Sometimes members of our community are able to pinpoint exactly what it is about Bornblum that makes an impact on our families. Our Board President, Janice Ringel does so in the following letter.
Our Bornblum Story
The night before Rosh Hashanah, I awoke in the middle of the night (as I often do) after attending the wedding of a close friend’s son. I started to recap all the events that had taken place over the course of the weekend…a welcome party, the rehearsal dinner and the main event—the wedding. My mind drifted to the rehearsal dinner, where members of the bridal party roasted and gave heartfelt speeches about the bride and groom. My younger son, Brian, was in the wedding, so he was one of the many people who spoke during the night. As I thought about the numerous childhood stories that were rehashed, I suddenly realized something extraordinary. Not only were a large number of the groomsmen longtime friends, but many of them were guys who attended Bornblum (formerly Solomon Schechter or “Schechter” boys), and they told numerous stories that actually dated back to their Schechter days. This might not seem so remarkable at first, but most of these boys had gone to different preschools before enrolling at Schechter, they went on to different high schools and colleges after attending Schechter, and many of them currently live in different cities throughout the country and even Israel.
I then started thinking about my older son, Brad, and the wedding we attended for one of his best friends this past March. It was basically the exact same scenario…a bunch of close guy friends who came from different preschools, went to Schechter together, attended different high schools and colleges, and who are also currently scattered in various cities throughout the U.S.
The number of Schechter students in attendance at each of these weddings was not limited to just the wedding parties. When I started to add up the number of guests in my head, I recognized that both weddings had a significant amount of former Schechter students present, both guys and girls representing multiple grades.
I quickly came to the conclusion that Bornblum has had a truly profound and lasting impact on my boys’ lives that goes well beyond academics. The shared values and experiences they had during those early school years forged bonds and lifelong friendships that have withstood separation and the test of time. I then asked myself a perplexing question: Is there something special about Bornblum that sets it apart from other schools or were these just situations that were unique to my family? I didn’t realize I would get the answer to my question less than a week later.
The Friday immediately after Rosh Hashanah, Bornblum held an all-school Kabbalat Shabbat that was also open to the entire Jewish community. A special program was planned to pay tribute to Andrew Platkin, a former Bornblum student who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last spring. Several of Andrew’s former classmates were in attendance and many former parents and other community members were also present. A video presentation was shown and speeches were given by close friends. Andrew’s former classmates literally talked about the same things that I had thought about just a few nights prior; they had been a very tight knit class that continues to stay in touch after all these years. They, too, shared common values and meaningful experiences that had solidified lasting friendships. Many tears were shed, and it was an extremely moving program.
During the tribute, Dr. Weiss also spoke about what it means to “Be Bornblum.” He mentioned that what makes Bornblum so special is that sense of community we all feel when we walk into the building each and every day. In reality, Bornblum is much more than just a community; it’s a family made up of students, teachers, staff, parents and board members. It’s those common bonds and shared Jewish values and experiences that tie us all together as one family.
I looked around the room and I noticed all the Mishpachas, each one comprised of students from grades kindergarten through eighth grade. At that same moment, Morah Sharabi led the entire school in singing Shalom Alechem and something beautiful and spontaneous happened. Every Mishpacha, girls and boys of all ages, were arm in arm, swaying back and forth as they sang. It was at that very moment that I realized my story was not unique to just my family and me. My story is the Bornblum story, and it is Bornblum itself that is so special and unique.
Whether we are former students, current or former parents or Jewish community members, we all care deeply about Bornblum, and we need to acknowledge that it’s up to each of us to sustain its future for many years to come. We each have our individual stories, yet we are all part of this larger family and story that continues to unfold. As we begin the Jewish New Year and we embark on the school’s Annual Campaign, let us all renew our commitment to this extraordinary and special place. Let us all think about our collective Bornblum story and how we want to write the next chapter.
Wishing you and your families a Shanah Tovah—blessings, peace and prosperity in 5783.
