WHY JAMI?

When it comes to Jewish community and education, Shir Tikvah families are looking for something different - something they cannot find everywhere else. They want their child to live by Jewish values - and they seek their synagogue’s support in making that happen. They yearn to be part of a community that knows their children - a community that looks out for them, raises them, teaches them. They pray their child has the courage and the strength to move through our ever-changing world - and they lean on Shir Tikvah to foster these skills.

And they seek an education program that honors their child - that treats them with respect, that excites them, that takes them seriously. They want their children to love Jewish learning and to understand Jewish life as deep and silly and sweet. They want something that speaks to their children - a school that helps their child embrace, make sense of, and wrestle with their peoplehood, history, and identity.

Shir Tikvah families dream of being part of something bigger, something warm - a place to belong.

This is why we created JAMI, our Jewish Academy for Moral Imagination. JAMI strives to address the interests of our students, meet the needs of our families, and equip our community members with skills to navigate our wild world. So, why JAMI?

JAMI students learn Jewish traditions and Torah stories - not for the sake of, but to build relationship with our people’s past in order to ground in and make sense of today’s world. JAMI students explore Jewish holidays and lifecycle events - not just because, but so they can actively participate in these important moments with their families and friends. Our students discover how to be mensches, how to read Hebrew, and how to pray. Instead of being taught to passively accept what they are presented, our students are encouraged to ask questions of, comment on, and critique our ancient texts. They learn how to advocate for what matters to them. They become change-makers and learned Jews. JAMI students imagine the world of their dreams and get equipped to make those dreams our reality.

JAMI students come to believe that being Jewish is not only who we are, but what we do.

And JAMI students engage in Jewish community with their parents, guardians, and other loved ones. Whole families make up the JAMI community by showing up - schmoozing, singing, and studying together. They enjoy wrestling with fun and meaningful debates and rituals - both at Shir Tikvah and at home. They exchange big smiles, phone numbers, and budding perspectives with fellow families. They lend helping hands and listening ears. They share meals, rides, and advice. They celebrate and support fellow classmates.

JAMI families comfort, protect, and take care of one another.