By Yoni Binus
People around town often ask me how they can help the school. I’d like to note that this question alone signals to me, and to all of us associated with the school, that Heilicher continues to be valued as an essential community asset. People in the Twin Cities know our brand of education is a means to ensure a strong Jewish future.
So how do I answer? I tell them to get the message out. There is no stronger, more effective messaging than that which is transmitted from friend to friend, from neighbor to neighbor, from colleague to colleague in a passing conversation or inserted just at the right time during a discussion about children, education, or the future and direction of the Jewish community.
According to recent national data, the three most reliable ways of instilling Jewish values and practice in young people are: travel to Israel, attendance at Jewish summer camp, and education at a Jewish day school. The Twin Cities, thankfully, has a rich history of commitment to Jewish education through supplementary education at synagogues and the Talmud Torahs, through camps in the region, and, of course, through day schools.
I was asked recently to speak about the benefits of Heilicher in 120 seconds or less. It was an easy task, as all I had to do was describe the consistent outcomes of a Heilicher education. Our alumni exude confidence, knowledge, and leadership in the community. They reflect a wide diversity of Jewish practice and beliefs and a deep understanding of what it means to be part of a diverse Jewish community. Wherever they attend high school, our graduates rise as classroom leaders, advocates for diversity and social justice, and standouts in local and national Jewish leadership. We are proud of them.
How can we perpetuate Heilicher, one of the major pillars of Jewish continuity in the Twin Cities? By spreading the word at every possible occasion. Sometimes we want to help through giving (which I, of course, encourage when the time is right for you) or through volunteering (please feel free to reach out about volunteering), but the single most important thing you can do to help keep this school strong is to let people know about us, our strong academic program, and that what we do is critical to the health of the community. The audience, in all honesty, does not even necessarily matter. Good word begets good word, and all measures of the school’s health will continue to rise over time and our ability to reach more and more students will rise as well.
Thank you for all you do for the community and for spreading the word.
Join us for our Fall Information Evening on Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. The event will feature sample lessons by teachers and a panel of alumni, parents, and administrators, who will share about the unique features of a Heilicher education and answer questions. To schedule a private tour, please contact Admissions & Marketing Director Louise Schoenberger.
- Yoni's 360
