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A Word from the Editor

♦ by Dr. Barbara Davis

Once again, RAVSAK places in your hands an issue that will have both immediate and long-term value. Day school culture is the subject of this Shavuot issue of HaYidion. All of us struggle with the issues of school culture – of being “too Jewish” or “not Jewish enough.” As one head of school humorously commented at our January conference, “I have people on the left mad at me and I have people on the right mad at me. I figure I must be doing something correctly.” Levity aside, the articles in this issue deal with the theme of how our schools “feel” to their constituent communities. Michael Steinhardt’s article is sure to provoke thought and response. The “triage” survey will prove intriguing and stimulating. The articles on creating links, using Hebrew and rethinking and repackaging our product will be of use both to heads of schools and to boards. Shavuot is a holiday that has evolved from an agricultural festival to that that celebrates study and commitment to the tenets of Judaism. Its pivotal figure, Ruth, is a convert. The many facets of this holiday are reflected in the papers presented in HaYidion this quarter. We hope you will enjoy them and benefit from them not only now but in the future.

Dr. Barbara Davis is the Secretary of RAVSAK, Editor of HaYidion and Head of School at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School in Dewitt, NY. Barbara can be reached at shds@twcny.rr.com.
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Participants at the recently concluded North American Jewish Day School Leadership Conference are hailing it as having been a unique and invaluable opportunity to share perspectives and explore common issues in an environment of denominational unity.[More]
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RAVSAK welcomes the members of a new, expanded Editorial Board for HaYidion (see Contents page for the list of participants). Editorial Board members consist of school heads and Judaic directors from the full panoply of RAVSAK schools, including small and big schools, primary schools and...[More]

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