Hausner Blog

On Day 2, the group enjoyed a breakfast of shakshuka and eggs before participating in Tefillah for Yom HaShoah. They spent the day split between volunteering at "Citrus and Salt" and a graffiti tour of south Tel Aviv. After lunch at the Lavinsky Market, they visited Ariel Sharon Eco Park, played soccer with students from Contra Costa Jewish Day School, and enjoyed time at Sarona Market before returning to the hotel to pack for the next part of their tour.

The trip began with a peaceful flight from San Jose to LAX, followed by a series of flights to Warsaw and Tel Aviv, where the group met up with the Wornick kids and navigated long waits and security lines. On Day 1 in Israel, despite jetlag, the group explored Yafo, volunteered at the Yafo Institute, and enjoyed lunch on Rothschild Boulevard before heading to the beach for swimming and volleyball. The day concluded with dinner, a mentalist performance, and an Erev Yom HaShoah ceremony at Park HaYarkon, honoring the victims of the Holocaust.

At Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, students learn the values of kindness, leadership, and community service—lessons that often extend far beyond their years in the classroom. For alumni Ella Nuchi (‘22), Tania Troper (‘22), and Jonah Frenkel (‘21), these values played a role in their decision to volunteer with the Bay Area Friendship Circle, an organization that fosters friendships between teens and children with special needs.

In our Philosophy for Children class at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, students explore big, important questions in an open and engaging way, developing skills in dialogue, critical thinking, and self-expression. Led by the students, discussions revolve around questions like “Can music be an international language?” and “Can any work be considered art?” while drawing from music and art from around the world. The class encourages students to reflect on ideas like following their hearts, believing in themselves, and creating joy, fostering a sense of confidence, respect, and community as they share their insights and navigate these big ideas together.

In this blog post, Upper School Math Teacher Jerry Brodkey reflects on the evolving landscape of math education, emphasizing the importance of finding the right pace for each student. He compares past and present math pathways, highlighting the pressures and challenges faced by students in highly accelerated programs. Jerry advocates for a thoughtful, individualized approach to math education, stressing that learning math should not be a race. At Hausner, the goal is to ensure that every student builds a strong foundation in mathematics while developing a positive attitude toward learning, regardless of the path they follow.