Our Stories

Meet the 2016 Purim Ball Honorees

February 25, 2016 by Vered Asta (Faculty and Staff)

On March 20th, the JPDS-NC community will gather at the National Press Club for the event of the year! Together, we will celebrate JPDS-NC’s success, show our support for the school, and recognize eight outstanding parents for their years of service and dedication to the community. Take a read below to learn more about this year’s […]


A Letter from Founding Middle School Director Lisa Schopf

February 23, 2016 by Lisa Schopf (Faculty and Staff)

Having been part of the JPDS-NC community for the past ten years, I have had the privilege of joining with a dedicated team of educators committed to nurturing our children’s growth. From Pre-K through Sixth Grade, our students begin to develop their unique identities, define their own goals, cultivate their interests and passions, hone academic […]


Meet the Swing Space Committee: Co-Chair Evan Goldman

February 18, 2016

JPDS-NC turns kids into mensches. We chose JPDS-NC because we saw the same warmth and sense of community that we experienced in the Gan at Adas Israel. It has been six years since we first joined the community, and we love having our three children at the school. I was excited that there was an […]


Meet the Swing Space Committee: Co-Chair Ben Becker

February 18, 2016

When I saw kindergartners speaking Hebrew during our initial school visit, my heart skipped a beat. I knew that JPDS-NC was the place for our family. We are grateful for the quality education and strong community that JPDS-NC provides and we are planning for our youngest to start next year. I am volunteering on the […]


Meet the Middle School Facilities Committee: Co-Chair Kimby Berger

February 10, 2016

My husband, Lawrence, and I have been a part of the JPDS-NC community since 2006. Our oldest son, Aden, graduated two years ago, our middle son, Micah, will graduate this year, and our youngest son, Ollie, is in 2nd grade. JPDS-NC has played an incredibly important role in our family and I am always eager to […]


Meet the Middle School Facilities Committee: Co-Chair Emily Appelbaum

February 10, 2016

My family joined JPDS-NC a year ago, in early 2015, after moving to DC from Cambridge, MA. My husband Yoni, daughter Elisheva (2nd grade), son Joshua (Kindergarten), and I are so grateful for the way that JPDS-NC has welcomed our family into its community from day one. When I learned about the opportunity to contribute to the […]


Meet the Middle School Steering Committee: Co-Chair Steve Laufer

February 3, 2016

When we were looking at elementary school for our kids, we chose JPDS-NC for its academics, for its thoughtful approach to Judaism, and because the community seemed like the right fit for our family. When we started thinking about where we were going to send them for middle school, we again decided that JPDS-NC was […]


Meet the Middle School Steering Committee: Co-Chair Marina Feldman

February 3, 2016

Our journey at JPDS-NC began in 2007 when our oldest daughter entered Kitah Shemesh for Kindergarten. From the start, we felt welcomed and embraced by friends and community. We had the feeling that JPDS-NC would be good for our family. We were right. We have been impressed over the years with the academic excellence of the school, […]


Volunteer Spotlight: Steven Aftergood

December 8, 2015 by Sharon Samber (Community)

JPDS-NC’s strength is due, in part, to the dedication of a cadre of talented and energetic parent volunteers. To learn first-hand about what motivates and inspires our volunteers, read the interview with parent Steven Aftergood. What is your volunteer role? Steven: I have volunteered with the JPDS-NC Ru’ach Campaign, which raises funds to help cover the school’s […]


Volunteer Spotlight: Abigail Sharon

April 21, 2015 by Sharon Samber (Community)

JPDS-NC’s strength is due, in part, to the dedication of a cadre of talented and energetic parent volunteers. To learn first-hand about what motivates and inspires our volunteers, read the interview with parent Abigail Sharon. What is your volunteer role? Abigail: I produced and directed the JPDS-NC film and was privileged to work with the school’s […]