06/04/2026
Still reflecting on what a special evening we shared at last night's CMAD End-of-Year Gathering.
CMAD ( CAJE | The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education's Coalition of Miami Admissions Directors) brings together admissions professionals from Jewish day schools across South Florida's tri-county area. For more than a decade, this network has fostered collaboration, professional growth, and a shared commitment to serving families and strengthening Jewish education.
I continue to be inspired by this remarkable group of professionals who consistently choose partnership over competition and community over individual interests.
Below are the remarks I shared with the group last night, inspired by this week's parasha, Naso:
This week's parasha, Naso, opens with a census of the Jewish people. At first glance, a census can seem like an exercise in numbers and statistics. But our tradition teaches that it is something much deeper. Every person is counted individually because every person has inherent value and a unique role to play in the community. The Torah reminds us that a strong community is not built by making everyone the same; it is built by recognizing and appreciating the unique contributions of each individual.
I think that lesson speaks directly to who we are as CMAD. We represent different schools, different missions, different educational philosophies, and different communities. Yet we come together around a shared purpose: helping Jewish families find the right educational home for their children and strengthening Jewish education throughout South Florida.
One of the things I admire most about this group is that we have never viewed one another as competitors. Instead, we have chosen collaboration over competition, relationships over rivalry, and community over individual interests. That spirit has allowed us to accomplish things that would have been impossible on our own.
Over the years, we have shared ideas, supported one another through challenges, developed common practices, and worked together to serve families with professionalism and care. We have celebrated one another's successes and stepped up for one another during difficult moments. Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than when our community welcomed Israeli families seeking refuge after October 7th. Without hesitation, this group came together to ensure that every child found a place in one of our schools. That response reflected the very best of who we are.
As I look around this room tonight, I see a group of professionals, but I also see a group of partners, colleagues, and friends. Each of you brings your own strengths, perspectives, and expertise, and together you have helped create a model of collaboration that is admired far beyond Miami.
Thank you for your partnership, your generosity, and your unwavering commitment to the families and schools we serve.
