Learning from within our community. 🎨
Fifth graders welcomed SJA parent and artist Sarah Weinman, who shared her portrait art and spoke about her journey as an artist. Moments like this reflect the strength of our diverse, talented community and the joy of learning from one another.
🏀 A great moment for SJA Athletics: All four basketball teams won their most recent games! As we reach the midpoint of the season, we’re celebrating the hard work and growth that define our athletics program, where students compete, learn teamwork, and build confidence and resilience across a variety of team sports. 🏀⚽🥏
We loved welcoming pre-K students from Beth El Aleph Preschool to Smith last month — and watching students explore, ask questions, and experience what makes our community so special. Moments like these capture the heart of Smith: a vibrant Jewish day school where every child is known, celebrated, and encouraged to grow.
At Smith, students engage in rigorous academics and rich Jewish learning within a caring, joyful community. As one parent beautifully shared, “I just want to say how grateful I am for this school, this community, and all that we are together.” That sense of gratitude and belonging is something we hear again and again.
If you’re curious about what a Smith education could look like for your child, we invite you to visit, tour, and see it for yourself. We’d love to welcome you into our community.
At Smith, students engage in rigorous academics and rich Jewish learning within a caring, joyful community. As one parent beautifully shared, “I just want to say how grateful I am for this school, this community, and all that we are together.” That sense of gratitude and belonging is something we hear again and again.
If you’re curious about what a Smith education could look like for your child, we invite you to visit, tour, and see it for yourself. We’d love to welcome you into our community.
Learning comes alive when it’s personal. As part of their study of Native American peoples, our second graders welcomed Mr. Seth, who shared his family history and connections to the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Students learned about powwows, lacrosse, traditional and modern Ho-Chunk culture, and Mr. Seth's family tree, deepening their understanding and respect for living cultures and lived history.
Take a sneak peek at one of our favorite SJA traditions — the B'tzalel Project 🎨 Our sixth graders are putting the final touches on their talitot (prayer shawls), to be presented later this month.
This annual sixth grade project takes students on a meaningful and personal spiritual journey as they prepare for their b'nei mitzvah through the arts and study of middot (virtues).
This annual sixth grade project takes students on a meaningful and personal spiritual journey as they prepare for their b'nei mitzvah through the arts and study of middot (virtues).
Kol hakavod to SJA siblings Mila (Grade 6) and Ezra (Class of '25), who each received Honorable Mention in the inaugural L’Dor V’Dor Essay Prize.
This recognition is a powerful example of what Smith students do so well: think critically, write thoughtfully, and engage meaningfully with Jewish tradition, family history, and lived experience.
Read their essays and more news from Smith Jewish Academy in the December Inside the Pride! Go to smithja.org/page/inside-the-pride
We’re proud to welcome Abby Schmulewitz back home to Smith Jewish Academy as our director of admissions!
A graduate of SJA, Abby brings both professional expertise and lived understanding of what makes this community so meaningful — an education that pairs academic excellence with meaningful Jewish life, and a place where every child is truly known.
“I am looking forward to sharing with the community why SJA is such a special place and welcoming families into our community.”
If you’re exploring a Smith education for your child or simply want to connect, Abby would love to hear from you. Head to our website to read about Abby and to reach out.
A graduate of SJA, Abby brings both professional expertise and lived understanding of what makes this community so meaningful — an education that pairs academic excellence with meaningful Jewish life, and a place where every child is truly known.
“I am looking forward to sharing with the community why SJA is such a special place and welcoming families into our community.”
If you’re exploring a Smith education for your child or simply want to connect, Abby would love to hear from you. Head to our website to read about Abby and to reach out.
Before break, third grade made its annual trip to the Minnesota Zoo to gather firsthand insights for their own engineering project: a competition to make an enrichment for the zoo's sea lions.
Through this work, students see themselves as scientists and problem-solvers — and learn that their ideas can support real animal needs.
Leapin' lizards! Smith Jewish Academy is putting on Annie Jr.!
Come see our seventh and eighth grade Stars to Be in Annie, Jr. on Thursday, January 22, and Sunday, January 25.
🎟️ Get your tickets at smithja.org/page/annie 🎟️
Come see our seventh and eighth grade Stars to Be in Annie, Jr. on Thursday, January 22, and Sunday, January 25.
🎟️ Get your tickets at smithja.org/page/annie 🎟️
This year you gave us so many reasons to cheer, celebrate, and feel naches (pride)! Which of these amazing moments was your favorite?
🦁 A. After celebrating 40 years as a school and community, we became Harold and Mickey Smith Jewish Academy!
🥇B. Our students won in both local and international STEM competitions — first place in the Cosmic Leap Foundation Space Colony Competition and third place in the Minnesota Zoo ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge!
🇮🇱 C. SJA sent its inaugural eighth grade trip to Israel: Aliyah Chet!
🎉 D. We celebrated many holidays, from Purim to Yom ha-Atzmaut and Simchat Torah!
There are so many moments to choose from we couldn’t list them all. Happy New Year, and here's to more successes in 2026!
🦁 A. After celebrating 40 years as a school and community, we became Harold and Mickey Smith Jewish Academy!
🥇B. Our students won in both local and international STEM competitions — first place in the Cosmic Leap Foundation Space Colony Competition and third place in the Minnesota Zoo ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge!
🇮🇱 C. SJA sent its inaugural eighth grade trip to Israel: Aliyah Chet!
🎉 D. We celebrated many holidays, from Purim to Yom ha-Atzmaut and Simchat Torah!
There are so many moments to choose from we couldn’t list them all. Happy New Year, and here's to more successes in 2026!
Once a lion, always a lion! 🦁
Smith alumni and students shared the court, the competition, and the joy at our third alumni-students basketball game. We love to see our alumni lead on the court just as they do in life — with confidence and character.
Happy holidays! The Smith choir performed in the IDS Center Holidays Under Glass Music Concert Series, a beautiful opportunity to showcase our students and spread joy and music in the community.
Mazal tov to Elliot R. (Grade 4) and Haddie R. (Grade 1), the second runner-up and Young Lights Honoree of the American Jewish World Hanuka Cover Contest!
They and other kids in Grades 1-8 across Minnesota submitted artwork expressing the meaning of the Festival of Lights, and we're especially proud that Elliot's and Haddie's representations appear in the December issue of the American Jewish World.
At Smith, we encourage students to share their voices — academically, creatively, and as joyful Jews in the world. Congratulations to all the young artists at SJA and in the community who entered, and happy Chanukah!
They and other kids in Grades 1-8 across Minnesota submitted artwork expressing the meaning of the Festival of Lights, and we're especially proud that Elliot's and Haddie's representations appear in the December issue of the American Jewish World.
At Smith, we encourage students to share their voices — academically, creatively, and as joyful Jews in the world. Congratulations to all the young artists at SJA and in the community who entered, and happy Chanukah!
Happy Chanukah! Let’s spread the light with one more week of fifth grade’s food drive for PRISM Golden Valley, MN Marketplace Food Shelf.
If you are able, please bring non-expired, non-perishable food items to the Smith Jewish Academy main office by Thursday to help support our community members in need. This week’s suggested foods are dinner and dessert.
And if we meet or exceed our goal of 500 donated items, the entire school will earn a pajama day!
Third grade gifted first grade crowns to decorate. Why? Because today is the 6️⃣7️⃣th day of school, and our first graders are ages 6️⃣ and 7️⃣!
Leave it to our amazing teachers to make a trend educational — the first graders rolled dice and practiced their addition skills to get to 6️⃣7️⃣.
🤷 Happy 6️⃣7️⃣ Day, and happy Chanukah 🕎!
Kindergarten
Smith Jewish Academy graduates not only become lifelong learners but lifelong friends! Last year’s graduating class reunited last weekend for an early Chanukah party 🕎
Kol hakavod (good job/all honor) to eighth grader Noah H. for leading Davening & Donuts this morning!
A perfect example of how Smith Jewish Academy empowers individuals to embrace their heritage and lead with purpose.
A perfect example of how Smith Jewish Academy empowers individuals to embrace their heritage and lead with purpose.
📣 SAVE THE DATE!!! 5 P.M. SUNDAY, APRIL 19 📣
The Smith Annual Benefit is going back to school! Join us for an all new benefit, a fun evening of "school activities" for adults. Be there or be square! ⬛
Thank you to our friends at the Minnesota JCC and others who have already participated in fifth grade's food drive for PRISM Marketplace Food Shelf!
Let's keep the momentum going — this week's focus is lunch and snack food. If you are able, please bring non-expired, non-perishable food items to the Smith Jewish Academy main office to help support our community members in need.
Let's keep the momentum going — this week's focus is lunch and snack food. If you are able, please bring non-expired, non-perishable food items to the Smith Jewish Academy main office to help support our community members in need.
