For our family, the decision to come to Smith Jewish Academy was deeply personal. Reuben grew up attending Talmud Torah of St. Paul and the Twin Cities Jewish Middle School, and the knowledge and identity he gained stayed with him. When we began thinking about our own children’s education, we knew we wanted the same opportunity.
It took us some time to get there. Our oldest, Hannah, attended public school in Iowa for her early elementary years, but when we moved to Minnesota ahead of her third grade year — and as Amira was preparing to start kindergarten — we knew this was the moment. If we were going to choose day school, this was the time, and Smith was the place.
What we hoped for has already taken shape in meaningful ways. Our eldest has developed a quiet confidence in her Judaism that we didn’t expect. When she volunteered to give a d’var Torah at Kabbalat Shabbat, she spoke with thoughtfulness and depth — exactly the kind of connection we had hoped she would find.
We’ve also seen tremendous academic growth. When our older daughter joined Smith in third grade, she had been doing fine in public school — but within a year, she increased her proficiency in math dramatically! That reflects what we value most about Smith: teachers who see each child’s potential and actively nurture it.
We were looking for a school that offered both strong secular and Jewish education — one that would ground our children in identity and knowledge while holding them to a high academic standard. At Smith, we see that every day. Our kids are becoming learners who are genuinely excited about what they’re discovering.
Just as important is the community. When we welcomed a new baby this fall, Smith families showed up in extraordinary ways, bringing meals, helping with rides, and surrounding us with care. Months later, it still means so much.
Our children feel that sense of belonging too. They engage in Jewish life — seders, Sukkot, Shabbat — in ways that feel real and meaningful, and they’re simply happy to go to school each day.
If we could go back and give ourselves advice, it would be simple: Find a way to send your kids to Smith earlier.
We’re so grateful to the Biel family for sharing their “Why Smith” story and helping others see what makes this community so special. If you’d like to share your own Smith story, we’d love to hear from you.
Fran and Reuben Biel joined the Smith Jewish Academy community in 2022. They are the proud parents of three daughters at Smith — with one more future Lion already looking ahead to kindergarten in 2031.