Mirowitz History

IMG_5099With cheers and fanfare, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School welcomed its first student body — 165 children in kindergarten through eighth grade — on August 15, 2012.

It was a moment long anticipated by Jewish community leaders, donors, parents and especially the students who were joined together through the merger of Solomon Schechter Day School and Saul Mirowitz Day School – Reform Jewish Academy (RJA).

Within a week, you could not distinguish on the playground or in the classrooms which students came from which legacy school.

The merger attracted national attention because it is the first instance in which Reform and Conservative schools have merged. St. Louis’ first pluralistic Jewish independent school, brings together students from diverse Jewish backgrounds. The culture of joyful learning and the school’s commitment to excellence put the school on a growth trajectory. Today, 185 students representing the diversity of Jewish practice spend their days at Mirowitz.

In creating the school, we had the opportunity not merely to combine two schools, but to incorporate best practices from top-tier schools from around the country.  School leaders traveled to Boston, Minneapolis and New York to explore different models, and then embarked on a multi-million dollar campaign to be able to provide the very best that is possible in independent school education.

“We are poised to raise a generation of
Jewish leaders who will draw upon
Jewish values and traditions throughout their lives.
This school is nothing short of a miracle born out of understanding,
and a belief that children are worth our every investment.”

Michael Rubin, Past-President of the Board (2011-13)