A Schechter Education

A Schechter Education

Since 1974, Schechter Bergen has been rooted in Jewish values and guided by a powerful mission: to inspire children to become engaged, independent learners who embrace Jewish life with confidence and compassion, and who understand their responsibility to better the world. Over the past half century, the world has shifted in profound ways, and our school has grown and adapted with intention, yet this mission has remained our anchor.

At Schechter Bergen, we see each child as a whole human being. When a child’s intellectual curiosity, emotional well-being, moral development, sense of purpose, and physical growth are all nurtured, they flourish. They become thoughtful learners, empathetic peers, and young people who feel grounded in who they are. Our Jewish values teach us that every person is a universe of possibility, and that caring for a child’s growth is sacred work.

Learning here is active, meaningful, and connected to the real world. Students do not simply absorb information, they grapple with ideas, investigate big questions, analyze multiple perspectives, and create work that matters. Whether in General or Judaic Studies, our students learn how to think, not what to think. They think with clarity, communicate with confidence, and approach challenges with creativity and courage. We value understanding over memorization, depth over speed, and authentic engagement over passive learning. The world our students are growing into demands adaptability, discernment, and empathy, and our classrooms are built to cultivate exactly that.

Our unique Kehillah model reflects who we are today. In our Kindergarten through fourth grades (K-4 Kehillot), teaching teams work collaboratively to guide, support, and assess each child’s learning from multiple angles. This approach allows us to know our students deeply, respond to their needs thoughtfully, and ensure that every child is both supported and challenged. It strengthens relationships, elevates instructional expertise, and creates a learning environment where children feel seen, known, and valued. It is an approach to learning not found in any other local Jewish day school. In older grades, teachers regularly push into other classes for added support and differentiation.

A Schechter Bergen education does more than prepare children for high school. It helps them understand their place in the Jewish story, feel responsible for the world around them, and develop the confidence and resilience they will need to navigate an unpredictable future. We are raising young people who know who they are and who step into the world with determination, empathy, and hope.

As I often say, “Learning happens just beyond the edge of comfort. We want our children to be risk-takers, to learn from failure, to try again, and to cultivate the mindset that perseverance and agility will serve them well.”

That is the heart of Schechter Bergen today, rooted in timeless Jewish wisdom where Jewish unity, not uniformity is valued, responsive to the world our children are inheriting, and committed to educating and raising the next generation with strength, clarity, and purpose.

— Steve Freedman, Head of School