“We come to drive away the darkness. Each of us is a small light, and together we shine brightly.” So goes one of my favorite Hanukkah melodies that we sing this week.

The song refers to the darkness of Greek rule in the time of the Macabees. But in 2020, we certainly have experienced a darkness of our own time. And like the Macabees, banu choshech l’garesh, we will drive away the darkness. 

• I saw students joyfully giggling during Hanukkah dance parties. (You might also call that moment a neuroscientifically advantageous movement break.) 
• I watched meaningful lessons on Hanukkah in every grade! (Reb Scott describes some of them in his article below.)
• I have watched the Tamhui jars fill up with tokens as your children contemplate how they will share their light with others.
• I kvelled as I watched an alumni panel at middle school open house. Their thoughtful testimonies highlighted the impact of a Mirowitz childhood, and reminded me that our students develop a light within that drives away darkness long after they graduate from Mirowitz.
• Last night, 70 families joined us to Light up the First Night! Etai and Nati Marmor had us all singing and dancing in our cars, and Fredbird delighted us by lighting the Hanukkiah. We felt like a community!
• And it warmed my heart (and the heart of every teacher and staff member) to sip coffee from the Surge Coffee Truck. We feel the love PTO, and are grateful.

Let’s continue to build on the togetherness we felt last night (even while we sat on top of our own cars!) Let’s shine the light on ourselves and each other by taking the Hanukkah Challenge. What I'm trying to say is...Let Your Light Shine!

Here’s what you do:

Then tag 3 or 4 other Mirowitz parents and challenge them to do the same. Getting to know one another will shine a light on our wonderful community. Wishing you all a Chanukah filled with light and love and community!

Shabbat Shalom,

Cheryl

Just ask our middle school students who spontaneously broke into a dance party when listening to this song by Gad Elbaz and Ari Lesser. Or ask the second graders who built their own Hanukkiyot this year that would remind them of how to place & light their H anukkiyah candles. Or ask any of the first graders who have been practicing their Haukkah blessings, or the third graders who debated the positions of the Schools of Shammai and Hillel on whether to increase or decrease the number of candles we light each night. Or talk to students in several grades who worked with our ShinShin Gilad to create candles representing what lights them up.  

Hanukkah at Mirowitz inspires reflection and strengthens our students ability to creatively and authentically express their own connections with our tradition--adding their own lights to the light that has shone for generations.  Consider how miraculous it is that each of us has the power to learn new skills, to better understand and appreciate ourselves and each other, and to collaboratively strategize how we share our light and repair our world.  

For learning and activities to spark your own family celebrations this week, check out these fantastic resources curated by Prizmah--a network of Jewish Day Schools across North America.  

Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Reb Scott

Our 8th graders typically matriculate into honors classes in high school, and sometimes straight into sophomore classes. They know how to self-advocate when they need support from their teachers. They stand out as leaders at their schools — heading robotics teams, honors societies, school plays and youth boards. 

What's the magic sauce? It's simple. When adolescent years are filled with profound and meaningful experiences, teens don't lose that innate curiosity. It just so happens that a curriculum that involves deep thinking, problem solving, and emotional security also prepares students for academic success.

One alumni parent, whose two children were both awarded full college scholarships, said in a survey recently: I think it's fair to say that my kids' sense of decency, compassion, responsibility and intellectual curiosity have their origin in the school choice we made.