Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan
Encyclopedia
The Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan is a K-8 Jewish day school
located in Manhattan
, New York City
. It is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association
.
It is one of the very few non-Orthodox
Jewish day schools in New York City.
Schechter Manhattan is a member of both the Schechter Day School Association and the Independent Schools Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). The school is governed by a Board of Trustees and advised by both an Education Committee and a Rabbinic Advisory Committee.
Until the end of 2010, the kindergarten and first grade classes met at the Park Avenue Synagogue
and the rest of the school, grades 2-8, was located on the Upper West Side at 15 West 86th Street, in the building of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism
. In January 2011, the entire school moved into a new building at 805 Columbus Avenue.
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association
Solomon Schechter Day School Association
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association is the organization of Jewish day school that identify with Conservative Judaism. The association provides guidance and resources for its member schools in the United States and Canada...
.
It is one of the very few non-Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jewish day schools in New York City.
History
The Schechter Manhattan school opened in 1996 with Dr. Steven C. Lorch as the first Head of School. Each division, of between three and six classes, is led by its own Division Head.Schechter Manhattan is a member of both the Schechter Day School Association and the Independent Schools Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY). The school is governed by a Board of Trustees and advised by both an Education Committee and a Rabbinic Advisory Committee.
Until the end of 2010, the kindergarten and first grade classes met at the Park Avenue Synagogue
Park Avenue Synagogue
The Park Avenue Synagogue – Agudat Yesharim- is a Conservative Jewish congregation located at 50 East 87th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City...
and the rest of the school, grades 2-8, was located on the Upper West Side at 15 West 86th Street, in the building of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism
Society for the Advancement of Judaism
The Society for the Advancement of Judaism is a synagogue and Jewish organization in New York City, on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Founded in 1922 by Rabbi Mordecai M...
. In January 2011, the entire school moved into a new building at 805 Columbus Avenue.
Mission statement
Our mission is to cultivate textpeople.
A textperson is someone who finds meaning in the world through confident, active and skilled learning. We value understanding — scientific discovery, Torah, the arts, worldly experience and knowledge of every kind — both for its own sake, lishmah, and because it grounds our search for significance in the rigorous pursuit of truth. At the same time, the textperson is a mensch, a full person, whose learning and knowledge are grounded in moral sensitivity.
We believe as Jews that the act of study is itself of moral significance. To cultivate textpeople, we educate in this spirit, promoting intimate, child-centered learning that is also profoundly respectful of the subject matter. As individuals and as a community, we strive to model this link between learning and menschlichkeit in our classrooms, in our financial aid policy and in all interactions among our students, teachers, parents, and friends.
Awards
- The 1999 national Solomon Schechter Award was awarded for the schools education system in t'filah (prayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
). - The 2006 Blackboard Award was awarded for the Schechter elementary school.