Wall of Gratitude 

Ma’ayan, meaning "a natural spring," recalls the lyrical metaphor of the Torah as the spring from which knowledge flows. At Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, our community is a Ma'ayan, a natural spring, where students, parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, and faculty thrive, grow, and flourish together, developing lifelong friendships. 

Our spring impacts the people and programs that distinguish a CESJDS eduction through our Ma’ayan Annual Campaign.
We want to hear from you on how our Ma’ayan has transformed your life!

The faculty and staff are dedicated to helping the kids learn, thrive, grow, enjoy, feel safe, and feel loved. The Jewish values, tefillah, and Torah study, and Hebrew add a dimension that helps make the kids multi-dimensional, modern, and dynamic. The school is safe and pays attention to details from before the first student arrives until everyone has gone home to their families for the day. Lorena and Larry Memberg
I love my school and I am very proud to be a JDS'er. Thank you to my teachers for everything they do.
-Benjamin M., CESJDS Student
What we love about JDS is the comfort of knowing our child is getting a top-tier education in a supportive and encouraging community of teachers, peers, and families.
-The Cooper Family
CESJDS is an excellent school which focuses on the whole child. The staff are warm and very well-qualified. I would highly recommend CESJDS to any parent interested in obtaining the highest quality Jewish and secular education for their children. Dr. Kira Bricker and Jules R. Bricker, and
Family, CESJDS Parents
We love how happy our granddaughter is in middle school!
-Myra and Rick Cohen, CESJDS Grandparents
Great culture, great community, great people!
-Jeff Dimon, Former Faculty/Staff
CESJDS is an excellent school which focuses on the whole child. The staff are warm and very well-qualified. I would highly recommend CESJDS to any parent interested in obtaining the highest quality Jewish and secular education for their children. Dr. Kira Bricker and Jules R. Bricker, and
Family, CESJDS Parents
CESJDS has made a ripple in my life because of my colleagues' dedication, expertise, and humanity
-Rachel Soifer, CESJDS Faculty-Co-Director of the US Health and Wellness Center
CESJDS has made a ripple in our life because we love how well-thought-out and passionate the educators are at JDS! There is a tremendous balance of caring and professionalism.
-Becca and Brett Kugler, CESJDS High School Learning Specialist
CESJDS has made a ripple in our family due to the special care and attention our children receive from loving teachers each day; inspiring and amazing colleagues to work with. Also, Orna and the entire financial aid team for making our dream of Jewish education possible. Mirele Kessous, Assistant Library Media Specialist and CESJDS Parent
CESJDS has made a ripple in our life due to our grandson, who is a kindergartner.  He is thriving at JDS!
-Ken and Sue Cohn, CESJDS Grandparents
CESJDS has made a ripple in my life because of our openness to the entire community. Also, we really try to grow our endowment to provide scholarships.
-Nick Miller, CESJDS Middle School Science Teacher
CESJDS has made a ripple in my life because of the community and Hebraic studies. Deborah Prevots '80, CESJDS Alumni
CESJDS has made a ripple in our families' life, because JDS has been a place where our child has been challenged academically in a way where he can flourish equally important to the academics he has experienced a rich Jewish life mingling with children who practice at all levels, opening our family’s eyes to what Judaism means in so many new ways. 
-Lysandra and Menelaos Sarantos, CESJDS Parents
CESJDS has transformed our lives because of all the decisions we parents made on behalf of our children, sending Jacob and Sam Weinberger to CES JDS for K-12 was the best decision of them all.
-Debbie and Jim Weinberger, CESJDS Alum Parents
CESJDS has made a ripple in EVERYTHING for our family. Debra, Stan, and Mikey '20 Zagalak, CESJDS Alumni Family
Care, Community, Communication, Values.
-Daria Lemann Blumenthal and Yaakov Lemann, CESJDS Parents
JDS is like coming home!
-Eve and Bill Margol, Former Faculty/Staff
I love the way the interactive learning environment JDS provides and the nurturing environment it has. I love listening to joyfulness in the hallways in the mornings. Michelle Schuster
My friendships, career trajectory, and personal growth can all be traced back to my time at JDS. It is of paramount importance to me that JDS continue to thrive so my children have the opportunities that I was provided.
-Zach Roth '10, CESJDS Alumni
We love the nurturing environment and the love our son feels every day. He is learning so much and is excited to go to school- the best!
-Becca and Nathan Bortnick, CESJDS Parents and
Hagshama Family
CESJDS has made a ripple in my life because JDS brought a richness and joy to my work life that I never dreamed of. I cherish every minute I spent learning with JDS students and was privileged to be part of the staff for 21 years.  Sue Marx, Former CESJDS Faculty
CESJDS has made a ripple in our family because we love JDS, our kids are thriving and growing year after year.
-Dana Marlowe and Preston Blay, CESJDS Parents
CESJDS has made a ripple in our life because of CESJDS' excellent education and the enthusiastic Jewish community for my child.
-Lisa and Seth '93 Feldman, CESJDS Parents, Alumni, and Hagshama Family
CESJDS has made a ripple in my life because I love the friendships at CESJDS and the mutual respect and understanding of a pluralistic and anti-bias school community. Sarah and Asa Fradkin, CESJDS Faculty and Parents
CESJDS has made a ripple in our lives because THE TEACHERS are the best of the best! No matter the subject our kids love school because the teachers make each day interesting, engaging, challenging, and fun. Our children have truly become life-long learners because of the influence of each CESJDS teacher. 
-Alana and Jared Kotler, CESJDS Parents and Former Faculty
CESJDS has made a ripple in our lives because we love JDS - we love the kindness, empathy and respect they live, teach and stand for. We love the way our son is encouraged to ask questions, think outside the box and to continually be supported to do his best. Thank you to the JDS team for being so incredible and for fostering a strong Jewish identity and love for Israel.
-Charl, René  and Benjamin Marais, CESJDS Parents
There's no place our kids would rather be. Stewart and Barbara Bushman and Family, CESJDS Parents
CESJDS has transformed our family because of all the special programs offered to students.
-Roslyn Auerbach, CESJDS Grandparent
CESJDS has made a ripple in our lives, due to the warmth of faculty towards the children and the fact that my children are developing a deep pride for their Jewish heritage.
-The Kimchy Family, CESJDS Parents
CESJDS has made a ripple in our lives because of the caring staff who treat our children like their own! Lily and Carlos Landau, CESJDS Parents