April 4, 2017 by
In this parasha, Hashem tells Moshe to describe to the cohanim (priests) the rituals for some of the offerings; the cohanim then undergo the process of ordination. One of the garments the cohen gadol (high priest) wore was the urim v’tumim, a vestment that is shrouded in mystery. Chapter 8, verse 8 says, “He put upon him the breastplate and on […]
March 30, 2017 by
As we embark on this exciting new chapter in our school’s life, it is important to reflect on our goals and priorities we hold as a school and as a community – and to examine our current and future positioning in relation to those goals. The Strategic Plan 2015-2020, approved by the Board of Trustees […]
March 28, 2017 by
In this parasha, Hashem commands Moshe regarding various types of offerings, under what circumstances they should be offered, and what they should consist of. The Torah chooses two interesting words for those bringing offerings. Instead of utilizing the common term “ish,” meaning “man” or more generically “person,” it utilizes the following words. Read more >
March 24, 2017 by
Writing about JPDS-NC’s prizewinning schoolwide election project, the reporter observed: “The wealth of information, lessons learned, and skills developed were evident… the students indeed demonstrated a unique ability to discuss and respectfully provide nuanced perspectives on the issues. Perhaps even more impressive, they admitted on numerous occasions that the issues were very complex and that there […]
March 21, 2017 by
In these parshiyot the Bnei Yisrael bring so many materials for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that Moshe tells them to stop; Betzalel and Oholiav, gifted craftspeople, construct the elements of the Mishkan. The work of constructing the Mishkan is completed; Moshe receives the command to anoint its vessels and to anoint Aharon and […]
March 16, 2017 by
Local newspaper The Northwest Current published an article last week about the two JPDS-NC faculty teams that recently won Kohelet Prizes for “extraordinary accomplishment” in Jewish education. Congratulations to the winners! Read the article here >
March 15, 2017 by
In this parasha, Hashem continues describing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) to Moshe; the people worship the Aygel Hazahav (Golden Calf), Moshe pleads on their behalf, and Hashem forgives them. This parasha contains one of the famous passages about the Shabbat, one which we recite in the Shabbat morning kiddush (31:12-17). The commentators ask why this section […]
March 13, 2017 by
The entire school celebrated Purim on Friday with a day full of Megillah, Tikkun Olam, and Design Thinking – and of course a lot of fun! We saw Esthers and Hamans, pirates and baseball players, pandas, lions, and Hogwarts students. The children engaged each other in a Purim-themed Design Thinking challenge, made Mishloach Manot for the community, and […]
March 9, 2017 by
Have you ever wondered whether acidic fruit conducts electricity better than less acidic fruit? Or whether the pesticides we use on plants actually impact the growth of those plants? What about considering the effect of temperature on a polymer used for watering plants? Or how the food a chicken eats impacts the color of the […]
March 7, 2017 by
In this parasha, Hashem describes to Moshe the clothing and the process of anointing the cohanim (priests). Almost an entire Torah portion is dedicated to how people, in this case Aharon and his descendants, should dress. At first glance, it seems like too trivial and materialistic an issue for the Torah to address. However, when […]