Understanding our School Motto

Dr. Darin S. Katz March 25, 2024

At Hillel, each day we strive to fulfill our mission of inspiring a passion for learning, responsibility to self and community, and devotion to Jewish living in all of our students. To do so, we realize that we must nurture the mind as well as the soul (hence our tagline “Mind and Soul - Better Together”). We develop each student’s mind through a challenging curriculum in General Studies, Ivrit, and Judaics, paying close attention to skills that have become critical for growth and success in the 21st century -- creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and high-level communication skills.

There are a myriad of ways in which we nourish each child’s soul throughout the school day -- through t’fillah (prayer), discussions in class about Jewish values, and a renewed focus on our school motto. A motto encapsulates the beliefs or ideals that govern an individual, family, or institution. Here at Hillel, our motto takes our Core Jewish Values and brings them to life, providing students and staff with a relatively easy way to remember how we should behave and carry ourselves throughout each school day. By doing so, we partner with you, our parents, in helping your children to become mensches.

In June, 2020, as I was just coming on board as the new Head of School, the Leadership Team engaged in a deep dive into the school motto so it would be a true reflection of our Core Jewish Values. Our motto is prominently displayed in each classroom, hallways, many offices, and is read aloud each morning during morning announcements. Such repetition builds “muscle memory” so that knowing the motto becomes second nature and is internalized by the entire school community, students and staff alike. When we discuss classroom norms and expectations, we refer to specific parts of the motto, while explaining the import and impact of these values in an age-appropriate manner. 

I have included our motto below. As you see, it truly reflects what we value at Hillel Day School and we invite you to discuss it with your children and reinforce these values at home.

Be Respectful/ כבדו את הזולת/ Kabdu et hazoolat

We believe in the value of treating every human being and our school building with honor and respect. Each individual has worth, as we are all created in the image of God.  At Hillel, students, educators, staff, and parents collaborate to create a moral, kind and caring community.

Be Responsible/ גלו אחריות / Galu ach-ra-yut

We espouse the Talmudic teaching “כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה / Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh BaZeh / All of Israel is responsible for one another”. We ask our students to be responsible for themselves, each other, their belongings, and our school building.

Be Kind/ היו אדיבים לאחר /Heyu adivim la'acher

At a time when our children witness increasing unkindness and divisiveness in our world, it is essential that we stress the importance of kindness to ourselves and to others at all times. By reminding students on a daily basis to be kind to each other, we fulfill the greatest principle in the Torah - וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ / Ve-ahavta Le-re’acha Ka-mocha / Love your fellow as yourself.

Be Yourself/ היו נאמנים לעצמכם /Heyu ne'emanim le'atzmechem

As Jews, we believe that each individual has worth, as we are all created in the image of God - בצלם אלקים / B'Tzelem Elokim. Teaching our children to be authentically themselves fosters self-esteem and a strong sense of self worth.

Honor and Respect are the Foundation of Torah study/ דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה /Derech eretz kadmah la'Torah

In Pirke Avot (3:17) the sages declared, "If there is no Derech Eretz there is no Torah, and if there is no Torah there is no Derech Eretz." That is to say, proper moral behavior must precede the Torah, but after the Torah has been revealed based on the prior existence of proper behavior, a new and higher-level moral code is derived from the Torah.

With chagei Tishrei (the holidays of Tishrei) behind us, we are happily about to enter a period of five-day weeks. The spiritual seeds of Tishrei take root in our classrooms, on our playgrounds, and on the fields. The predictability of the school year now begins in earnest, giving students time to engage deeply with their academic subjects on a more consistent basis. As our students continue their studies, the values embodied in our motto ensure that they continue to grow spiritually and emotionally throughout the year.

I hope you now have a better understanding of the importance of our school motto in nourishing your child’s soul as, together, we strive to infuse menschlikeit in each of our students.

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Picture of Dr. Darin S. Katz

Dr. Darin S. Katz

Dr. Darin S. Katz is Head of School at Hillel Day School.