf of the staff and faculty, I want to now thank her for trusting us with her baby. We do not take that lightly. We look forward to honoring Julie’s two-decade legacy and contributions to the school.
Although her last day will be October 27th, we look forward to all of Julie’s visits, which we hope will be many and regular! Julie, we wish you every joy and deep fulfillment in this next chapter of your life. You deserve every happiness and more.
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As we send Julie off with all our love and deep gratitude, it is with great excitement that we welcome Mr. Mark Mitzman (pictured here) to our CJDS team as Business Manager. Mark moved to Columbus recently to be close to family. He has been a corporate tax executive for over 40 years, primarily with publicly traded multinational firms. As such, he has provided extensive business counsel in areas such as taxes, accounting, treasury, legal, IT, and strategic planning. For the past five years, Mark was Vice President-Tax at Gibson Brands (formerly known as Gibson Guitar) in Nashville, Tennessee. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from DePaul University. In addition, he holds an Illinois CPA certificate.
Throughout his career, Mark has actively supported many not-for-profit organizations, serving on their boards and/or as an officer. During his years in Dayton, he led the start-up of the Dayton Jewish School and served as president of Beth Jacob Congregation. Also, as a parent of independent school alumnae, he is familiar with and invested in Jewish day school education.
As Mark says,
“Moving from corporate America to the school environment is a no-brainer career change given my life-long commitment to family, Yiddishkeit, and education. I am thrilled to be choosing to retire from practicing as a CPA and attorney for this new life-chapter serving as CJDS’ Business Manager.”
We look forward to learning from Mark who brings with him tremendously rich and varied expertise and experience to this position at this time of growth and renewal for the school. Julie’s last day will be October 27th, but Mark will begin on October 16, to allow for a two week overlap with Julie, and a smooth transition for the CJDS business office. Please join me in extending a warm CJDS welcome to Mark Mitzman!
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Mi Sh'berach
When a member of the CJDS family is ill or in need of healing, the entire community lends its support and its prayers for a full and complete recovery.
Bradley Rothbaum
(
Benyamin Eitan) CJDS Alumni Class of 2016.
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Mazal Tov!
To
Rabbi Lenette Herzog
, who recently joined Rabbi Benjy Bar-Lev at Temple Beth Shalom as Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education in July of 2017. She serves as a Rabbi and the Director of Education for the congregation. Back when both of them lived in Los Angeles, Rabbi Herzog was a student and mentee of Dr. Z's at Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Herzog invited Dr. Z to speak at her official rabbinic installation at TBS, on August 25, 2017. The two are pictured here in Rabbi Herzog's office after the installation service.
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Mazal Tov!
To the
Amar family! Parents Shirley and Oren, an two proud big sisters Adi (CJDS Kindergraten) and Rony (CJDS 2nd grade), and big brother, Noam,
who welcomed their new baby brother on September 25, 2017!
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CJDS Tribute Cards
CJDS Tribute Cards provide a thoughtful and caring gift for everyone. The income generated by every purchase enhances a child's educational experience at CJDS. You can get the All-Occasion pack year-round. It includes five pre-printed memorial cards and five pre-printed special event cards for only $90. You can also make an individual tribute gift and we will send a Tribute card to the recipient. Tribute cards require seven business days for delivery.
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The collection of
Personal Care and Beauty product waste
along with
Oral Hygiene product waste
continues to be an important Tzedakah Club initiative at CJDS!
We are encouraging our school community to NOT throw away any of these items! Please send them in with your student or drop them off at CJDS! These readily and often used items are collected and sent to
TerraCycle
by Tzedakah Club.
TerraCycle
reuses, recycles, or upcycles these items. Additionally,
TerraCycle
"pays" us per item and the money "earned" gives us the opportunity to make a difference in the world! The money CJDS collects is then donated by Tzedakah Club to non-profit organizations that help our planet and its people in countless ways!
We look forward to updating you in the future with news of how much we have collected and to which non-profit organizations we have made contributions!!
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They are just beginning to rebuild.
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The Houston Jewish Federation has produced some powerful 2 minute videos about the devastation in Houston. You can see them here:
www.houstonjewish.org.
How to help:
CJDS students are still collecting money for hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The community needs everyone's help. You can donate online
HERE.
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Pictured Above: Students delivered candy to our neighbors to celebrate a sweet new year!
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Pictures Above: Residents at Wexner Towers enjoyed a special delivery of fresh Produce through the Better Together Program.
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Click on each of the images below to learn more!
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You're invited for Sukkah Fun with CJDS Families!!!
Sunday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m. (Click below for more info.)
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Click on each of the active links below to learn more!
Click right now to help CJDS earn money while you shop:
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EVENTS IN & AROUND COLUMBUS
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Click on each of the images below to learn more!
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Many Schools Educate Children for a Changing World.
CJDS Educates Children Who Will Change the World.
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