Over the summer, a parent came up to me with a great story about their son.
The gist of the story is the student told their mother that, of course, they showed courage; they are in Mishpachat Ometz (Courage). But the highlight of the story was what the student shared next. He said, “The reason Dr. Weiss (and Babka) don’t decide what Mishpacha we are in before the year starts, or even during the first week, is because he needs to get to know us a little better to figure out what traits we have and what Mishpacha we belong in.”
This story makes me smile each time I recount it. While for years we have worked to ensure that each student would be placed into the right Bornblum Mishpacha, we should have considered the power of each Mishpacha’s name and how it plays into the character of our students.

The eight Mishpachot crests
I heard a similar story this past weekend from a parent of a new Kindergarten student. Last Friday, we had our first community Kabbalat Shabbat of the year. At this Kabbalat Shabbat, we share with our new students and staff which Mishpacha they are now a part of. When I called this student up to Babka the Bear (our mascot) to introduce himself, I told him he would be put into a new Mishpacha, his Bornblum Mishpacha. He was excited as we announced his Mishpacha and heard his new school family members cheering. When he went home, however, he was confused about why his parents didn’t want him as part of their mishpacha and why he was put into a new one.
This story highlights the connection between our Mishpachot program and our partnership with our parents. We want to become a part of your family just as strongly as we want you to be a part of ours. We aren’t replacing your Mishpacha; we are an extension of it.

Students are placed into their Mishpachot—which they will remain in for their entire Bornblum journey—at the Mishpachot Sorting Ceremony at the first Community Kabbalat Shabbat of the year.
This partnership has increased focus on our Mishpachot program, sponsored by Hal Neuburger. Each year, we have found a way to expand the program with new opportunities for our students and families to come together.
Here are a few ways we have expanded the program in this fifth year.
New Tzedakah boxes have been installed on our Mishpachot Tzedakah wall. Each Mishpacha will meet quarterly to decide where to donate their Tzedakah. Our Bornblum Middle students will present three choices to their Mishpacha, and each Mishpacha will vote on the recipient.

Kindergarteners place tzedakah in their respective Mishpachot Tzedakah boxes.
With the success of our Mishpachot Challah bake last year, we are having a Babka Bake this year. Parents of students in each Mishpacha will have a designated Friday to come in and learn the art of Babka baking before joining their children in leading Kabbalat Shabbat.
Mishpachot core value development work will have each Mishpacha develop three to five points that support their Mishpacha’s name and value. For example, what does it mean to display leadership? Or be curious? Once these values have been determined, students will educate the rest of the school on the value of their Mishpacha’s name.

The crowd cheered when students are placed into their Mishpachot at the first Community Kabbalat Shabbat of the year.
Each Mishpacha will lead Kabbalat Shabbat over the year. The month that they lead will be dedicated to the Mishpacha’s value. The Mishpacha will be able to teach about their name at Kabbalat Shabbat, and social media posts over the month will focus on that value.
Service-learning opportunities will happen during the year as two Mishpachot are brought together for a service project.
As our two opening stories illustrate, our students take on the values of their Mishpacha’s name, and their school family becomes an extension (not a replacement) of their actual family.
