Reflections on 6th Grade Charleston Trip

Davis Middle School overnight trips offer a carefully crafted mix of fun, bonding, learning, and opportunities for individual and group reflection. That's certainly the case on our 6th grade trip to Charleston where students explore the beautiful city but also address the topic of the slave trade as well as the Mother Emanuel Church Shooting and also visit the city's Holocaust memorial. Here are a few journal entries, published here with parental permission.

During our trip, we learned that Charlston was a state founded on religious freedom. Before the Civil War, the whole state of Charleston lived off of slavery. As a Jew, I know that  Jews have been treated as slaves in the past, and I strongly disagree and dislike the topic of slavery. This is not only because it happened to my people, but because I hate seeing innocent people suffer. We visited two different places connecting the topic of slavery between two different groups of people. The Jews and African Americans were both treated as slaves. In Charleston, we visited a holocaust memorial for the six-million Jews who were murdered only because of what they believed in. The Jews were enslaved and taken to concentration camps where they were hurt and killed. On the other hand, we also visited a slave market, where African Americans were sold to people as property, and as slaves. The African Americans were bought, taken to a plantation and worked out of their minds, so hard that by the end of the day, they could barely get to their cabins, before passing out. Even though the Jews and the African Americans were treated differently, they were still both under control of slavery. Slavery is a brutal idea, and I am overjoyed that in the United States, it is no longer practiced, but we must know that even though slavery is not here, people are still being enslaved around the whole world.

          When we visited the slave market in Charleston, there were many sad things I saw and read, but the worst was probably the Rattle Leg Shackle. This device was bound to a slave’s ankle. Whenever they would move, the shackle would rattle. This prevented them from escaping without getting caught. Even if they tried to sneak out at the darkest hour of night, the rattles in the shackle would still be heard. Thankfully, once the slaves cleverly discover that they could mute the noise by shoving mud into an opening in the shackel, the rattle leg shackle could no longer be used. Even though the rattle leg shackle is not being used today, there are still weapons that were used in the past for slavery that are used today. For instance, an invention that came from the rattle leg shackle, handcuffs.  Handcuffs are pretty much modern day shackles, except for the fact that they don’t make loud noises. However, handcuffs are not a problem to me, because they aren’t used against innocents, unlike the rattle leg shackle, which is. I strongly dislike the topic of slavery, but I am so thankful that for the people living in the United States today, slavery has been abolished. I learned a lot on my trip to Charleston, South Carolina and I am so glad I went with all of my friends and teachers. It was such an amazing experience that I most definitely will remember for my school years to come. -Sadie Hoff

       Charleston was an amazing experience even though I have been many, many times before. However, some people didn’t have fun there. Those people were the slaves of the plantation owners and other places, who suffered years of harsh beatings, which we should think about. I had a really great time on the Catamaran because it was so relaxing and so pretty looking at all the buildings feeling the cool breeze. What more could you want? It was amazing, unlike the experiences the slaves had in Charleston. They never got to enjoy the freedom of a wonderful boat ride on the harbor. Being Jewish people, we should hate slavery. Imagine thanking the heavens for your freedom, while your slave is fanning you. In that case, you’re not the greatest person, you are the greatest hypocrite. An artifact I chose was the shackle, which are chains they used to put on the slaves to keep them from leaving. This item was first used in the French area of Haiti in the 1700s. The item is now a U shaped link to connect and stabilize vehicles or tug a boat. This reality of slavery is terrible and we should not name a link after a slave torturer. I believe that we should try to give freedom to all human beings, even if they look, talk or act different. They are still human, and so are we. -Will Morrison

I really enjoyed my trip to Charleston and I learned a lot. The activity I will remember the longest on our trip to Charleston is the ropes course. At first I was scared to do it because of my fear of heights, then when I went on it, I overcame my fear, and enjoyed it. In Charleston, we learned of its history of slavery. I believe that slavery is wrong because we are all created equal. In the Jewish religion, we believe in our Menschlichkeit values, which are wisdom, respect, spirit, righteousness, and community. Slavery goes against all of these values. In the Slave Mart Museum, I selected shackles to write about. I choose the shackles because I was shocked when I saw that they used these kinds of materials on humans. I think white people back then thought of African Americans as animals. The shackles proved that to me. Today, shackles are still used, but in a different form. Prisoners are regularly shackled when being moved from a location and in court. Charleston taught me a lot about slavery and I had fun with my friends. -Zach Notte

          Recently my sixth grade class and I went to Charleston, South Carolina and it was both awesome and interesting. I think the most memorable activity that we did would have to be the Slave Market Museum because we don’t ever think about how lucky we are to be able to go to a private school and have loving parents.  When we went to the Slave market the whip caught my eye because people are still being abused today. Also, because Adrian Peterson, a football player got arrested for abuse with a belt. Although the slave owners didn’t whip the slaves because it left scars and it was illegal to abuse slaves, they still used other things like it. Its purpose was if the slaves were bad their owners would whip them. Although most people use belts now, abuse was and is some of the worst things people can do and some people commit suicide because of it. We went to a church where many people were killed because of their race and during that all I could think about is people discriminating against Jews. Also, with slavery this stuck to my mind, because I don’t know why people see Jews differently. I made so many great memories and learned so much, I will never forget this trip.  -Ryan Altmann

The Davis Academy and TASKA

The Davis Academy Middle School was honored to welcome the students and teachers of the TASKA School to our Kabbalat Shabbat and Sukkah this week. During Kabbalat Shabbat we shared in our Shabbat rituals and also enjoyed a musical performance by the TASKA students. After Shabbat we did Chavruta learning in the Sukkah. The theme of our Chavruta was: Creating Peace/Shalom together.

A good time was had by all, and more importantly, we all realized that our fates are intertwined and that we are much stronger together. Everyone agreed that TASKA and Davis Academy should get together again soon!

Getting to Know You by Getting to Know What You Value

Lori London (6th and 7th grade science) asked a fascinating question as part of her "getting to know you" intake with her students this year. She asked them, "Which Davis value 'speaks' to you the most/strongest and why? RESPECT, COMMUNITY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, WISDOM, & SPIRIT. Below are a collection of their responses. As you read them, consider the diversity of their replies as well as the clarity with which they are able to identify our Menschlichkeit values and relate to them. Knowing that these types of discussions are as likely to take place in a science class as in a Tefilah service sends an incredibly powerful message of interest and shared purpose that helps our students understand that they are an integral part of a greater whole. 

Which Davis value 'speaks' to you the most/strongest and why? RESPECT, COMMUNITY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, WISDOM, & SPIRIT

Spirit speaks to me because I try to always have a high spirit to bring up the other spirits in the room thus making people happy.

Respect because I think that it’s something everyone wants and everyone should give, and because anyone can be respectful, it’s not a special talent that you have acquire you just do it.

Spirit because I enjoy being loud and crazy

Wisdom stands out to me the most because having wisdom can show people to recognize our surroundings and wisdom can prevent difficult situations from getting worse.

Community speaks to me the most because we all need friends to get by in life.

Respect speaks to me because if you do not show respect to someone they will not show it to you.

I really like all the values but I think that spirit is the one that speaks to me the most. Sometimes when other people are sad I feel like there should always be someone to pump up and energize everyone, kind of like a backbone. sometimes people are having a bad day and one little thing can ruin a whole day AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS NICE (oops caps lock) to be cheered up after a long day. I love to see the smile on people’s faces when they are happy. In my opinion if you are happy you will be more creative and will work better.

The Davis value Community speaks to me the most because I think we are and we should act as a big whole.

The strongest Davis value to me is community because without a community we could not give each other ideas or help with tasks at hand.

Community, because once in a while it would be nice to meet up with you classmates and join together for an activity.

The Davis value that speaks to me the most is community. I feel that community is very important because without our community, things would not be the same. Your community should always be there for you when you are in down or in need. Everyone must support and help the community in the best way possible.

The Davis value that speaks to me most is respect because respect is something that each and every person should show every day. Also, students like us should always show respect to teachers, and kids should always respect their friends and parents.

Community speaks to me the most. I feel that everyone should be welcomed into a community no matter what. Community makes sure everyone is included even if they are different.

I feel respect is the one I feel connected to, because I think it is the value that we use in our everyday lives.

Wisdom speaks to me the most strongest out of all of the values because if you have wisdom then you know what and who to respect, you can be a big part of your community, you can be righteous with others, and can have tons of spirit, with just one Davis value!

Community speaks to me the most because we all need people to get by in life.

respect because you should always be respectful

respect

spirit because in my opinion if you’re in a bad mood you are going to have a bad rest of your day

Spirit

Respect speaks to me the most because I have respect and I give respect and I believe in respect towards other people.

Respect because it is the easiest to show making it easy to do mitzvahs.

Wisdom speaks to me because information could not be handled and spread with wisdom. Also, no one would learn anything.

Community, because it is important to always be together

community because a big part of being Jewish is being in an community. In the community others push you to be your best self.

spirit because to me it is about being positive and I think that is very important and I try to be optimistic

Respect because I think people should respect one another.

Respect because it is extremely important to be respectful to others.

Spirit

Kavod because people should treat each other how they want to be treated, with respect.

Spirit because you should have a good and positive attitude

Respect because if you do not respect people, people will not respect you.

Spirt because for color war I like to have good spirit

Respect: respect speaks to mean the most out of all 5 of them because you need to respect you friends, family, teachers, and even people you don't know.

Righteousness speaks to me because if you do not do what’s right, it means people are doing bad things to each other.

Wisdom

Respect 'speaks' to me the most because you can use it every day, and it includes so many other important values inside.

community because I love spending time with my friends

spirit speaks to me the most because that's what makes learning if you don't walk in to school with a good spirit than your day won’t go well.

The Davis value community speaks to me because we are surrounded and in communities all over.

Wisdom because you need wisdom to make good decisions in life

Respect speaks to me the most because I believe that everyone and everything should be respected no matter what.

Respect, because I think it is important to respect others, and ourselves

The value of respect speaks to me the strongest because I feel that it is important to respect everyone around you, including your friends, elders and definitely your teachers. I feel that when you respect others in the class, everyone else is more productive.

Community speaks to me the most in one important way. First off, without a Kehilah we would not be able to pick up others when they are down. Without that some people would feel depressed and lonely.

The Davis value that speaks to me the most is wisdom.

The Davis value that speaks to me the most is community because at Davis we are one big community.

Respect shows all of the Davis values

Respect speaks the most to me because I think it is a title for the other ones. The other four values also follow respect.

Respect speaks to me the most because if you don't have respect you will not have a good community and there will be no spirit in the community. Respect is the word that describes all of these words.

respect- because you need to respect your friends, family, teachers, and people you might not know.

The Davis Academy and Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School 5th Graders Building Bridges of Understanding

Recently, 5th graders here at Davis hosted their peers from Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School for a day of interfaith dialogue, team building, and learning. You can read about the day's activities in several of our local media outlets by clicking here or here. This program is part of a larger commitment that The Davis Academy has to making sure that our students learn about different cultures and religions not only through classroom lessons, but through actual human encounters and experiences.

Davis, Marist, and the First Ever Atlanta Unity Seder

Last night, student leaders from The Davis Academy and The Marist school honored our many years of interfaith partnership by playing a leadership role at the Atlanta office of the American Jewish Committee's first ever "Unity Seder." Joined by faith leaders from dozens of churches, synagogues, and organizations, local government officials and diplomats from India to Argentina, and more than 400 attendees, The Davis Academy and Marist School students opened the Seder by singing an original melody of the words "Hinei Mah Tov" that was written specifically for interfaith gatherings and occasions. Incidentally, this same song was performed by Davis and Marist students several years ago at a community wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of Nostrae Aetate.

In addition to singing together, Davis and Marist students sat together and participated in the interfaith dialogue and discussion that made the evening so meaning.

Later in the evening, The Davis Academy students were invited to lead the "4 Questions." After singing them in Hebrew, they were translated into different languages by the various diplomats in attendance.

It was a truly special and even historic evening, enriched deeply by the participation of Davis and Marist students.

#Davis7 Holy Sites Interfaith Field Trip

Yesterday, Davis Academy 7th graders visited three different Holy Sites in the greater Atlanta area: The Roswell Masjid, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn, and the Dharma Jewel Monastery. At each site we met with faith leaders of the different traditions, had an opportunity to listen, learn, and observe Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism in action. Now that our 7th graders have visited a mosque, mandir, and monastery they join a small minority of Americans in having firsthand knowledge of what these houses of worship look and feel like. As members of this small majority of Americans who have sought out insight into the religious tapestry of America, they now have a special responsibility to promote tolerance, understanding, and respect among Americans of all faiths.

At the Roswell Community Masjid we were welcomed by Imam Arshad. Pakistani by birth, Imam Arshad grew up in Southern Mississippi. He was appointed as the Imam of the Roswell Community Masjid by the Muslim community that supports this Mosque. Wearing jeans and a hoodie, not yet having had his morning coffee, Imam Arshad graciously answered at least 100 questions posed by our students. The questions were intelligent and respectful, and the answers helped us understand some of the ethos and spirit behind Islam. We learned quite a bit about the Hajj (religious pilgrimage to Mecca), about Muslim views of character development (similar to Middot and Menschlichkeit in Judaism), and much more.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest Hindu Temple in the Southeast. The building itself tells you much about Hindu faith and practice. While the thousands of individual pieces of marble were constructed by paid craftsman in India, much of the work of building the Mandir and completing the project was done on a volunteer basis by more than 20,000 individuals (Hindu and non-Hindu). Completed in 2007, the entire project was paid for on a donation basis before the Mandir opened. The physical structure of the Mandir is meant to help focus the mind of God and divinity.

We removed our shoes, sat on the floor, and experienced the 11:15 devotional service. During this time Sadhus (monks) dressed in orange, kindled lamps and offered praises to the incarnations of the different deities. After the prayer, our guide (also a volunteer), explained that Hinduism is actually a Monotheistic faith rather than Polytheistic. There is only one God. That God has appeared and continues to appear in many different forms. Hinduism prides itself on introducing ideas of Non-Violence, Vegetarianism, and Tolerance to the world.

After lunch we arrived at The Dharma Jewel Monastery in Tucker. There we were greeted with big smiles and the strong smell of incense. The Dharma Jewel Monastery is a Buddhist Monastery, but in the Chinese tradition. Several generations after The Buddha became enlightened in India, Buddhism spread to China. Fast forward to the present, and The Dharma Jewel Monastery carries on this tradition here in Tucker, GA. We got an overview, learned a bit about mindful eating, and then went up to the Great Zen Meditation Hall. There we sat on cushions and pillows, learned about the sacred instruments in the Hall, were led in a meditation session, and the invited to make a lamp offering (basically making a wish and then placing a candle on the altar). Many of our kids found this moving and exciting.

Taking a step back, it's remarkable to think of all these faith traditions coexisting here in Atlanta. It's even more remarkable to think that their work is largely invisible and/or irrelevant to so many Atlantans. As the Imam said this morning, it takes tremendous courage, self-confidence, and self-awareness to walk into a house of worship other than your own. Our kids certainly have all 3 of this qualities. They were very well-prepared by their Social Studies teachers in terms of basic knowledge of these three faiths. On a deeper level, their insider knowledge of Judaism, acquired through years of Jewish learning and living, gave them a special ability to decode some of the complexities of these other faiths as well as find the common and distinguishing factors among them.

It was a beautiful day.

The Tree of a Good Name

If you find yourself with a little bit of free time on a Thursday morning you should really come and check out a typical Thursday Tefilah service at The Davis Academy Middle School. There, you'll find a community of teachers and students coming together to celebrate Jewish life by honoring those students that will become B'nai Mitzvah during the upcoming weekend.

During the Tefilah service there are many touching and poignant moments. We hear the Torah read aloud. We invite younger siblings to help dress the Torah. Often there are alumni, who we invite to give an "Alumni Update," and there is always a heartfelt and inspiring D'var Torah shared by one of our faculty members.

While each of these moments is special, there is one additional moment that stands out in my mind. At the beginning of the service, each student honoree presents their Keter Shem Tov project. Keter Shem Tov means, "The Crown of a Good Name." It's an old Jewish idea that basically points out the importance of being a mensch as we journey on the path of life.

Under the careful and thoughtful vision of their 6th grade Jewish Studies teacher, Ilan Weismark, students create a leaf that is decorated with a Jewish teaching that relates to their name. Perhaps it contains a verse of Torah that has their name in it. Perhaps it's a particularly meaningful teaching from the week's Torah portion or the week they were born. Perhaps it's something that they studied in class that spoke into their lives in a profound way. This is the Keter Shem Tov project.

Each leaf is accompanied by a short description of what the leaf symbolizes. And it is this short speech that stands out and deserves special recognition. Invariably, words of mature, thoughtful, spiritual wisdom are shared by each and every student. It is impossible to deny that we are in the midst of great Kedusha (Holiness) when students present their Keter Shem Tov.

The richness of the Keter Shem Tov project led The Davis Academy to work hand in hand with our incredibly talented PE Coach, Sean Coffey, to design a tree that we could use to display these leaves during the months following their presentation. Below is a picture of the tree as well as a few samples of some of the leaves that will shortly adorn it.

Interfaith Day of Learning at Queen of Angels

Last week our 6th grade students and teachers spent a day engaged in rich interfaith learning with their peers at Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell. This was the 2nd annual meeting between the two schools and was, by all accounts, a truly meaningful day.

We arrived at QofA to a warm welcome from their students and teachers. Shortly thereafter, the students broke into "tribes" and participated in a series of activities, conversations, and programs. Davis students had prepared "Jewish Passports" that contained a series of entries meant for sparking conversation and QofA students presented Articles of Faith. We sang songs from our respective faith traditions, visited their beautiful church, decorated rocks with the names of Holocaust victims for their daffodil garden and had an interfaith prayer service.

The following day we had a chance to debrief the experience with our students. Hearing them reflect on what they learned about Catholicism, Judaism, interfaith dialogue, and even their own identities was very moving. Below are two written reflections shared with my by Missy Stein, our 6th grade language arts teacher.

From Sarah Terapane's Jewish Passport project:
My favorite spiritual place is The Davis Academy. I feel most connected to God here because when I am here it is always easy to incorporate religion into everyday life. Also, being Jewish is celebrated here, and you are not an outsider because of your religion. I believe that it is important to have a safe place where everyone is proud to be Jewish, and Davis is one of those places. I feel truly blessed that I go to such an amazing school where not only do I get a great education, I get closer and closer to God every day.

From Jackson Crim:
My favorite spiritual place is the outdoor sanctuary at the Lower School. This is my favorite spiritual place because I feel really close to nature there. Also in the sanctuary, there is a place that has seats and it is meant for singing prayers in that spot. I think that it is positioned perfectly because it is surrounded by all of the animals in the sanctuary. The outdoor sanctuary is my favorite spiritual place because it is surrounded by animals.  

Menschology Performers

Below is a list of the talented members of The Davis Academy Kehilah who graciously participated in the recording of our Menschology CD. It is arranged according to track # and order of appearance. If you appreciate their performance you should let them know!!!!

1.      Caroline Patterson and Will Robertson
2.    Caroline Patterson
3.    Elena Dollinger (soloist);  Ensemble: Rachel Binderman, Annalise Hardy, Amalia Haviv,    Rachel Hertz, Shoshana Katz, Ava Stark, Lily Stark; Bob Michek on drums
4.    Will Robertson (soloist); Caroline Patterson (background vocal)
5.    Will Robertson
6.    Caroline Patterson and Will Robertson
7.    In order of appearance:  Will Robertson, Alex Newberg, Rebecca Good, Janice Durden
8.    Caroline Patterson and Rich O’Dell (French Horn)
9.    Will Robertson
10.    Rabbi Micah Lapidus and Davis Academy 5th graders
11.    In order of apperance: Janice Durden, Darren Rosing, Gracie Kirschner, Magical                 Melodies and Davis Decibelles; Bob Michek on drums
12.     Bob Michek on vocals and drums
13.    Bob Michek on drums
14.    Grant Miller (soloist); Bob Michek on drums
15.     Kendrick Phillips (soloist): Ensemble: Rachel Binderman, Elena Dollinger, Sammy             Effron, Annalise Hardy, Amalia Haviv, Rachel Hertz, Shoshana Katz, Ava Stark, Lily       Stark 
16.   Ensemble:   Daniel Rosen 
17.   In order of apperance:  Eva Shell and Kendrick Phillips
18.  Will Robertson and Rabbi Micah Lapidus

Gary Rosenthal Artist Visit

This week our 6th grade students participated in one of the most important Davis Academy B'nai Mitzvah/Project IMPACT traditions-- the Hiddur Mitzvah project with world famous Jewish artist, Gary Rosenthal.

Because of his longstanding connection to The Davis Academy, Gary Rosenthal comes to The Davis Academy each year to meet with our students and guide them through the creation of two beautiful pieces of Judaica: a yad (Torah pointer) and mezuzah. The yad is for use at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and the mezuzah is donated to various worthy causes. During this year's visit, Gary noted that he has worked with more Davis Academy students than any other single community in his long and dynamic career. What a point of pride for The Davis Academy.

In addition to the special purpose of the yad and the mezuzah, there's a deeper lesson hidden in the Gary Rosenthal Hiddur Mitzvah project. It is the fact that no two creations are the same. Like our students, each is a unique and beautiful creation.

Here are some pictures of the kids and Gary. Before we know it, they will be taking their places as Jewish adults, strengthening their communities because of their deep Jewish knowledge and roots.

Ask the Rabbi Panel December, 2016

Today The Davis Academy Middle School welcomed three of our beloved community rabbis. Rabbi Josh Heller, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, and Rabbi Ron Segal graciously shared their thoughts and views on a wide array of controversial and thought provoking topics.

The panel began with a "speed round" that gave us a chance to learn a bit more about each rabbinic leader including their favorite and least favorite Jewish foods, favorite Jewish and non-Jewish holidays, as well as how many times they've visited Israel. During the speed round we learned that our panelists represented a collective 46.5 years of rabbinic experience!

More probing questions touched on a variety of topics ranging from what Judaism has to say about politics and how a Jew should vote to Jewish views of gender identity. Our panelists spoke to these topics as well as to anti-semitism and anti-Zionism as well as what community rabbis really think of Davis students when they attend synagogue for B'nai Mitzvah.

At the end of the panel our students agreed that they would like more programming of this nature. We made sure to leave time for the kids to say hello and connect with their rabbis as they headed back to class.

On behalf of The Davis Academy I want to thank Rabbis Heller, Lapidus, and Segal for their time, their insights, and their generous sharing.

#asktherabbi w/ @jzheller from @BnaiTorahATL, Rabbi Ron from @TempleSinaiAtl, and Rabbi Loren from @The_TempleAtl @Davis_Academy @rabbispen pic.twitter.com/gQ6AY41IPu

— Ilan Weismark (@ilanweismark) December 19, 2016

A Special Davis Tradition

Let's do a little activity. Without reading ahead, see if you can figure out what the items on this list have in common:

Star Wars Figurines

Cupcake Shaped and Scented Candles

Sand Art

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A Tree Branch

The Beach

Emojis

Tootsie Rolls

Clay Planets

A Rolling Pin

The Michigan Wolverines

The Atlanta Falcons 

Dolphins

Sharks

Lego

Starfish

Handprints 

The answer? These are a few of the items, themes, and ideas that this year's 1st grade students and parents brought to our annual 1st Grade Chanukiah Making Program. Were it not for the creativity and imagination of our students and families I think it's fair to say that the above list might never have been compiled. 

Tradition and Creativity, Chanukah 2016

On the one hand, Chanukiah Making is a fairly straightforward project for a Jewish educational setting. But if you observe this 1st grade tradition with a more critical eye, it turns out that there's quite a bit going on. 

First, there's the balance of tradition and innovation. We spend a lot of time balancing tradition and innovation at Davis. In this case we ask that our students and families bring their creative and innovative ideas to the traditional Jewish ritual object of the Chanukiah. 

Next, there's the Jewish identity component. Not only is there a spirit of creativity and innovation surrounding this project, but that creativity is channeled through the unique personality and identity of each child. In looking at the Chanukiot it's easy to see who the die hard Falcons fans are, whose parents went to school in Ann Arbor, who loves playing outdoors, and who loves building Legos. Projects like this help kids see how Judaism can unite different aspects of their identities and help them live fully integrated lives. 

Lastly (for now), there's the diversity aspect. In my 9 years at The Davis Academy I can honestly say that I've never seen two identical Chanukiot. Sure there've been more than a few Frozen-themed ones and more than a couple SEC-themed ones as well. But the honest truth is that these Chanukiot are like our children themselves-- unique creations in the world. When you take a look at them all gathered together you can see how they fit together, but you can also see the unique spirit, story, and personality of each. 

Happy Chanukah! If you're reading this as one of the participating 1st grade families, please assess the level of flammability of your creative Chanukiah before lighting it!

An American Hero

  Last night, The Davis Academy had the honor and privilege of hosting Congressman John Lewis on our Lower School campus. Speaking before a crowd of approximately 500 guests, Congressman Lewis spoke about his childhood, his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and his award winning series of graphic novels, March. Students, Davis community members, area neighbors, members of the press, as well as Mayor Rusty Paul of Sandy Springs and Ambassador Judy Schorer, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States were in attendance. And everyone appreciated Congressman Lewis' humor, passion, optimism, and conviction. Congressman Lewis reminded us that our country has made incredible strides in the last 50 years and that America can and must be a beacon of light and an inspiration to the rest of the world.

              In a private meeting with Davis Academy Student Government representatives and later during the public portion of the evening, Congressman Lewis emphasized the importance of getting involved, getting "in the way", and causing "good and necessary trouble." When asked what Dr. King would say about America today, Congressman Lewis said that Dr. King would encourage us all to keep the faith, keep the hope, and remember that there are always ups and downs in our individual lives and the life of our nation.

  Several standing ovations, a long and diverse line of guests waiting to shake his hand, and a general feeling of warmth, community, and shared purpose filled the room. Congressman Lewis has already accepted an invitation to return to The Davis Academy. It would certainly be a tremendous honor to host him again.

           


         

"I want to see my face, not my mask." Davis Academy Middle School Day of Learning at The Alliance Theater

Today Davis Academy middle school students participated in our 3rd annual day of learning at The Alliance Theater. The focus of our day of learning was a timely and powerful play called, Slur. Set in a middle school, Slur tells the story of how the word "Jihadist" came to be spray painted on the locker of a Muslim student in the school. It focuses on both the motivation and the impact of the incident. As with past theater performances at The Alliance, our students and all attendees were captivated.

Following the play, our students had an opportunity to learn from a diverse panel of guests that we assembled to help extend the learning. Thomas Pinckney of The Alliance Theater joined Sherry Frank, long time director of the Atlanta chapter of the American Jewish Committee and civil rights activist, Nicole Moore of The Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Munir Meghjani, a leader of Atlanta's Interfaith community. The discussion was incredibly high level and covered topics ranging from "privilege" to identity politics, to reconciliation after the divisiveness of the 2016 presidential election. 

Back on the Davis campus students participated in a series of rotations focusing on the power of speech, the masks we wear, and the complexity of identity. Poems were written, pieces of art created, and complex ideas expressed. As a participant I witnessed vulnerability, honesty, intentional listening, and much more. 

Days like these reinforce one of The Davis Academy's core beliefs-- that learning is a disposition, not something that takes place only in a classroom and that the best learning influences the way students view the world and the choices they make. 

There could not have been a better way to honor Veterans Day or reflect on the complex events taking place across America and around the world than through a day of learning inspired by a provocative piece of theater like Slur. 

Who tells my story? "Masking" my identity activity #Slur #artsed #davis6 #davis7 #davis8 #identity pic.twitter.com/27TWz350wD

— Kendrick (@khqp) November 11, 2016

Cafe Europa 2016

On Monday, 11/7/16, 29 Davis Academy middle school students traveled to Beth Jacob Synagogue to participate in Cafe Europa. The students, all members of our middle school singing ensemble, The Davis Decibelles, brought their inspirational and life affirming musical message to Cafe Europa for the 3rd consecutive year all under the direction of the wonderful Kendrick Phillips, Davis Academy's Director of Visual and Performing Arts. And, as in past years, every person in the room experienced a moment of profound transformation.

Cafe Europa is a very special gathering facilitated by JF&CS. It brings together members of the Atlanta Jewish community who are Holocaust Survivors for a monthly luncheon and program. For the last 3 years, The Davis Decibelles have offered a beautiful musical performance. But even more important than the performance is the luncheon that creates an opportunity for sacred conversation between Davis students and Cafe Europa members.

Inevitably, when the time comes for our students to board the bus back to Davis there are protests from all parties. No one really wants the experience to end. This year, one of the elders in the room said (somewhat lightheartedly), "Why are you taking these children away from us?" The question really struck me and it led me to a new appreciation for what The Davis Academy's participation in Cafe Europa truly represents. It represents the fact that those 29 students (and all our Davis Academy students) don't belong only to The Davis Academy or to their parents and grandparents. They belong to the Jewish people. That's because they represent the collective hopes, dreams, struggles, promise, and potential of the Jewish people. The loving bonds that magically and instantly form at Cafe Europa reveal this deep truth of the Jewish community. Our Jewish children belong to all of us, just like our Jewish elders belong to all of us. Our Jewish suffering, our Jewish joy, our Jewish worries, and our Jewish hopes--- while they might be experienced by individuals--- belong to all of us. There is a bond that transcends the generations and the particularities of our individual stories. It is a bond of life, a bond of love, and a bond of faith. If you've experienced it, you know what I mean.

Below are some of the many wonderful pictures that symbolize this bond as well as as snippet of video that captures our Head of School, Amy Shafron, speaking to our students before they set out from school that day.

A Wise Lesson from our Youngest Learners

I walked down the hall here at Davis only to discover yet another thought-provoking and wonderful art installation-- self portraits created by our youngest students, the Mechina children. Looking at the portraits, I was reaffirmed in one of my most basic beliefs-- the irreducible beauty and diversity of the human being.

Each of these self-portraits is made out of the same stuff. Each is a response to the same assignment. But whether it's because of their developing fine motor skills or the way they see themselves or their emerging artistic sensibilities, each portrait is radically different from the next.

I find tremendous truth and comfort in the notion that all of us are made from the same stuff and yet each of us are beautiful and unique in our own ways. Far from being a contradiction, the side-by-side commonality and diversity demonstrate the brilliance of our human design.

I'm grateful to work at a school that teaches such deep wisdom in such simple and compelling ways. I'm grateful to work at a school where diverse self portraits so naturally coexist in harmony and together create a greater whole than the sum of their parts. I'm grateful to be a part of a Kehilah that celebrates our commonality and our diversity in all that we do.

The Mitzvah of Welcoming Guests to our Sukkah

This year, our beautiful Davis Academy Sukkot welcomed several hundred special guests. Most of these guests were family members that came to celebrate the festival with their children. But two extra special groups visited as well.

On Wednesday morning our 1st grade friends from the Dunwoody Springs school across the street came to learn about Sukkot from our 1st graders. They impressed us with their knowledge as they had clearly studied up. We set a joyful tone by singing, "If you're happy and you know it." From there, the children went on to share about Sukkot and eventually compare Sukkot with Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, 6th grade members of the Jewish Life Leadership team of MSLTI welcomed JF&CS's "Independence Works" group. Our 6th graders enthusiastically and graciously hosted 12 adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities some of who had never been in a Sukkah before. The students sang songs, led the traditional blessings, served lunch, and then visited with our guests. I was particularly impressed by the easy way that they interacted with people they'd never met before and who have very different and diverse backgrounds.

The Davis Academy provides many occasions and opportunities for our students to put their values into action. Welcoming guests to our Sukkah is a very meaningful and special way to share the joy of Jewish tradition with others.

Walking the Halls

I work in a school

But sometimes it feels more like a museum.

Not because it's quiet and stuffy

But because the walls are covered

With hundreds of masterpieces

Created by small hands.

Self-portraits

Writing samples

Hebrew essays
Letters to God
Reinvented Jewish ritual objects

Photo journalism projects documenting injustice and hypocrisy.

Every hallway is a gallery

Every bulletin board an exhibit.

When the bell rings

Hundreds of artists spill into the hallways

Bringing with them a tidal wave of energy.

Endless imagination

Boundless joy

Curiosity beyond measure
Awakening social consciousness.

They shuffle past the galleries

And stroll past the exhibits

Just as curious about what someone else created
As they are to see their own latest work on display.
Simply walking through The Davis Academy one gets a serious and powerful education.

I don't have the heart to tell these artists that most of the world's hallways aren't adorned with beautiful art. 

I simply want to participate in, honor, and call attention to the creative culture

That celebrates the unique voice, special perspective, and glorious potential 

Of each individual child. 

No two masterpieces are the same. 

No two minds dream the same dreams. 

No two hands write the same poetry.

No two souls dance the same dance. 

I work in a school

But sometimes it feels more like a museum:

A museum of human dreams, hopes, and imagination.