History & Governance

A Shared Vision, A Joyful Future

At Community Day School, we are deeply grateful to the Hershorin and Schiff families for their remarkable vision and enduring generosity. Their investment in our school’s future is more than a gift—it is a statement of faith in the power of children, the strength of community, and the promise of education rooted in Jewish values. Because of their commitment, our students flourish in classrooms where learning is joyful, discovery is hands-on, and every child is known, nurtured, and celebrated.

The story of the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School began with a dream shared by local families: a heartfelt desire for a Jewish day school that would honor tradition while embracing the needs of today’s young learners. They envisioned a place that was inclusive and forward thinking, where Jewish values would shine as a guiding light, and where families of all faiths would feel welcomed, respected, and inspired. Out of that vision has grown a national model for a school community built on honesty, integrity, mutual trust, and respect—values that remain at the heart of who we are today.

Our pluralistic philosophy has always been central to our identity. At Community Day, children learn not only to take pride in their own heritage but also to celebrate the beauty of diversity in others. The Reggio Emilia and Project Based Learning approach, with its emphasis on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, fits seamlessly with this vision. In small classes filled with projects, wonder, and hands-on exploration, students learn to think deeply, solve problems with courage, and express themselves with joy.

The Hershorin Schiff Foundation recognized this natural alignment and partnered with Community Day to make it a reality. Together, we created a place where children can grow into compassionate leaders, thoughtful learners, and kind human beings. Their legacy lives on in every smile, every question asked, every act of kindness shared in our community.

About Irving Hershorin and Herbert Schiff

Laura Hershorin, a dedicated parent and community member, recognized that the values dear to Irving Hershorin and Herbert Schiff were expressed through the key qualities that are the pillars of Community Day School:

1. Project-based learning, where students are taught to question, where a thirst for knowledge is nurtured, and the importance of education is instilled from early childhood, and
2. A pluralistic learning environment that embraces all faiths.

Herbert and Betty Schiff, Laura’s maternal grandparents, resided in Longboat Key, as well as Columbus, Ohio. Robert Schiff , Herbert’s father, emigrated from Lithuania to Ohio where he and his son had a long career in expanding and diversifying their shoe businesses. While Herbert was chiefly known for his financial acumen, he and Betty were instrumental in the successful growth of many local, national and international organizations through their philanthropy. They valued and felt strongly about the importance of bringing non-Jewish people into Jewish organizations beginning at a young age. “By exposure, he meant to bring non-Jewish children in and let them go home singing ‘Ain Kelohenu’,” Laura said of her grandfather’s ideas. “Expose them, don’t force them. Jews are a mystery to many people so what better way to dispel the myths?”

At the age of 12, Irving Hershorin, Laura’s paternal grandfather, lost his father in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. As was the custom at that time, the oldest male child became the “patriarch” to provide for the family – In Irving’s case, his mother and three siblings. He worked, went to school and graduated high school. His thirst for knowledge continued throughout his life and he became a highly-educated, successful man. To this day, the Hershorin family appreciates the importance of owning one’s education and recognizes that project based learning is the cutting-edge approach to instilling that sense of ownership.

*in blessed memory