Our Stories

First Graders Name "Fidget Spinners" in Hebrew

June 2, 2017 by Vered Goldstein (Faculty and Staff)

The Academy of the Hebrew Language, an Israeli educational institution that creates new Hebrew words, is looking to create a unique Hebrew name for fidget spinners. The Zaytim first grade class accepted the challenge and worked to brainstorm four possible names – which they submitted to the Academy! Their suggestions were: “itzbubon – אִיצְבּוּבוֹן” (a combination […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Naso

May 30, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem describes the service of the Gershon family of Levi’im (Levites); laws relating to the sotah (suspected adulteress) and the nazir (nazirite) are given; Hashem tells Moshe and Aharon the Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing); the heads of tribes bring gifts to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). N’zirut, the act of becoming a nazir, is […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Bemidbar

May 23, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Moshe conducts a census of the Israelites and the Levites, and sets up the structure of the wilderness encampment; Hashem describes the unique duties of the Kehati family from which the cohanim (priests) come. In the first four chapters of the book of Bemidbar, over the course of describing the census and […]


Torah Talk for Parashot Behar-Bechukotai

May 17, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these two parashot, Hashem tells Moshe to instruct the people in the laws of the Shmitah (Sabbatical) and Yovel (Jubilee) years, as well as how to relate to those in the community who become impoverished. Hashem then enumerates the rewards for keeping the commandments and the punishments for violating them; and the laws of […]


Torah Talk for Parashat Emor

May 9, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem gives Moshe a series of laws specific to the cohanim (priests); Hashem then instructs Moshe to tell the people about the festivals, in addition to the laws of blasphemy and murder. An interesting mitzvah appears in chapter 22, verse 28: “Whether it be a cow or a ewe, you shall not kill it and […]


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Vas Pournaras

May 4, 2017 by Vas Pournaras (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Vas Pournaras about his work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Lisa Davis

May 4, 2017 by Lisa Davis (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Lisa Davis about her work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


In the News: The Kohelet Foundation Interviews Prize-Winning Teacher Xani Pollakoff

May 4, 2017 by Xani Pollakoff (Faculty and Staff)

The Kohelet Foundation interviewed JPDS-NC teacher Xani Pollakoff about her work on the prizewinning Kindergarten Community Library Project, along with two other JPDS-NC teachers. The Kindergarten Community Library Project won the Kohelet Prize for Development of Critical and/or Creative Thinking. Read the interview here >


In the News: Prizmah Interviews Middle School Director Lisa Schopf

May 3, 2017 by Lisa Schopf (Faculty and Staff)

Last year, Middle School Director and Sixth Grade teacher Lisa Schopf participated in Prizmah’s YOU Lead program, an eight-month leadership development program for Jewish day school professionals that focuses on mentorship and peer support. Recently Lisa sat down with Shira Loewenstein, the Director of YOU Lead, to talk about her experience in the program and […]


Torah Talk for Parashot Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

May 2, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these parashot, Hashem instructs Moshe regarding the procedures for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement); Hashem then tells Moshe to give the people a series of ethical and ritual laws instructing them how to be holy. One verse of this series states (19:18): “Do not take revenge and do no bear a grudge against […]