Every Jewish school leader and educator had a smile and a sigh of relief as we began this new school year. It’s the first time in a while that we’ve had the luxury of more than a solid month of school before the chagim come charging in.
Often, when the chagim come in “early,” just as school gets started, there are very few teaching days in September and almost no time to prepare students for this important, meaningful time in the Jewish calendar.
However, this year, we have all of September to help our students create a real connection to each unique holiday—to delve in and find personal relevance.
As the new principal of Irvine Hebrew Day School, I am especially excited to use this extra time to get to know the students, their families and the faculty well, before we all take off for what seems like practically the entire month of October. I have been welcomed very warmly by the IHDS community—a true model of ahavat Yisrael, loving our fellow Jews.
We can certainly feel that Rosh Hashanah is coming. IHDS is such a lovely place to be in the fall with all of our trees bearing their autumn fruits. Some of the students have been bringing me fresh green apples and baby mangoes daily (and I thought bringing an apple to the teacher was just a cliche!). But it’s the perfect pomegranates grown on our trees here that really signify Rosh Hashanah to me.
Pomegranates symbolize many things—the 613 mitzvot; acquired learning, knowledge and wisdom; and righteousness. All of these are important and cherished components of a great Jewish education. I find it so beautiful that we are growing real pomegranates in a place that perfectly reflects the symbolic meanings. We give our children the opportunity to learn about, connect to and follow mitzvot. Of course, we focus on the process of learning as well as acquiring important knowledge and wisdom. And what is our goal besides helping our students master English, math, science, social studies skills, etc? We want them to be righteous. That’s where a strong Judaic studies component, a basis in Hebrew, and a deep connection to Israel really matter. We want our students to feel secure and safe in our Jewish traditions and practices. And we want them to feel the joys and specialness of being Jewish. This is the path for our students to become tzadikim. I’m so proud that this is the path of Irvine Hebrew Day School.
While some aspects of preparing for the holidays are quite daunting like the soul searching (and the cooking!), knowing that our “pomegranates,” our children, are thriving brings blessings and comfort as we begin the new year. Shana Tova!
Batsheva Frankel is the Principal of Irvine Hebrew Day School.
