Doors wide open at Hebrew Day School
By Orit Aviran
Sunday morning at Hebrew Day School was loud. Classes were off, yet the hallways filled with motion. In the newly renovated Music & Art Studio, a surprising crowd gathered — Hebrew Day School grandparents! We had grandparents of new Gansters who just recently joined the school, alongside legacy families like Florence and Marvin Gerber, Dina Shtull, and proud HDS father and grandfather Ron Sussman, who was also the instructor of this delightful gathering.
The Sababa club was born when we identified a need among our alumni families who want to stay connected and remain involved in the life of the school. These sessions offer adults meaningful Jewish community engagement while keeping them connected to our students and allow for intergenerational bonds and quality time.
This initiative joins our comprehensive community engagement programming: Taste of Gan monthly open houses for prospective kindergarten families, the new PJ Library Explorers outings throughout Ann Arbor, Parenting for Resilience workshops led by our school psychologist Dr. Beth Pearson, and so much more!
Community engagement at Hebrew Day School helps create diverse connections, fosters patience and respect, and showcases our school’s values in action. Whether it’s grandparents from the Sababa program, prospective families touring the Gan, or curious minds joining us for PJ Explorers — every participant becomes an ambassador for Jewish education and vibrant Jewish life.
These programs serve as welcoming entry points and a wonderful way to discover a Jewish life that is visible, active, intergenerational, and inclusive — the true spirit of Hebrew Day School!
Our students benefit deeply from this environment as well. They see their school as part of a larger ecosystem and experience firsthand what it means to be part of a thriving, multigenerational Jewish community.
As we open enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year, we continue to envision Hebrew Day School as an educational institution with doors open to all. We invite you to join our dynamic and diverse community, where you can enjoy not only exceptional academics, but also meaningful Jewish life experience.
Join us for Sababa, PJ Library Explorers, Parenting for Resilience, or schedule a school tour by visiting hdsaa.org or contact Orit Aviran at [email protected].
