Maimonides School

Our students had an absolute blast at the Upper School retreat at Camp Ramah! 🏕️🛶 They bonded over campfires and team-building challenges, and we grow closer as a community! 💙🧡

Your ongoing support of Maimonides School ensures a safe and secure campus, a supportive Learning Center for individualized learning needs, and faculty who are living examples of Torah learning and values. Make a donation or pledge to the 2024-25 Annual Campaign today! https://giving.veracross.com/maimonides/support

This first week has been one to remember! 🧡💙 Our hallways are full of energy, smiles, and excitement, and we can’t wait to see what this year holds. Here’s to a year full of learning, growth, and unforgettable memories! 📚✨

Welcome back to Maimonides School! 😀

And we're back!! Welcome to Maimonides to our returning students and our nearly 70 new M-Cats. We love seeing the halls filled with smiles, hugs, and new-day excitement!

Welcome to Paul Wexler, our new ninth grade Western Civilization and tenth grade Jewish History teacher. A native of southern California, Paul earned Master’s degrees from Simmons University (education) and the University of Wisconsin (history), and a Bachelor’s from the College of Wooster in Ohio. He spent many years teaching history at Needham High School, as well as at Arlington High School and other institutions. Paul is also a long-time school speech and debate coach.

Welcome to Mr. Nissim Hazan, our new Middle/Upper School limudei kodesh teacher, who recently arrived from Israel, where he served as Deputy Commander of the Galilee Division in the Israel Defense Forces and was leading his team in עזה until a few weeks ago. He previously taught Chumash in Talmud Torah, and he holds a Bachelor’s in Education from Orot Israel College and a Master’s in National Security from Haifa University. Nissim is currently enrolled in the Kellogg-Recanati International Executive MBA Program at Tel Aviv University.

Welcome to Shira Berenstein, our new Classroom Assistant in Grades 3-5. She graduated with distinction from Midrasha Amit Modiin in Israel, majoring in Sociology, Psychology, and Theatre. She has volunteered as a Youth Councillor at Bnei Akiva Nachshon, supporting educational projects and providing necessary help to the Modiin chapter of the youth movement.

Welcome to Ms. Jessica Reznik, our new Middle School Student Activities Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Buffalo and is pursuing a dual master's degree in Jewish Professional Leadership and Jewish Education from Brandeis University. Previously, Jessica worked as an educator for students of all ages through her work in various schools, camps, and as a Hillel professional.

This week, Maimonides School was abuzz with activity, as our dedicated faculty and staff, both returning and new, joined us for a week of learning and preparation. We are excited to have the hallways filled with our students' laughter and learning soon! 💙🧡

Welcome to Alexander Uryga who is our new Upper School History Teacher. He holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Valparaiso University in Indiana. Alex most recently taught history at Cathedral High School and Cambridge Matignon School. In his spare time he enjoys hiking and photography.

Welcome to Mr. Rich Jacobs who is joining the Maimonides team as our new sixth and eighth grade science teacher. He has been teaching Middle School science for six years and is passionate about chemistry, the history of the Earth, and dinosaurs!

Welcome to our new First Grade Limudei Kodesh Teacher, Tova Messer. Tova earned her Master’s of Jewish Education at Hebrew College in partnership with the Pardes Educators Program in Jerusalem, and she recently returned from a summer session of professional development there. She has taught Judaic studies and Hebrew language for eight years at the elementary school level, including at the Striar Hebrew Academy of Sharon. Last year she was a Fellow at Kol HaOt/Teacher Institute for the Arts, through which she received and implemented training in integrating visual art with Judaic texts.

Welcome to Ms. Jami Levine who is joining Maimonides as our new Third Grade General Studies Teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Jami most recently taught fourth grade in Worcester, and she is excited to join the Maimo team.

Welcome to our new art teacher, Mr. Oliver Perry! Oliver graduated with a BFA in Illustration from The School of Visual Arts. He has previously taught art at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, Hannah Senesh Community Day School, The AKC Museum of The Dog, The Society of Illustrators, Spark Art Studio, and Paint The Town LLC. Oliver also is a member of The Boston Magic Lab and is a performing magician.

Welcome to Ms. Amanda Gastel, our new Elementary School Dean of Students. Amanda holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Education from Harvard University, a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling from Harvard University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Sciences and French from Colgate University. She is a licensed K-12 School Counselor and taught Early Childhood Education at a bilingual French school before working as a school counselor in Newton and Cambridge. When school is not in session, Amanda organizes and leads educational travel programs, guiding small groups of middle and high school students on international trips all over the globe.

Welcome to Ms. Courtenay Labson, our new Social Worker for Grades K-6. Courtenay earned her B.A. from Duke University, a J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law, and her M.S.W. from the University of Maryland. She recently moved with her husband to the Boston area from Washington, D.C., where she was the counselor at a Montessori school working with students in grades one through six.

We are excited to welcome Malka (Mally) Zazzara to our faculty as our new Lead Teacher in our Two-Year-Old Class. Mally has ten years of experience in early childhood education, including working at Yal-Day-New Daycare and teaching at Francis Jacobson Early Child Education. She is currently working toward a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from American Jewish University. Mally is originally from Israel, where she earned a Bachelor's in Social Sciences from Bar-Ilan University.

Maimonides School is proud to have been chosen as the pilot school for this incredible curriculum, and we are proud of our wonderful students, some of whom are featured in this video, for their significant accomplishments in Hebrew language learning. Thank you to Hebrew Department Chair Mr. Barak Cerf for his work implementing this curriculum at Maimonides!

Learn about the International Hebrew Exam

Maimonides is looking to fill some open coaching positions for the 2024-25 school year! If you're interested in one or more of the positions and can see yourself becoming a part of our community, please contact our athletic director, Mikayla Singas, at [email protected] for more information or to apply. 🧡💙

Mazel Tov to Coach Ed Gelb on his recognition as Jewish Hoops America Coach of the Year! Mazel Tov to Class of 2024 grad Nathan W. on his honorable mention as well. Go, M-Cats!!! 🏀🏆 https://bit.ly/jha_honors

Our M-Cats ECC Camp was a great success and our students made summer memories that will last a lifetime! 🧡💙

The Maimonides Class of 1994 recently held a self-organized 30th reunion on Zoom with 25 former classmates joining from across Israel and the U.S.! Rabbi Aaron Levitt captured the experience on his Chinuch Perspectives blog. Read it here: https://chinuchperspectives.wordpress.com/2024/06/27/30th-high-school-reunion/

Today's the last day to contribute to this year's Annual Campaign! Join our community of over 1,000 donors who have contributed this year; every donation directly impacts our ability to instill Torah knowledge, values, and pride in the next generation of Jewish leaders! https://giving.veracross.com/maimonides/support

Our 2024 M-Cats Summer camp has been one for the books! Students had two weeks to be with friends, learn, and make Maimo memories that will last forever. A heartfelt thank you goes to Morah Devorah for making it all happen (and for the photos!). We wish you our community a great rest of the summer, and shabbat shalom u'mevorach! 🧡💙

This Spring, Maimonides School invited our community to participate in our 5784 Mezuzah Campaign in celebration of our students study of Masechet Menachot. Over 60 new mezuzot were dedicated at our school, and many of our donors had the opportunity to join Rabbi Yaakov Jaffe and his students for special installations in person. We thank everyone who dedicated a mezuzah as part of this campaign, whether in memory of a loved one or in honor of members of our school community. You can view the full list of all our donors and their dedications on our digital campaign recognition wall on our website, maimonides.org/mezuzah. 💙🧡

Our M-Cats are thriving at our M-Cats Summer camp! Students have been going on field trips, making crafts, playing games and so much more! This was only week one of two, so get excited for even more fun in the sun! 🧡💙

We applaud Maimonides' Tennis Coach Bruce Brumberg and his family on their work advocating for Israel in Mexico. 💙🧡

Israeli hostage artwork defaced in Mexico - JNS.org The Brumberg family of Newton, Mass., commissioned the pro-Israel street art in Oaxaca.

Maimonides is so excited to participate in Chidon HaTanach! Be sure to check out our 12th grade champ Avi B. as well as Nessa J., and our coach, Dr. Yael Jaffe, in the Chidon HaTanach video!

Chidon HaTanach USA National Finals 2024 - Get Involved! Highlights from the USA Chidon Ha'Tanach National Finals 2024. Reach out to us at [email protected] to get involved in this growing nationwide movement.Vid...