From our Principal: Raising Mensches at the Einhorn Center

This article first appeared in our Jan/Feb '26 edition of The Bulletin

Learning and practicing fairness, kindness, and standing up for what’s right are topics that are taught in all schools everywhere, and they sound like complicated lessons. But here however, at the Einhorn Center for Jewish Education, these are the cornerstones of our work. Through classroom lessons, routines, activities, and relationships, we work hard to practice being fair and standing up for what is morally right, teaching, and living these values for our students to see for themselves.

How, you may wonder?

With students as young as toddlers in our Discovery Room (our playroom) where children learn to share and take turns and in school-age classrooms, we ensure everyone is included. We adults do our best to model these behaviors, too, by admitting our mistakes and apologizing when necessary. And as a first year principal, I’ve had to do a lot of that!

We stand up for others by talking to a trusted adult when something seems amiss or unfair. This behavior is a norm in our school because our teachers work hard to build relationships with their students and their parents, so everyone feels safe and supported. And at the Einhorn Center, we work to build a love of Judaism, so that students will learn to stand up for Jews in every place they travel.

We practice empathy by listening to others’ feelings and stories, trying to understand what someone else is going through, and trying to understand what it’s like to walk in others’ shoes. Our 6th graders spend the year learning about both American Jewish history and Holocaust history, and much of this is taught through video testimony. Our 7th graders are spending the year in preparation for B’nai Mitzvah and learning pre-leadership skills so that they can give back to our school and community once they have reached the milestone of becoming a Jewish adult.

We look to find ways for students to help others in the greater community. Whether that’s making tactile Chanukah cards for Jews who are blind, or our Jr Choir singing at Avila for folks who might not get visitors, learning about recycling and taking care of the Earth, or working at the Soup Kitchen, even the smallest hands can make a difference.

All of these activities build confidence and teach that practicing justice involves courage and responsibility. We’re so proud of the mensches we get to teach weekly, and appreciative of our families supporting this work!

Sara Salitan-Thiell, Principal of The Einhorn Center for Jewish Education