Jewish Life & Learning | Gann Academy

Gann Academy is Greater Boston's Pluralistic Jewish High School

At Gann, you’ll be immersed in Jewish values and have powerful Jewish experiences with a diverse community of your peers. While there are times dedicated exclusively to Jewish learning, more often, Jewish life at Gann is experienced in the day-to-day happenings on campus — a drama performance that raises money for charity in line with Jewish values, a philosophy class that teaches Jewish sources, or an a capella group singing Hebrew songs.

Gann will encourage you to think about what being Jewish means to you, and to explore how you want to live out your Jewish identity after Gann.

Values and Growth

Jewish values are core to everything we do at Gann. Students have the opportunity to opt into ethical discussion groups, in which students and faculty together study Jewish values and put them into practice in their everyday lives. Students report that these groups provide helpful new perspectives on priorities, relationships, and life balance, offering an antidote to the typical stress of the teenage years.

Curriculum

Jewish Studies is an integral part of the Gann curriculum and helps students explore Jewish traditions, history, and texts, as well as their own relationship to Judaism and the modern Jewish world. Topics range from Israeli Politics to Torah and Talmud study, and from Bioethics to Jewish Mysticism.

Reflection and Prayer

Students have the opportunity for reflection or prayer, both traditional and non-traditional. This sacred time provides each student with a meaningful experience in which to grow spiritually and emotionally, and to form deep connections with others. Options range from traditional prayer services to meditation and women’s groups.

All students participate in Z’man Kodesh (Sacred Time) twice per week and additional prayer time is offered every morning and afternoon for interested students.

Traditional Prayer Options:

Mechitza Orthodox Minyan
Partnership Minyan
Reform Minyan
Traditional Egalitarian Minyan

Alternative Reflection Options:

Learner's Minyan
Meditation and Mindfulness
Men's Group
Movement and Yoga
Spiritual Seeking
Women's Group

Israel

Gann sophomores participate in myIsrael, a 6-week immersive trip exploring Israeli society, culture, and history. Students take part in an exciting mix of academics, desert camping, socializing, sports, art, high-tech, community service, and much, much more. The trip offers a 360-degree perspective on Israel, including meetings with Jewish settlers, Palestinians, and Arab Israelis to gain insights into the complexity of Israeli politics and society. Unlike other trips, myIsrael incorporates Israeli peers who travel with the students and participate in several activities. Many of these same Israeli students visit Gann in the fall of 11th grade.

Holidays

Jewish holidays add fun and meaning to the school year and bring our entire community together in much-loved celebration. Whether eating lunch in the sukkah, lighting the menorah together at Chanukah, or eating hamantaschen on Purim, we experience the joy and traditions of the Jewish festivals together. Weekly pre-Shabbat experiences offer music and spirit, and help us to connect with each other and our shared traditions.

Shabbatonim

One of the most loved Gann traditions is the Shabbaton (weekend retreat, Shabbatonim when plural). Once each year, students come together for grade-level Shabbatonim with their peers and teachers to celebrate Shabbat and grow closer as a community. These experiences build a depth of connection that is uniquely Gann and contributes to our student’s lifelong friendships.

Speaker Series

Throughout the year, guest speakers come to campus to talk about Israel and Jewish life from different perspectives. Speakers include authors, journalists, and political figures. After each talk, advisory groups meet to discuss and process how the speaker’s content may relate to their own views and opinions.

Glimpse of Gann

List of 3 news stories.

Baking Challah, With a Twist

Left over middle, under right. Right under middle, over left. It may not sound like conventional academics—but that’s only because it isn’t. Ninth grade Jewish Studies students at Gann Academy recently concluded an experience-based unit about Judaism and food by baking challah. There was one extra twist though: the challah was baked entirely from scratch.

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Dr. Daniel Gordis Discusses Op-ed with Gann Students

Dr. Daniel Gordis, an American-born Israeli writer, speaker, and ordained rabbi in the Conservative movement, visited Gann last week to discuss his controversial op-ed "Israelis don’t care that you’re insulted: An open letter to American Jews" (The Times of Israel, 2007). Dr. Gordis, whose writings are frequently read by Gann Jewish Studies students, had previously visited Gann to speak with parents about his book We Stand Divided (Harper-Collins 2019). Dr. Gordis' op-ed, which argues that American Jews should not interfere with or offer advice on matters of Israeli security, incited thoughtful debate amongst students.
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Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom Speaks with Students

Earlier this month, Red Sox's new Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom visited the Gann Academy campus for an informal chat with students.

Eamon '20, who pitches for the Gann Varsity Baseball team, had a multitude of questions for Bloom. "It was an honor to meet such an influential person in the world of professional baseball," said Eamon. At the meeting, Bloom discussed his career, his Jewish faith, and how his time in Jewish Day School influenced who he is today.

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