Joyfully Jewish
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Joyfully Jewish ⋆
We believe, in keeping with Jewish tradition, that all human beings are created b’tselem Elohim, in the image of God, with inherent beauty and dignity; we furthermore believe in the principle of baal tashchit, that we are to be guardians of the earth that God created. Throughout Jewish tradition, we are taught to act with love and kindness toward other Jews, toward all people, toward all creatures, and toward the earth. While many schools push such ideas, we teach them with reference to Jewish texts and stories, and we embrace them in our curriculum. These ideas are not trendy or current; rather, they are time-tested and ancient.
We respect the diversity that exists within the Jewish community—of race, for example, and of levels of religious observance.
We don’t believe there is one way to appear Jewish, to dress Jewish, or to be Jewish, and we welcome Jews in all their diversity. We believe that that respect for diversity in our small Jewish community serves as a model for respecting diversity in the world at large. Our curriculum reinforces our Jewish values, from the outdoor learning, teaching the value of nature, that begins in our Montessori preschool, to our annual middle-school trips to Washington, D.C., Alabama, and Israel.
In all these ways, and more, an Ezra education is an ethical education, one that fits all children.
The ancient Jewish traditions of intensive, collaborative text study and critical thinking are beautifully suited to our modern age. Ezra Academy’s expert teachers adapt these approaches to different grade levels and subject areas. And with our cross-disciplinary approach, Judaism enriches all aspects of learning.
But above all, our approach to learning promotes ethical and moral development for every child.
Yes, our graduates attend the best area high schools, public, private, and Jewish, and then go on to leading colleges and universities. But what we most hope they take from Ezra are a love of learning and a commitment to heal the world.