A National Model

Hershorin Schiff Community Day School is a Jewish day school that showcases inclusivity in action. Enrolled at Community Day School are students of all religions (at least 10 religions have been self-identified by our families), all races and ethnicities, families of all nationalities (more than 60 countries are represented in our student body), students with diverse abilities, families who are LGBT, and families from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The student body is majority Jewish, with approximately 75 percent of those children’s families unaffiliated with a synagogue.

Those who worry that we may be taking an unconventional path for a Jewish school might be surprised to learn that day schools in numerous communities with smaller Jewish populations and fewer gateways to Jewish affiliation - like Sarasota - are making the move to pluralistic student bodies. Our hope is that Community Day School can serve as a gateway to Jewish connections and be a touchpoint for unaffiliated families to connect with Judaism.

At Community Day School, Jewish values are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by a Board of Trustees that requires rabbinical representation, our program and curriculum are infused with timeless Jewish teachings. Whether in writing workshops, hands-on learning in the organic garden and outdoor classroom, interactive history presentations, or playwriting exercises, our teachers weave the values of limud (academic excellence), tzedek (integrity), and tikkun olam (a commitment to improving the world) into every student experience.

Religious and Cultural Studies

While rooted in Jewish tradition, Community Day School is committed to fostering respect for religious and cultural diversity. Beginning in preschool, students take part in weekly classes in both Hebrew and Cultural Jewish Studies. As they move into upper elementary, students may choose between two pathways:

• Intensive Jewish Studies – a deeper exploration of Judaism, emphasizing the rich diversity within the Jewish community.

• Comparative Religious Studies – an inquiry into common themes among the world’s major religions, including traditions, holidays, life cycles, texts, and philosophies. This course is team-taught by Jewish Studies educators to ensure that each subject is examined both from a Jewish perspective and a broader interfaith lens, with a focus on universal values that connect us all.

Torah Academy Independant Study

In the 2019–2020 school year, Community Day School launched a pilot program called the Torah Academy, envisioned by Head of School Dan Ceaser in partnership with Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Chabad of Sarasota. This special track combines the school’s core curriculum with intensive Torah study, prayer, and lessons in Jewish holidays, Hebrew literacy, and Jewish history—from ancient times through the Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust, and the Jewish experience in America.

Working under the supervision of our faculty Rabbi, any Community Day family may opt for independent Torah study. This unique program of study will be tailored to the level and desire of the student and family that opt-in and can range from one additional class per week to daily intensive study.

The short and emphatic answer to this question is "no." At Community Day, ongoing emphasis is placed on being part of a community (kehillah), finding connections between generations (l’dor vador), strengthening ties to Israel (klal Yisrael), enjoying a love of learning (simchat limmudim), caring for our earth (shmirat ha-adamah), acting justly (tzedek), positively impacting our world (tikkun olam) and promoting peace (shalom). It is these as well as many other Jewish teachings that are at the heart of everything we do.

Every student participates in Shabbat services every Friday. We introduce all of our children to the idea of tzedakah, reflect on weekly Torah lessons and share in the Jewish rituals that surround Shabbat. As a component of our Tikkun Olam curriculum, all classes participate in age-appropriate community service projects, including food drives, community clean-up efforts, and mitzvah projects for area social service organizations. Every student learns about and participates in the celebration of Jewish holidays throughout the school year. Students learn about seminal events throughout Jewish history. Families are taught to respect Jewish dietary guidelines and follow them while on school grounds. Our students learn to better understand the Holocaust through the Community Remember Me Holocaust Fruit Tree Orchard. Students select children from the database of Lost Children and plant trees in their honor; this activity is in partnership with Yad Vashem. Rabbis throughout the community are engaged and consulted on numerous matters relevant to our school, curriculum and associated programs.

Commitment to diversity is core to our philosophy and the benefits of a diverse student population are many. We believe one of the most effective strategies to foster a greater compassion for Jewish lives, in our country and around the globe, is to establish educational opportunities that bring Jewish and non-Jewish people together – starting at a young age – in order to build bridges of mutual understanding and respect. By welcoming and exposing others to our Jewish heritage, we can create lifelong friendships that cross cultural and religious boundaries.

One of our namesake patrons, Herbert Schiff, was a lifelong Jewish philanthropist and respected community leader who believed that exposing other faiths to Judaism – especially while they were young – demystified our religion and discouraged the spread of anti-Semitism.

Those who think that opening our doors to non-Jews is an unconventional path for a Jewish day school might be surprised to learn that the concept has moved into the mainstream. While Jewish values guide all that we do at Community Day, our student population is comprised of students who are Jewish, non-Jewish and mixed faith. By operating as a Jewish community day school that welcomes Jews of all levels of observance and affiliation, as well as non-Jews of all faiths and cultures, we get to expose non-Jewish students to our beautiful heritage and traditions. Inspired by a curriculum that promotes social justice and embraces diversity, our graduates will become leaders in combating intolerance and anti-Semitism in high school, college, and beyond.

Additionally, by fostering an appreciation for those who are different from themselves, Community Day School works to create global citizens who can engage with others cooperatively and who have empathy for - and an understanding of - people who may be very different from themselves. This will be crucial for achieving success in the global workplace of tomorrow.

Yes! Every child is taught Hebrew (and Spanish) beginning in preschool. Students learn to communicate in Hebrew according to their ability, developing skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Activities such as performing in skits, playing games, discovering literature and reading newspapers engage our students in the Hebrew language. Students will ultimately have the option of applying their conversational Hebrew skills in Israel as part of a subsidized student exchange week with our sister school in Tel Mond, Israel.

As a Jewish day school, we are deeply committed to helping all of our students—regardless of faith background—understand and appreciate the rich history, diverse culture, and ongoing story of Israel. Through travel, technology, partnerships, and shared experiences, our students, families, and the wider community benefit from meaningful educational and cultural exchanges that build connection and understanding.

Global Connections with Israel

Community Day School maintains a vibrant partnership with our Sister City of Tel Mond, Israel. What began with a small group of TelMond students visiting Comunity Day—after months of collaboration through Google Classroom—has grown into a full exchange program. Our middle schoolers have since traveled to Israel to meet their peers in Tel Mond and to explore important historical and cultural sites. We are continuing to deepen these ties as we work toward establishing a formal “sister school” relationship, strengthening bonds between our families and Israeli families and fostering lifelong understanding.

Collaborative Learning

Our middle school students have engaged in international, project-based learning opportunities. In partnership with the World ORT Kadima Mada Global Collaborative Problem-Solving program, seventh and eighth graders have alongside peers in Israel to design solutions for real-world sustainability challenges. These experiences not only strengthen academic skills but also build empathy and global citizenship.

Interfaith Partnerships in Israel

Community Day School has served as a proud program partner of Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. These pioneering schools bring together Jewish and Arab students, educators, and families to foster mutual respect and understanding, breaking cycles of division “one school, one community at a time.” With more than 1,100 students enrolled and over 3,000 community participants, Hand in Hand’s model of shared society inspires our own commitment to bridge-building here at home.

Bringing Israel to Sarasota

Thanks to the generous support of private donors in Sarasota, Community Day School has welcomed Young Shlichim (Israeli emissaries) to campus through the Jewish Agency for Israel. These young leaders have infused our classrooms and community programs with a vibrant, contemporary Israeli perspective while also engaging in impactful community outreach.

Absolutely! Community Day School holds weekly tours and monthly Lunch & Learns where we share the intricacies of our model and explore the factors that have attributed to our growth and student success. In addition, our leadership has accepted invitations to present at national conferences and we are exploring grant opportunities to serve as a training site for Leadership Fellows from across the country.

For more information, please contact Dan Ceaser, Head of School