head of school blog


Image

I see myself as the guardian of each student’s childhood, and am committed to filling their days with learning that is significant and meaningful. How do we do that at Mirowitz? Check back here weekly for a window into our school. I will post here on topics ranging academic excellence, meaningful Jewish learning and empowering children to make a difference.

– Cheryl Maayan

We Turn to 5785 with Hope!

October 14, 2024

Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman said, “Prayer cannot mend a broken bridge, rebuild a ruined city, or bring water to parched fields.  Prayer can mend a broken heart, lift up a discouraged soul, and strengthen a weakened will.”  As we reflect on 5784 and turn our focus...
Read More

Shine On

January 5, 2024

Two years ago, I made my first visit to Mirowitz during Hanukkah. Families gathered outside to celebrate together, a school tradition that began during a dark time (COVID) and brought light to the Mirowitz kehilah (community). I knew this was where I wanted to be....
Read More

Creating Memories

September 14, 2023

Each of us has an album in our memories from our youth. Growing up the daughter of a congregational rabbi, my own childhood memories are interwoven with those of congregants, life cycle events, holidays celebrations and—of course—Jewish food.  The Torah reminds us to revisit our...
Read More

Greening Chanukkah

December 2, 2022

Daylight hours are waning, the cold is settling in, and  I am reminded of a story in Tractate Avodah Zarah (Babylonian Talmud) in which our rabbis speak of Adam, the first person ever created, who experienced this season for the first time:    Because Adam,...
Read More

The Blessing at the End of the Story

October 19, 2022

Have you ever read a story, watched a film or maybe taken a trip where at the end of that story, film or trip, you are not the same person you were at the beginning? Something in that experience left you different, more awake, more...
Read More

The Hard Work of Tshuvah (Righting Mistakes)

September 30, 2022

Aren’t we fortunate that Judaism gives us an annual opportunity to begin with a clean slate? But acquiring that clean slate takes the hard work of tshuvah, apologizing for both intentional and unintentional wrongdoings. For Eric and me, it was important to raise our children...
Read More

Israel and Jewish Identity

May 6, 2022

In Jewish tradition, we pause for a solemn moment before celebrating. We break a glass at a wedding, we remember being slaves in Egypt before entering Shabbat — and this week, we paused to remember the soldiers who have fallen on Yom HaZikaron as we prepared to joyfully...
Read More

Revisiting, Reclaiming, Commemorating and Making History

May 2, 2022

This week, Mirowitiz 8th graders have revisited history. They’ve reclaimed history. They’ve commemorated history. And they’ve made history! How so? They climbed through Hezekiah’s tunnels — constructed by King David in 701 BCE — splashing in the tunnels’ waters so they could understand how they...
Read More

The Exodus From Every Angle

April 29, 2022

Every year at this time, we tell the very same story. And every year it offers new meaning to us as we evolve in our own curiosity, perspective and education.  I walked into a Middle school Judaics class today and was blown away by the...
Read More

Simchat Torah and the First Read Aloud

October 4, 2021

At Mirowitz, our students appreciate the opportunity to sink into a beanbag chair and enjoy a captivating read-aloud. Little do they know that the read-aloud is not the creation of Audible or modern literacy educators, but of our ancestor, Ezra, who is credited with starting...
Read More