On May 9, both CESJDS campuses welcomed people of all ages to their classrooms. In contrast to normal days, on Dor L’Dor Day, grandparents and other friends and family are welcomed to visit students at JDS to get a glimpse inside the school.
More than 500 grandparents, friends and family members of JDS students visited both campuses, shadowing their children for the day. Guests accompanied students to classes and met their teachers and friends.
“Our experience today at [Dor L’Dor Day] was excellent,” David Odess, grandfather of eighth grade student Ava Odess said. “It was very well-organized, it was very nice, and it was great spending the day with my granddaughter.”
In the morning, guests were able to experience Kabbalat Shabbat, a weekly assembly with announcements and performances to conclude the week and begin Shabbat. At high school Kabbalat Shabbat, juniors Mia Forseter and Josh Dori shared their families’ history that they learned during a Jewish history family research project. There was also a D’var Torah given by two sophomores and a performance by the JDS acapella group Shir Madness.
In classes, most teachers made sure to have guests introduce themselves, or students introduce their guests. While some teachers planned special activities for the day, like partner games in advisory, others continued teaching as usual, allowing for an authentic experience for the guests.
Sophomore Lyla Silberg has spent Dor’ L’dor Day with her grandparents every year since she was in kindergarten and said she loves having them at school to experience her school days.
“They really enjoy it, they like coming to see me while I’m at school,” Silberg said. “… I think they really enjoy seeing what I do every day.”
Dor L’Dor Day takes place every year in May. This year, it was during the first CESJDS Ma’ayan Giving Week, where all donations and pledges to the school were matched by a group of donors in an effort to raise at least $400,000. Giving Week took place May 4-9, and the fundraising goal was met more than a day early.
Grandparents who joined the Grandparent Mezuzah Society by giving an annual gift of at least $1,800 to the Ma’ayan Campaign were honored at Dor L’Dor Day with a breakfast at the Lower School and a dessert reception at the Upper School, and private briefings with the Head of School. They also received mezuzahs designed by Gary Rosenthal, a local artist.
Development Events Manager Michael Lurie helped to plan Dor L’Dor Day, sending out emails regarding registration and also contacting grandparents and special friends who were having trouble with their forms, making sure they had all the right information. Lurie said that he met many smiling grandparents and saw “fantastic” interactions between them and grandchildren.
“It’s so amazing to be able to see,” Lurie said. “Grandparents care about this more than anyone; to see the continuity of Jewish life, and it’s so special that they get to see just how magical this place is.”
