Our Stories

Torah Talk for Parashat Beshalach

January 23, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

After the Bnei Yisrael cross the Reed Sea in safety while Paro’s army drowns, they sing praises to Hashem; in response to their complaints about a lack of food and water, Hashem gives them manna and water; they are then attacked by Amalek. The Song of the Sea, which the people sang after they crossed […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Bo

January 16, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha tells the story of the last three plagues, the preparations that the Bnei Yisrael needed to make in order to leave Mitzrayim, and the actual exodus itself. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (19th Century Germany) has an interesting take on the order of the plagues. He connects the plagues to the original prophecy about Egyptian bondage that […]


Students Create Sculptures and Paintings Inspired by Iconic Israeli Artists

January 9, 2018 by Jill Stepak (Faculty and Staff)

As part of our yearlong celebration of Israel’s 70th birthday, students are learning about prominent Israeli art and artists, and creating paintings and sculptures inspired by these artists’ works. MILTON students were not only introduced to the works of the iconic artists, but to unique media, materials, and techniques as well. Second graders have been exploring […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Vaera

January 9, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, God brings the first seven plagues upon the Egyptians through Moshe and Aharon, but Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to allow the Bnei Yisrael to leave. Were the plagues miracles, or did nature behave serendipitously at this time leading up to the Exodus? According to the Malbim (Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Weiser), a […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Shemot

January 3, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Bnei Yisrael become slaves to Pharaoh; Hashem instructs Moshe to liberate the people; Moshe and Aharon approach Pharaoh, who refuses their request for liberation. We can all list the cast of characters involved in the Exodus: Moshe, Aharon, Miriam, Amram (Moshe’s father), Yocheved (Moshe’s mother), Yitro (Moshe’s father-in-law), Tziporah (Moshe’s wife), Yehoshua […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Vayechi

December 27, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov blesses his sons on his deathbed and asks them to bury him in Cana’an. This is the last parasha in the book of Bereshit. As we finish the first of the five books of Moshe, there is a note of hope, as indeed there is at the end of each of […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Vayigash

December 19, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef reveals his identity to his brothers, prompting the entire family to move to Egypt, where Yosef reunites with his father, Yaakov. There is a story in the Torah about a person who is banished from the Land of Yisrael and winds up living in a nearby country. The person’s innate beauty […]


Immersive Learning Week Launches with Explorations of Digital Game Design, Law, and Biblical Art

December 14, 2017 by Fani Bettmann (Faculty and Staff) Lisa Schopf (Faculty and Staff) Sharon Freundel (Community)

Our first Immersive Learning Week had sixth graders doing deep dives into digital game design, the law, and biblical art. Each group learned foundations related to their subject and broadened their understanding through field trips, guest speakers, creative exploration and design, and reflection. The program concluded with an Immersive Learning Week Showcase in which the […]


MILTON Selected for Ayeka Foundation Grant

December 14, 2017 by Ronit Greenstein (Faculty and Staff)

Ayeka: The Center for Soulful Education announced that it has selected Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital along with Atlanta Jewish Academy, Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, and Netivot HaTorah Day School in Toronto to participate in a cohort funded jointly by The AVI CHAI, Kohelet, and Mayberg Foundations. Ayeka was […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Miketz

December 12, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and is appointed to implement Egypt’s anti-famine plan. This brings him into contact with his brothers again, as they come to Egypt to buy food. Towards the end of the book of Bereshit, we encounter many tears. Interestingly enough, this crying is done exclusively by men. Read more […]