Dear GOA Community,
We look forward to celebrating graduation tomorrow and many other end-of-year events and milestones in the coming weeks. Simultaneously, our faculty and staff are gearing up for the 2023-24/5783-84 school year. There are exciting plans for every grade, but I would like to take a moment to address questions related to our community’s religious practice.
GOA is unusual among Jewish day schools in how we intentionally create an inclusive environment in which families of different denominations, or no denomination, can come, learn, live and flourish as Jews. GOA was founded in 1965 as part of the Solomon Schechter movement, affiliated with Conservative Judaism, and this is part of our legacy. We are committed to promoting traditional Jewish practices such as kashrut, tefillah and Shabbat in the most welcoming and non-judgmental manner possible. Rabbi Solomon Schechter himself sought to create Jewish structures that would transcend denominational boundaries, and our school has always done the same.
Our school is clear about its values—we support the study of Torah, the performance of mitzvot, and active engagement with the Jewish community in America and in Israel. We promote the pursuit of justice in fulfillment of the Torah’s mandate, “Justice, justice shall you pursue!” (Deut. 16:20). We make our school a gathering place for the wise, warmly welcoming diverse perspectives for the sake of deepening mutual understanding. GOA regularly invites clergy from across the Jewish community to teach our students, bless them at important moments, and support their development in school, in shul, and at home.
The dignity of our students and their families is always top of mind, and we take to heart the Torah’s command to, “Love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord” (Levit. 19:18). This mitzvah may be the most challenging of them all–it teaches us the importance of self-respect, and the extension of that same regard to others. Much of our work at school relates to improving relationships between students and families. When we succeed, it is as if the divine presence dwells among us.
Please take special note of the following clarifications to our ritual policies:
KASHRUT (ALL SCHOOL)
One way that we balance traditional norms with inclusive practice is through our
Kashrut Guide. This new document explains what our community can expect of the school when it serves food, and what the school expects of the community when our students and staff bring food onto campus or serve it at their own events. One timely note:
Students may not order any food deliveries (even kosher) to the school throughout the school day. Upper School students who remain after school hours may order kosher foods. Please see the Kashrut Guide for more information.
TEFILLAH OPTIONS (UPPER SCHOOL)
Another way that we seek ritual balance is in our tefillah options at the Upper School. After running a pilot this past winter, we will implement new tefillah structures in the fall. Every family will be asked to speak with their Upper School children about these options, and then inform the school of their choices. These choices may be revisited mid-year.
TALIT/TEFILLIN (UPPER SCHOOL)
A second tefillah discussion between Upper School parents and students relates to the use of prayer garments, tallit and tefillin. Some parents expect their children to don one or both of these items for morning prayers, while others do not. We will keep a list of family preferences for our students. If a student who is expected to wear tallit and/or tefillin is missing them, we will remind the student the first time, and inform the parents on the second occasion so that they can reinforce the decision and ensure that their student brings the requisite items to school.
There are many additional areas of Jewish practice and belief that merit discussion as we continue the sacred work of building our community. Our school rabbis and Judaic Studies faculty are wonderful resources for students and parents alike. Some families have long-established practices, while for others many of these traditions are new territory, simultaneously intimidating and exciting. We welcome all students and parents to engage with our sacred traditions with curiosity and kindness for one another.
In the final days before Shavuot, the anniversary of the Revelation on Mt. Sinai, I invite all of us to view the Torah as our precious inheritance, to experience it anew as if given just today, and to allow its commandments to sanctify our lives. I send blessings to you and your wonderful family.
Warmly,
Rabbi Danny Nevins