a Jewish, holistic school in Berkeley
FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL
Children need a school where they are encouraged to connect with themselves and Hashem, to develop a healthy self-confidence, and to reach their fullest potential. Help us make this a reality.
a Jewish, holistic school in Berkeley
FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SOUL
Children need a school where they are encouraged to connect with themselves and Hashem, to develop a healthy self-confidence, and to reach their fullest potential. Help us make this a reality.
Hi! We are Rabbi Zalmy and Estee Berkowitz and we just recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We have been homeschooling our five beautiful children (or rather some sort of combination of homeschooling and unschooling) since our oldest was little.
Not yet knowing much about it, we happily dove into many different education philosophies through trial and error and a crazy amount of reading and studying; and, well here we are now, starting a school.
Chanoch LaNa'ar will be a Torah-based learning experience, synthesizing the secular and the holy, the experiential and the conceptual. We will utilize the huge advances in technology to create a unique atmosphere of auto didacticism as well as fostering (and not G-d forbid smothering!) a child’s natural passion for learning and discovering.
Chanoch LaNa'ar will be focused on experiential learning, with an understanding that every child learns differently, at their own pace, and through ideas that excite them.
Berkeley is one of the most Jewish-dense cities in the US (over 20%!!) and as of yet has very few Jewish educational opportunities for children in grades k-12.
Known for its alternative culture, Berkeley would welcome a more alternative-minded school with a holistic approach to education.
There has been a huge resurgence of spirituality in the Bay Area, the Neshama (Jewish Soul) is crying out to connect to Hashem, though many don’t know where or even how to focus that energy.
a new school for a new generation
In times of great change, learners will inherit the earth, while the learned will be beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.
-Will Richardson
a new school for a new generation
In times of great change, learners will inherit the earth, while the learned will be beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.
-Will Richardson
All knowledge you’ll ever learn, every experience you’ll have in life, are the circles. They’re not the center. If you don’t have a solid center, you’ll have jagged circles, incomplete circles, many different circles. ...you need that center before you start building your circles.
(See our philosophy page for a much expanded explanation of the following)
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Hi! We're glad your journey on this cybervoyage has led you here. There are three main things we need to move this from a dream to a reality. Students, money, and lots and lots of sweat. Which one can you help with?
Take action
Hi! We're glad your journey on this cybervoyage has led you here. There are three main things we need to move this from a dream to a reality. Students, money, and lots and lots of sweat. Which one can you help with?
Charity transforms matter to spirit; it turns a coin into fire.
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The beginning of wisdom is to desire it