2nd Day Sukkot at The Davis Academy Middle School

Students and parents in grades 5-8 joined together last week to celebrate Sukkot in our beautiful Davis Academy Middle School Sukkah. Because The Davis Academy is open on 2nd day Chag we were able to provide a warm and welcoming environment for our families to celebrate the spirit of Sukkot on this festival day, one of our favorite Jewish holidays at Davis. The weather was perfect. SAGE Dining provided delicious food. The Sukkah was beautifully decorated by our students under the direction of our Hebrew teachers. And we were blessed to fulfill the mitzvah of lesheiv b'sukkah, of dwelling in the Sukkah. Because The Weber School was close for Sukkot and because several other high schools were closed for Fall break we welcomed about 20 alumni from various graduating classes to our Sukkah as well. Sukkot is called zman simchateinu, the season of our rejoicing. Our 2nd day Sukkot celebration reminded all of us why.

Why Hebrew?

These two videos were made by Davis Academy middle school students. As you watch them consider what it means that a group of Jewish kids living in Atlanta, GA in 2017 have such authentic joy and appreciation for Israel and for the Hebrew language. I'm sure you'll agree, it's nothing short of a miracle.

Hebrew is a beautiful language

Hebrew is a beautiful language. For so many reasons. The grammar. The way that words have multiple layers of meaning and resonance. The fact that it has evolved over thousands of years and is equally well-suited for psalms and hip hop songs. Among all these reasons is an even simpler reason-- the beauty of the letters.

I walked into Morah Sigal's Hebrew class the other day and saw a beautiful bulletin board. Morah Sigal had her students write their Hebrew names using various markers and art supplies. What could be a simpler activity? And yet, looking at the bulletin board, there's something special and holy about seeing the ancient letters of the Hebrew alphabet, lovingly and proudly formed into names. The names of our students. The same names given to their grandparents and great grandparents all the way to the time of Abraham and Sarah.

Hebrew is a beautiful language and I am proud of The Davis Academy for helping instill this language in the hearts and souls of our students.