Rebecca Prigal addressed the Class of 2032 at their Aba Marcus and Sara Marcus 5th Grade Siddur Ceremony and Siyyum on June 11, 2025. Read her speech below:

Dearest class of 2032,

What a privilege it is to address you today. 

I want to open with a word of thanks to Rabbi Safra and all the clergy and staff of B’nai Israel Congregation for hosting us today. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful neighbors and friends.

It was heartwarming and very meaningful when the student council met and proposed Rabbi Bellas’ , z”l, teaching of Ask a Good Question, Learn Something New and Be Kind to Everyone as this year’s theme for Siyyum. As the conversation proceeded they shared that they also wanted to connect this 5th grade culmination of studies with the t'filah of Ana B'koah. After talking with my colleague, G’veret Freidman, or Daniella as some of you call her, about your thoughts on this secondary theme, I started learning more about the prayer. Besides being a spirited song you enjoyed leading at Whole School Kabbalat Shabbat, Ana B;koah is a prayer pleading for god’s strength often said during Shabbat before L’ha Dodi, after the counting of the Omer or along with the Shema at bedtime. In English the first lines of this prayer call to god for help -

"Please by the great power of thy right hand, set the captive free. Revered god, accept the people’s prayer; strengthen us and cleanse us. Together we have prayed for the freedom of those in captivity and will not stop until they are free."

We have found strength in our song, our prayer and in our learning together. That day in that meeting Mr. Berner and I realized that indeed this grade has faced challenges and answered with strength. We started to think about how you and our school have responded with strength. While Ana B’koah, the prayer, is spelled with an Aleph, Anu Bakoah, we answered with strength, is spelled with an Ayin. We take the poetic license with the Hebrew to honor this class and this community that has answered with strength. I believe that it is in the practice of asking questions, learning new things and being kind to everyone that we have found so much of that collective inner strength. I would like to take a few more minutes to think about that together.

Ask A Good Question. We don’t just say, Ask A Question. We say Ask A Good Question. I thought about this and wondered…what is a bad question? I realized a bad question might be one that is too intrusive, one that might ask something too personal or hurtful. Even in our learning, in our search for answers we should be thoughtful and kind. As I thought about our Grade Wide Morning Meetings and the way you reflected on our school’s core values I remembered how thoughtful you were in your responses and how you sensitively considered questions related to our love of Israel, what it means to honor pluralism and how we repair our world. Many of these conversations leave good questions unanswered, but we find strength, that koah in questioning and responding with care in community.

Learn Something New. Why not just say Learn Something? I thought about this modifier, New. I thought about how we read the Torah and study the same parshiot repeating the cycle over and over. We reflect on old stories and find new meanings making connections with our own times, our own life challenges and derive new meanings and lessons. While Jewish texts may be old, history remains about the past and literature is as it has been since it was authored we are called on to revisit, reread and reflect walking away with new learning. In thinking about you as students I thought about your faces as you shared your research learning with us this year. I also thought about your faces as you read Torah, learning the trope and experiencing anew what generations have before you. It is my hope that from your studies that both ancient and more modern learning all feels relevant and vital and serves as a guide for you in the journey ahead.

Be Kind to Everyone. We could just say Be Kind. Why add to Everyone? This my friends I know you can answer because it is a lesson we have touched on throughout your years in the Lower School. Through your actions you have demonstrated a maturing understanding that it is your responsibility to be kind to all, not just to your friends and family, but to everyone. When you approach others with empathy and care, with genuine kindness and regard, there begins the repairing of our world. You can never go wrong by being kind. You will always feel good about yourself when you do the right thing as you grow into an ethical global citizen. As Rabbi Hillel taught…Love your neighbor as yourself. The rest is commentary. 

So go forward in good health, with joy and with kindness to yourself and others. You have been such a great bunch to work with and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Rabbi MItch Malkus addressed the Class of 2032 at their Aba Marcus and Sara Marcus 5th Grade Siddur Ceremony and Siyyum on June 11, 2025. Read his remarks below:

Boker Tov and Good Morning to everyone —

To our wonderful 5th grade students, their parents and siblings, caring grandparents, cherished special friends, beloved faculty and staff, and members of our CESJDS community—it is my absolute joy and honor to welcome you to the Aba Marcus and Sara Marcus 5th Grade Siyyum!

Today is a celebration—not just of an academic milestone, but of a journey of growth, discovery, and transformation. Our students have traveled far this year and over their years at the Lower School—not in miles, but in heart, mind, and spirit.

In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat B’haalotecha, we read about Aaron lighting the menorah in the Mishkan. The Torah tells us that Aaron did so "as commanded/" כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה׳ אֶת־מֹשֶׁה and that the lights shone forward/אֶל־מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, illuminating the sacred space. This act wasn’t just ritual—it was symbolic. Lighting the menorah was an offering of presence, of purpose, of guidance. In many ways, each of our students is a light, kindled and nurtured with care by you, their families, by their incredible teachers, and by our JDS core values. And today, we get to see just how brightly they shine.

Over their years in the Lower School our 5th graders have made incredible strides toward becoming the people we envision in our Portrait of a CESJDS Graduate. They are becoming independent, creative, and critical thinkers. They are learning to communicate with clarity and compassion. They are collaborators who reflect thoughtfully, and citizens who act with ethics, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility. 

They are not just learners—they are becoming leaders. Focused and resilient, passionate about their Jewish identity, and increasingly engaged with the wider world, our students are ready to take their next step into Middle School with confidence and pride.

We are also deeply grateful to you, our parents. Thank you for being our partners in the sacred work of educating your children. We know the significant investment—of time, energy, and resources—that you make in sending your children to CESJDS. We don’t take that trust lightly. Thank you for believing in the mission of our school and for giving us the opportunity to work with your children each and every day. It is truly an honor.

None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of our faculty and staff. Your unwavering commitment, creativity, and care are what allow our students to thrive. Thank you for being the guiding lights behind these young flames.

To Rebecca Prigal—thank you for your caring leadership, your warmth, and your steady hand in this difficult year. And to our administrative team, thank you for the support and wisdom you bring to our school every single day.

And today, we also hold in our hearts the memory of Rabbi Matthew Bellas, zichrono livracha. Rabbi Bellas was a beacon of kindness, strength, and vision. His presence and leadership shaped the Lower School in profound ways. We miss him dearly, and we know that he would have been so proud to see the growth and spirit in this class of 5th graders. His legacy continues to live on in each of you.

So to our students: as you move forward into the next chapter of your educational journey, may you continue to grow, to shine, and to illuminate the world around you—just as Aaron lit the menorah with care and intention. You have built a strong foundation. We can’t wait to see how high you’ll rise from here.

Mazal tov to you, your families, and all who have supported you along the way. Today is your day. Celebrate it fully—with pride, with joy, and with love.

Mazal tov!