As we begin a new school year, we were honored to welcome clergy representing synagogues from across the Twin Cities to offer blessings for our students heading into the new school year.
Their presence was a beautiful reminder of the strength of our Jewish community across denominations and cities and the shared commitment to nurturing the next generation with wisdom, joy, and a deep sense of Jewish identity and pride.
We're THIS excited for Week 2 at Smith Jewish Academy!
The first week of school brought joyful reunions, new friendships, meaningful learning, and so much energy, and we can't wait to see what Week 2 has in store as our experiential learning gets underway.
Please help us welcome our new families into the Smith community!
Today, we officially welcomed our newest students and faculty as well as a new school year at our Smith Opening Ceremony. Every new student is paired with a buddy who helps them feel known, supported, and at home, and together, they walked under the chuppah to begin their journey with us.
There’s no better way to begin a new school year than surrounded by community, connection, and plenty of ruach (spirit)!
See more pictures on Facebook!
Today, the halls of Smith Jewish Academy were filled with big smiles, warm welcomes, new beginnings, and the unmistakable joy of being together again! It was the happy first day of an intellectually rigorous and deeply meaningful school year.
All these smiling faces will be back tomorrow for the first day of school!
The joy of reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones at the Smith Summer Social last night was just the start to building a community of joyful growth this school year at Smith Jewish Academy. See you tomorrow!!!
The joy of reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones at the Smith Summer Social last night was just the start to building a community of joyful growth this school year at Smith Jewish Academy. See you tomorrow!!!
Welcome back! It was wonderful to see returning and new faces today as we welcomed families in to meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and make connections ahead of the first day of school. We can’t wait to begin another year of learning and growing in just a couple more days here at Smith Jewish Academy!
Welcome to a familiar face on our campus: Mike Kronenberg! Coming from the Minnesota JCC, Mike will join us at the end of the month in the all-new position of director of marketing and communications.
"I am excited about the opportunity to support students and families and help share the experiences, values, and relationships that make a Jewish day school community so special.”
Read about Mike Kronenberg in our welcome announcement (conta.cc/4fSxkq1) and at smithja.org.
We’re excited to introduce history scholar and educator Micah Shull into our new position of lower school social studies teacher, which is designed to support and connect across disciplines and help students understand and make meaning of the world around them.
“I’m excited to learn, grow, and build meaningful connections with students, families, and colleagues at Smith.”
Read about Mr. Shull at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios.
Another passionate Israeli educator, Orly Silidor, comes to Smith Jewish Academy from Agamim Classical Academy. B’rukhah haba-ah, HaMorah Orly!
"I look forward to joining the amazing SJA community and sharing my love for the Hebrew language and culture with my students."
Read about HaMorah Orly at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios.
Educator, vocalist, pianist, oh my! We’re excited to welcome Matt Kiminski to SJA as our music specialist.
“I'm so excited to join a school community where the arts thrive and where students, teachers, and families support one another on our learning journeys!”
Read about Mr. Kiminski at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios.
B’rukhah haba-ah also to Sigi Biton, our new morah sh'lichah/emissary teacher, who will be teaching kindergarten Hebrew & Jewish Studies. She brings a unique philosophy and expertise as an art therapist.
“I am looking forward to a wonderful year of growth, connection, and a beautiful journey together!”
Read about Sigi at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios.
“I am looking forward to a wonderful year of growth, connection, and a beautiful journey together!”
Read about Sigi at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios.
Hailing from Israel, Avi Biton is joining us as a moreh shaliach/emissary teacher to teach fifth grade Hebrew & Jewish studies. Not only is Avi an experienced educator, but he holds degrees in Land of Israel studies as well as Jewish history and contemporary Jewry. Barukh haba, Avi!
"I look forward to getting to know our school community, learning about your culture, and embarking on this meaningful journey together!"
Read about Avi at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios
"I look forward to getting to know our school community, learning about your culture, and embarking on this meaningful journey together!"
Read about Avi at smithja.org/o/sja/page/staff-bios
Sharing a campus with community partners gives us special opportunities, from access to art exhibitions and interactions with community members of all ages and abilities to ... our end-of-year pool party back in June!
As we head into August, it's time to check in on summer reading goals! Students entering fifth grade and middle school, don't forget to complete your summer reading assignments — summer reading keeps the mind engaged and prepares students for another year of joyful learning.
Our favorite part of summer is visiting our students and alumni at Camp Olami, Herzl Camp, and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin! We've missed these smiling faces and are so happy to see them building community at Jewish summer camp.
We helped them beat the heat with Smith cooling towels and can't wait to welcome everyone back to SJA soon for another year of joyful learning!
We helped them beat the heat with Smith cooling towels and can't wait to welcome everyone back to SJA soon for another year of joyful learning!
The SJA community is growing!
Bruchim habaim, welcome, to our incoming kindergarten students who came together for a popsicle playdate to make new friends and begin feeling at home before their first day of school. We can't wait to watch these students learn, grow, and thrive together at Smith Jewish Academy.
Bruchim habaim, welcome, to our incoming kindergarten students who came together for a popsicle playdate to make new friends and begin feeling at home before their first day of school. We can't wait to watch these students learn, grow, and thrive together at Smith Jewish Academy.
“What we value most about Smith: teachers who see each child’s potential and actively nurture it.”
The Biel family says if they could have done things differently, they would have sent their children to Smith earlier. Head to our blog (smithja.org/article/2998964) to read about why Smith parents Fran and Reuben Biel choose Smith Jewish Academy and the confidence, community, and love of learning their family has found along the way!
The Biel family says if they could have done things differently, they would have sent their children to Smith earlier. Head to our blog (smithja.org/article/2998964) to read about why Smith parents Fran and Reuben Biel choose Smith Jewish Academy and the confidence, community, and love of learning their family has found along the way!
Our yearbooks were not only a sendoff into summer but a look back at all the amazing learning and fun from the past school year — from hands-on creativity and scientific exploration in the Makerspace to integrated Jewish and general academics and quality time spent together.
📢 Shout out to Benny G. for designing the yearbook cover in Ms. Thor’s graphic design class!
📢 Shout out to Benny G. for designing the yearbook cover in Ms. Thor’s graphic design class!
We are excited to announce morim shlichim (Israeli educator emissaries) will be joining Smith Jewish Academy! Avi and Sigi Biton will join our faculty as Hebrew and Jewish studies teachers, and their children will join our student body!
Check your inboxes or head to smithja.org/page/inside-the-pride to read more about this initiative and the Bitons as well as a new kindergarten scholarship and more in the latest issue of Inside the Pride.
Check your inboxes or head to smithja.org/page/inside-the-pride to read more about this initiative and the Bitons as well as a new kindergarten scholarship and more in the latest issue of Inside the Pride.
We are also thrilled to celebrate our SJA alumni high school graduates! We are filled with such naches (pride) to see our 2026 seniors return to our halls as proud, confident, compassionate, and thoughtful young people. May they continue to grow as lifelong learners, grounded in Jewish values and prepared to lead, contribute, and make a meaningful impact in the world.
🎓 Mazal tov and kol hakavod to the Class of 2026! 🎓
🎓 Mazal tov and kol hakavod to the Class of 2026! 🎓
