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{{Short description|Jewish school in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA}}
{| class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 95%; text-align: left; background-color: #f0f6fa;"
{{for|the school in Montreal|École Maïmonide}}
|+ style="font-size: large;" | '''Maimonides School<br>ישיבת רמב"ם'''
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
|-
{{More citations needed|date=November 2018}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | ] <br>
{{Infobox school
|-
| name = Maimonides School
! Established
| native_name = {{langx|he|ישיבת רמב"ם}}
| 1937
| image = Maimonides School Logo (Hebrew Only).png
|-
| alt =
! School type
| caption =
| ]
| streetaddress = 34 Philbrick Road <br>
|-
| city = ]
! Staff
| state = ]
| {{{staff|}}}
| zipcode = 02445
|-
| country = ]
! style="padding-left: 1em;" | Head of School
| coordinates = {{coord|42|19|48.33|N|71|07|50.14|W|display=title,inline}}
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | ''Currently vacant''
| established = 1937
|-
| opened =
! style="padding-left: 1em;" | MS/US Principal
| founder = ]
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | Rabbi Yair Altshuler
| closed =
|-
| type = ] ]
! style="padding-left: 1em;" | MS/US Secular Studies Principal
| gender = Coeducational
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | Ken Weinstein
| motto = <!-- or | mottoes = -->
|-
| motto_translation =
! style="padding-left: 1em;" | Rosh Yeshiva
| religion = ]
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | Rabbi David Shapiro
| denomination = ]
|-
| district =
! style="padding-left: 1em;" | Total Faculty
| grades = ]–]
| style="padding-left: 1em;" | 119
| superintendent =
|-
| principal_label1 = CEO
! Students
| principal1 = Yaakov Green
| 605{{{students|}}}
| principal_label2 = Principals
|-
| principal2 = Dov Huff
! Religious affiliation
| enrollment = 430
| ]
| enrollment_as_of =
|-
| faculty =
! Grades
| campus_type = ]an
| K-12
| campus_size =
|-
| team_name = M-Cats
! Location
| sports = 7 varsity sports
| 34 Philbrick Road<br>or 2 Clark Road<br>Brookline, MA 02445
| conference = ] District H (Independent)<ref>{{cite web|title=MIAA League Directory|url=http://www.miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/menu/MIAA_League_Directory.pdf|publisher=]|date=September 12, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| newspaper = Spectrum
! Information
| yearbook = Halapid
| 617-232-4452<br>
| colors =
|-
| communities =
! Website
| feeders =
|
| website = {{URL|http://www.maimonides.org/}}
|}
| footnotes =

}}
'''Maimonides School''' (Hebrew: ישיבת רמב"ם) is a ]al, ], ] located in ]. The school was founded in ] by ] and is named after ].

Today, Maimonides is a world-renowned ] institution with over 600 students from ] through ] and over 1,450 alumni.

==History==
], founder of Maimonides School]]
Maimonides was founded in ] by Rabbi ]. In its first year it had six students and one teacher and met in the upstairs room of a synagogue in ]. The school faced difficulties at a time when the ] Jewish community was turning towards integration with ] culture and ].

By ], however, Maimonides managed to expand to six grades and in ] it moved into its first building in ]. In ], with 112 enrolled students, it achieved the milestone of elementary school ] from the ] School Department.

] was another landmark year for the young school, as it added a ] and hired its first principal, Rabbi ]. Four years later, Maimonides expanded to add grades ] through ] and gained ] as a ]-awarding ]. At that point its enrollment approached 300.

In ], Maimonides purchased the land in ] where it is currently located. Over the next three years it built a ]1 ] facility, which was dedicated in September ]. Grades ] through ] moved into the new building that fall. ] marked the completion of the new building’s elementary wing, which allowed the remainder of the school to complete the move out of Dorchester.

Maimonides continued to grow in ] when it purchased two adjoining lots across the street, where a ] and a small building to house the ] were built. The ] building was used for the next 27 years, until the Brener building was built.

Rabbi Cohn retired in ] after serving the school for 31 years. Rabbi Cohn was succeeded by his associate principal, Rabbi ]. Rabbi Shapiro served as principal of the entire school until ], when the school was divided into a K-6 ] and a 7-12 ]. Dr. Kalmen Stein, who served as the director of general studies in the 1980s, also served as co-principal from 1989 until 1997, when he left the school to become principal at Hillel of Deal, NJ. Rabbi Shapiro continued as principal of the upper school until 1999 when he passed the torch on to Rabbi Mark Gottlieb. Rabbi Shapiro remains on the faculty to this day and is currently the Rosh Yeshivah, chair of the Talmud department, and holder of the Rabbi Yitzhak Twersky Chair in Talmud and Jewish Thought. Rabbi Stuart Klammer became the Elementary School principal when that position was first established in 1994. Rabbi David Saltzman is the current ES Principal.
In ] the school expanded further as construction began on the new Kurr Study Center, which included a library and classrooms, and the Judge ] gymnasium. Both were dedicated in ]. Ten years later, the ] building and ] were demolished and work began on the new 35,000 square-foot Brener Lower Elementary Building. In October ] the building opened and ] through ] moved in. Since then, the ] has also moved across the street.

In the mid-]s the school’s enrollment briefly jumped to near 680 as many immigrants from the former ] joined the school. The enrollment currently hovers around 600.

The school divided further on an administrative level in ] as the ] and ]s were separated into a distinct ].

In the spring of 2006, the school announced a shift in the administrative structure of the upper school, which would become effective in the ] of 2006. Two new positions were created: that of "]" and that of "'']''." The new MS/US Principal is Rabbi Yair Altshuler. The school is currently in a Head of School search, the committee is chaired by Dr. Elliot Israel. Rabbi Shapiro has returned to a hashkafic role as the Rosh Yeshivah. During the 2005-06 school year, Rabbi Shapiro was named the ] of the Talmud department. At the end of the 2006 school year, Rabbi Mordechai Wecker announced that he had accepted the position of Head of School at ] in ]. The school's Chairman of the Board also retired in the spring of 2006 after serving the school for 18 years. The new Chairman of the Board is Jeffrey Swartz, CEO of Timberland Inc.

==Education==
All Maimonides School students study a dual curriculum; the students learn both General Studies and ]<ref></ref>. Maimonides School continues to maintain a reputation for ranking among the finest day schools in the country, due to its impressive accomplishments of its alumni and high rate of acceptance into the nations's top universities.<ref></ref> Additionally, at least 75 percent of its graduating class chooses a year of study in Israel following completion of high school.<ref></ref>

In keeping with the original structure established by Rav Soloveitchik, all classes are ], except for ] and a ] ] on ].

===Curriculum===

Upper School students at Maimonides School are offered a wide variety of courses in many fields. These include ] ] and ], ], ], Non-Western Cultures, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]<ref></ref>.

The Judaic studies curriculum includes ], ], ], ], ] and ].


'''Maimonides School''' (]: ישיבת רמב"ם ''Yeshivat Rambam'') is a ]al, ], ] located in ]. The school was founded in 1937 by Rabbi ] and his wife Tonya Soloveitchik. It is named after Rabbi ].
==Student body==


Today, Maimonides is a ] institution with approximately 550 students from early childhood (2–4 years) through ] with over 2,000 alumni, including multiple Rhodes Scholars, National Merit Scholars, prominent professors, scientists and business leaders. More than 325 of them are living in ].
The vast majority of Maimonides students come from one of three communities: ], ] and ]. Other communities, such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] are also represented in the student body.


==Campus== ==Campus==


Maimonides School currently is situated on a four acre campus in central Brookline, and is housed in two buildings. Maimonides School currently is situated on a {{convert|4|acre|m2|adj=on}} campus in central Brookline, and is housed in one building.


===Saval building=== ===Saval Campus===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
The Saval campus, named after Maurice Saval, a longtime school Chairman and benefactor, is the larger and the older of the two buildings. The Saval building houses grades six though twelve, the business office, and other administrative offices. Other features of the Saval building are a full gymnasium, indoor basketball court, ], a 17,000 volume ] and Bet Midrash (house of religious Judaic study), two laboratories, and additional office and study space on the recently completed third level. The inner courtyard now includes a student lounge area and a SprinTurf playing surface for touch football and soccer, while a new upper school student lounge was recently completed. The Esther Edelman Learning Center has also undergone a magnificent upgrade.
The Saval campus, named after ], a longtime school Chairman and benefactor, includes the Elementary School (kindergarten through grade five), Middle School (grades six through eight), Upper School (grades nine through twelve), business office, and other administrative offices. Other features of the Saval campus are the Judge J. John Fox gymnasium, S. Joseph Solomont ], 22,000 volume Levy ] and Beit Midrash (house of religious Judaic study), laboratories, a student lounge, and additional office and study space. The inner courtyard includes a SprinTurf playing surface—the Ezra Schwartz Field—for outdoor play. The Esther Edelman Learning Center has undergone a cosmetic upgrade with new furniture, computers, air-conditioning and thermal pane windows. The Middle School level includes the Study Zone, a nurse's office, an art room, a science lab and a social worker's office.


===Brener building=== ===Brener building===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
The Kindergarten through fifth grades are housed in the Brener building, which is across the street from the Saval building. The building is newer, although it is mostly classrooms. However, it does have a small gym, music room and a library.
Between 1998-2019, the elementary school was housed in the Brener building, which is across the street from the Saval building, where the Elementary School had formerly been. In addition to classrooms, the building contained a lunchroom, small gym, admissions office, and library. Grades E2 - 5 also had their own playground for recess.


The Brener building is named for Leonard Brener, noted philanthropist (to Maimonides and the Perkins School for the Blind among other educational causes). A decorated detective with the Boston Police Department, Mr. Brener was known affectionately as 'Brennan' to his (mostly Irish) coworkers. After his retirement from law enforcement, he became a financial advisor, achieving the rank of Senior Vice President with Dean Whitter Reynolds. In addition to the Brener building itself, Mr. Brener donated the art room on the Saval campus in memory of his sister.
==Fiscal situation==
In late 2005, the school faced a significant budget deficit. To help alleviate the deficit, the School Board decided on cost-cutting, layoffs of about 9% of the faculty, and an extraordinary fundraising effort. The school has successfully balanced its budget for 06-07 and seems to have achieved what most Jewish Day Schools continually struggle with- correcting its financial course without severely damaging enrollment or the high quality of its education.


Nearing the end of the 2018-2019 school year, it was announced that due to decreased enrollment and a tighter budget, the following year the Elementary School would be moving back into the Saval building. Brookline Public Schools currently rent out the Brener building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-16 |title=Brookline Eyes Jewish Private School To Ease District Crowding |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/brookline-eyes-jewish-private-school-ease-district-crowding |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=Brookline, MA Patch |language=en}}</ref>
As a result of the layoffs, the school has been sued by some of the laid off teachers.<ref></ref>
The 2006 Annual Gala (an event similar to the school's annual dinner) raised six hundred thousand dollars for Scholarships for the school, which have generally remained unaffected, even given the current budget crisis. Approximately half of all Maimonides Students receive some form of tuition assistance.

In January 2007, the cost of tuition and fees for a year at Maimonides' Upper School quietly exceeded $20,000 for the first time.


==Student activities== ==Student activities==

===Current clubs and activities=== ===Current clubs and activities===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
The following is an incomplete list of different middle and upper school student-run clubs and organizations, and other ] (listed alphabetically): The following is an incomplete list of different middle and upper school student-run clubs and organizations, and other ] (listed alphabetically):
*] Committee
*David Project Club
*Drama Club (produces annual high school ] production - http://www.freewebs.com/maimonidesdramaclub)
*Girls Choir (Kol Isha)
*Israel Action Committee
**Publishes ''Israel Update''
*] ]
*]
:The 2006 Co-state-champion Titan team placed fourth in the northeast, and thirteenth nationally.<ref></ref>
*Literary Magazine (''The Current'')
*School Newspaper (''Spectrum'') *School Newspaper (''Spectrum'')
:Published on the first day of every month, ''Spectrum'' contains school news, world news, sports, entertainment, world language, and opinion sections. ''Spectrum'' is now online at http://www.maimospectrum.com.
:This club now includes the publication of the "Spectrum Weekly" a weekly page listing dismissal schedule changes and period cancellations, a list of student birthdays, and articles about various news stories pertaining to the last week's worth of current events.
*]
:The 2009 team was the most successful team in Maimonides history having won the Massachusetts State Championship. The National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia accommodated Maimonides School in allowing the team to compete on Friday, thereby allowing the students to keep Shabbat-observance. Because of this deviation, the power ranking system did not apply to Maimonides, and the team was placed in the ranking at number 20, tied with Maine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maimonides.org/about/newsDetail.php?id=67|title=School website news story on Mock Trial team success|website=www.maimonides.org|accessdate=Jan 6, 2023}}</ref> The only previous time the team had qualified for the ] was a Sweet 16 finish in 2006. The 2010 team reached the Sweet 16, the 2012 team reached the Final 4, and the 2013 team reached the Elite Eight. The 2021 team had a Sweet 16 finish in the Massachusetts State Tournament, competing for the first time over Zoom, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
*] Annually, the Maimonides School delegation receives multiple awards at the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations.
*Troop 54, Boy Scouts of America<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pack 0054–Maimonides School (Brookline, MA) – The National Jewish Committee on Scouting |url=https://www.jewishscouting.org/location/pack-0054-maimonides-school-brookline-ma/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.jewishscouting.org}}</ref>
*] Committee who coordinate seasonal supply-drives, volunteer days, and awareness speakers.
*Chidon Hatanach (National Bible Contest)- Menachem Shindler, the 2009 North American Champion, won 2nd in the Diaspora and 5th in the World contests in the Yom Haatzmaut Chidon HaTanach HaOlami contest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-04 |title=Chidon Finals Take Place in NY |url=https://chidonusa.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/chidon-finals-take-place-in-ny/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=USA Chidon Ha-Tanach |language=en}}</ref> Alexander Kahan was the 2010 North American Champion, competed in the 2011 Chidon HaTanach HaOlami contest. Past Chidon HaTanach champions from Maimonides include Yechiel Robinson and Yochanan Stein.
*David Project Club which teaches students about current events and Israel Advocacy.
*Drama Club (produces annual high school ] production - http://www.freewebs.com/maimonidesdramaclub)
*] The 2006 Co-state-champion Titan team placed fourth in the northeast, and thirteenth nationally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maimonides.org/about/newsDetail.php?id=109|title=School website news story on Titan team success|website=www.maimonides.org|accessdate=Jan 6, 2023}}</ref>
*Literary Magazine (''The Current''): Has won several awards in the past, noted for its creativity in original music pieces, photography, poetry, and short stories.
*The Weekly Briefing: A weekly newspaper containing articles about various news stories pertaining to the last week's worth of current events. The paper also posts the weekly schedule and events, a list of student birthdays, puzzles and trivia. It is posted every week.
*Math team *Math team
:The 2006 team won second place in their division at the regional level. <ref></ref> :The 2006 team won second place in their division in the New England region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maimonides.org/about/newsDetail.php?id=97|title=School website news story on math team success|website=www.maimonides.org|accessdate=Jan 6, 2023}}</ref>
:The 2018 team came in first in a competition between over 150 Jewish day schools in the world.
*]

:The 2006 team was the most successful Maimonides mock trial team of all time, reaching the "Massachusetts Sweet Sixteen" in the MassBar Mock Trial Tournament.<ref>
*''A Bisol Torah'' is a weekly student-run ''parsha'' publication.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Bisl Torah |url=https://abisltorah.wordpress.com/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=A Bisl Torah |language=en}}</ref>
</ref> 2006 was also the first time the mock trial team defeated their arch-rival ].
*Chidon Hatanach
*]
*] Club
*]
*] *]
*Book Club
*Yachad Board is a subgroup of Greater Boston Yachad, a chapter of Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wittner |first=Michael |date=2019-02-21 |title=Yachad hosts inclusive shabbaton at Maimonides |url=https://jewishjournal.org/2019/02/21/new-england-yachad-hosts-inclusive-shabbaton-at-maimonides-in-brookline/ |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=Jewish Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
*] (''Halapid'') *] (''Halapid'')
* Mishmar Talmud
* Clements Road Clan (a.k.a. the Saved by the Bell Club)
: Once taught by Rabbi Dovid Shapiro, now taught by Rabbi Yaakov Jaffe. Each Thursday night following the days worth of classes, high school students are invited to learn extra ].

===Inactive clubs and activities===
The following is a partial list of clubs and activities that have existed in the past but are currently inactive.
*] Club
*Boys ] (Kol Ish)
*] Club
*''Mayim Achronim'' (Torah Journal)
*] ]
*] committee
*] Club


==Athletics== ==Athletics==
Maimonides is a member of the ]. Interscholastic sports include basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and tennis. The school's teams are named the ''M-Cats''. In November 2010, the school's athletic teams received the MIAA Sportsmanship Award in recognition of their good sportsmanship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/12/19/at_brooklines_maimonides_school_its_not_about_winning_but_playing_and_living_right/|title=It’s not about winning, but living right|first=Katrina|last=Ballard|date=Dec 19, 2010|accessdate=Jan 6, 2023|via=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
]
Maimonides is a member of the ]. The school's teams are named the ''M-Cats''.


===Boys teams=== ===Boys teams===
*] (] and Junior Varsity - Division III North) *] (] and Junior Varsity - Division III North)
*]
*] (Varsity, ] and Middle School - Division IV North) *] (Varsity, ] and Middle School - Division IV North)
*] ] *] ]
*] (Varsity - Division III North) *] (Varsity - Division III North)
*] (Varsity & Junior Varsity)
*] (Varsity)


===Girls teams=== ===Girls teams===
Line 158: Line 116:
*] (Varsity - Division III North) *] (Varsity - Division III North)
*] (Varsity - Division III North) *] (Varsity - Division III North)
*] (Varsity - Division III North) *] (Junior Varsity & Varsity - Division III North)
*] (Varsity & Junior Varsity)


===Students versus faculty=== ===Students versus faculty===
] game.]] ] game.]]

====Faculty Basketball Game==== ====Faculty Basketball Game====
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
This game is a longstanding tradition that matches the male members of the senior class against the faculty in a game of basketball, proceeds from which are donated to charity.
This game is a longstanding tradition that matches the male members of the senior class against the male faculty in a game of basketball, proceeds from which are donated to charity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Program Highlights |url=https://www.maimonides.org/the-maimo-experience/upper-school/program-highlights |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=www.maimonides.org}}</ref> The 2008 game was particularly exciting, as the seniors raced back from a large deficit to tie and win the game in the last few minutes. In 2009 the faculty won the game for the first time, only to lose again by one point in 2010. In 2011 the game was an easy win for the seniors, but the faculty won again in 2012 and 2013. The faculty won in 2017. In an incredibly close game in 2018, the seniors beat the faculty.

==Major school events==
===Annual Gala===
The Maimonides School Annual Gala is a formal event for benefactors of the school's endowment to gather under the school's auspices, proceeds from which are apportioned for academic scholarships to the school. The gala also serves as an opportunity for the school to recognize the contemporary year's graduating class through a ceremony of which each member of the class is introduced to the guests.

In the early days of the event (then called the annual dinner), Maurice Saval, one of the major benefactors of the school (for whom the Saval Campus is named) invited each member of the senior class as his personal guest. Since then, the tradition has been upheld.

The gala is always held at a hotel or other formal venue, such as the John F. Kennedy Library.

===Chanukah Banquet===
Every Chanukah, the middle and upper schools enjoys a uniquely themed banquet, such as monopoly or a casino, accompanied by according decor. The upper school jazz band performs before and during the meal and there is generally some other form of live entertainment afterwards. Many students choose to invite friends from other schools to the banquet, transforming the banquet into an annual gathering of the local high school Jewish community.
{{sectstub}}

===Upper School plays===
], by ].]]

The drama production is performed once a year by the Maimonides Drama Club, generally in mid-March, in the Fox gymnasium. It is directed and acted by students exclusively.

Past plays:
*] by ] - 2008
*] by ] - 2007
*] by ] - 2006
*] by ] - 2005
*] by ] - 2004
*] by the ] - 2003
*] by ]
<!-- Please add previous years' plays -->

In 2006, the school featured a short play directed by an underclassman, in addition to the annual play. The secondary play, which was considerably shorter and of lower budget than the main production, brings drama to students who are not chosen in the main play's auditions or do not want to commit to the main play.

Past short plays:
*] by ] - 2007
*] by ] - 2006

===] Shpiel===
Each year the ] is performed by the Senior Class as a series of comedy sketches with the intent of making fun of faculty members.. {{sectstub}}


===Chagigat HaSiddur=== == Tuition ==
Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $38,340 for the high school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tuition and Affordability |url=https://www.maimonides.org/admissions/tuition-affordability |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=www.maimonides.org}}</ref>
Chagigat HaSiddur is the annual event, commonly known as the "Siddur Play," where the 1st graders receive their first ''siddur'' (prayerbook). Before the Chagigah they pray from either abbreviated siddurim or siddurim owned by the school. Afterwards they pray each day from their very own complete siddur. At the Chagigah, each 1st grade class performs a musical skit that addresses some aspect of prayer. The ceremony concludes with the teachers and principles calling up each student individually to receive his or her inscribed and specially bound siddur. The event usually ends with food.
{{Sectstub}}


==Controversies==
===Chagigat HaChumash===
The Chagigat HaChumash is the annual event where the ] students receive their first ] (Bible). At the Chagigah, each 2nd grade class performs a musical skit that addresses some aspect of Torah learning. The ceremony concludes with the teachers and principles calling up each student individually to receive his or her inscribed and specially bound Chumash. After the Students receive their Chumashim, everyone generally enjoys light refreshments.
{{Sectstub}}


===Chessed Day=== ===Finances and governance===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
For the past few years, the Upper School Chessed Committee, with assistance from the Upper School Activities Coordinator, has organized a day when the entire middle and upper school student body leave school for a day and volunteer at different area community service destinations such as the ], ], the ] Association, the ], the ], ], ], ], ], ] and the ]. Recently, in order to make planning of Chessed Day easier, each grade has had its own Chessed Day.
In late 2005, the school faced mounting budget deficits. To help alleviate the deficit, the School's Board of Directors initiated cost-cutting, layoffs, and an extraordinary fund-raising effort. The school successfully balanced its budget for 2006–07 and seemed to have achieved that with which most Jewish Day Schools continually struggle—correcting financial course without severely damaging enrollment or the quality of its education. At the same time, the school's governance structure changed. Formerly managed by a 7-member school committee, the school was now governed by a new board and a new board chair, Timberland CEO Jeff Swartz. The school committee became much smaller (3 members) and supervised only one person, the school's Rosh Yeshiva.


After the cost-cutting measures, the school was sued for age and gender discrimination by three of the laid-off teachers. On July 3, 2009, The Jewish Advocate reported on the outcome of the Deborah Onie case: "The court found, however, that the reason the school gave for not renewing the contract was non-discriminatory, as it related only to her refusal to accept the authority of Klammer and Posner. In 2005, Onie brought the allegation of age discrimination to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the state's chief civil rights agency, which was unable to conclude that there was a violation of statutes." The Evelyn Berman and Phyllis Schwartz cases were settled out of court.
===Battle of the Bands===
Every holiday of Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles), the school holds a Battle of the Bands. Bands typically form for the sole purpose of competing in Battle of the Bands. The competition is generally made up of rock, jazz, and blues bands, though there has been music of other genres. The judicial method of choosing a winner varies year to year from student voting to faculty judges. Past winners include two time winner Brown Iris and One Fish, Jew Fish.


According to varying news reports, the private Maurice Saval trust, whose sole beneficiary is the school, lost between three and eight million dollars due to the Bernard Madoff scandal.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/12/swartz_on_maimo.html | work=The Boston Globe | title=Swartz on Maimonides and Madoff | first=Michael | last=Paulson | date=December 20, 2008}}</ref> In April 2009, the school did not renew several teacher contracts due to the financial crisis caused by the Madoff scam, and to increased demand for financial aid caused by the recession. The school also raised tuition 9.9% to meet rising expenses, its highest increase.
===Color War and Maccabia===
====Color War====
This takes place annually in the Elementary School. Teams are led by 6th graders captains, who compose songs and cheers, make a poster, write a D'var Torah, perform skit and motivate their team to win.
====Maccabia====
The Maccabia is a series of sporting events that takes place every few years in grades seven through twelve. Generally organized by the Student Council, it is led by two captains from each class.


Additional teacher layoffs occurred in the spring of 2010 due to a decline in enrollment in the elementary and upper school divisions. Class sizes were increased and the number of high school sections was decreased. With these decreases in the number of faculty came an increase in the size of the administration. In 2009, Barry Ehrlich, a former NH high school history teacher and former Head of School of ]'s Child Study Center was hired as the school's K-12 Director of Curriculum. In 2010, the administration was expanded again with the hiring of a high school assistant principal, Rabbi Dov Huff, an alumnus.
===Retreat===
{{Sectstub}}
==School song==
The Maimonides School Song is currently obsolete. When sung, it was sung to "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth. It was written by Mr. Ralph Tucker, an English teacher in the early years of the school. The following text is taken from the ] yearbook.


The school announced on May 6, 2018 that for the 2019 - 2020 school year that they plan on renting out the Brener building and consolidating all of the school into the Saval building in order to further reduce expenses.
<blockquote>
Praise to thee our alma mater;<br>Hail to thee Maimonides;<br>Homage at this time we pay thee<br>Whom we laud for all of these:<br><br>
For the wisdom of the Torah,<br>For our training secular,<br>For the light of learning shining<br>Bright before us like a star.<br><br>
Guide us in our way of living;<br>Teach us as the torch we seize<br>Values true and everlasting,<br>Hail to thee, Maimonides.
</blockquote>


==Notable alumni==
In addition, there is a ] version of the song, but only very few Alumni know the words.
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2018}}
]]]
*] '96, journalist at the '']''
*] ’98 politics editor of TheAtlantic.com and a senior editor of the Atlantic magazine.
*] '92, Hollywood screenwriter and Director
*] '73, influential neo-conservative and professor of foreign policy at Johns Hopkins University
*], Olympian and 4x ] in the sport of ].
*], ] winning comedian
*] '88, Rhodes Scholar, Harvard law professor, critic of Modern Orthodoxy
*] '75, director of the Center on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, ]
*], Professor of computer games at ].
*] '88, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, specializing in terrorism and US policy
*] '82, Rhodes Scholar, former rabbi in ASBI Congregation in Chicago, president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah
*] '69, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
*] '10, Contestant on Cycle 15 of America's Next Top Model
*] '54, historian at ] and the only son of Rabbi ]
*] '67, rabbi, co-author of ''The Jewish Catalog''
*] '78, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva University-RIETS


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
Line 241: Line 170:
| last = Farber | last = Farber
| first = Seth | first = Seth
| authorlink =
| year = 2003 | year = 2003
| title = An American Orthodox Dreamer: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Boston's Maimonides School | title = An American Orthodox Dreamer: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Boston's Maimonides School
| publisher = Brandeis University Press | publisher = Brandeis University Press
| location = | isbn = 1-58465-338-8
| id = ISBN 1-58465-338-8
}} }}
*{{cite news *{{cite news
| last = Siefer | last = Siefer
| first = Ted | first = Ted
| title = Day School Drama | title = Day School Drama
| work = Boston Globe Magazine | work = Boston Globe Magazine
| language = English | date = 1 October 2006
| date = ] ]
| url = http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2006/10/01/day_school_drama/ | url = http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2006/10/01/day_school_drama/
| accessdate = 2006-10-13}} | access-date = 2006-10-13}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*
*{{Official website|http://www.maimonides.org }}
** **
*] *]
** **
** **
{{Jewish primary and secondary schools in the United States}}
{{authority control}}


] ]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 22:54, 8 January 2025

Jewish school in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA For the school in Montreal, see École Maïmonide.

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Maimonides School
Hebrew: ישיבת רמב"ם
Address
34 Philbrick Road

Brookline, MA 02445
United States
Coordinates42°19′48.33″N 71°07′50.14″W / 42.3300917°N 71.1305944°W / 42.3300917; -71.1305944
Information
TypePrivate Jewish day school
Religious affiliation(s)Judaism
DenominationModern Orthodox
Established1937
FounderRabbi Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik
CEOYaakov Green
PrincipalsDov Huff
Grades2yrs–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment430
Campus typeSuburban
Athletics conferenceMIAA District H (Independent)
Sports7 varsity sports
Team nameM-Cats
NewspaperSpectrum
YearbookHalapid
Websitewww.maimonides.org

Maimonides School (Hebrew: ישיבת רמב"ם Yeshivat Rambam) is a coeducational, Modern Orthodox, Jewish day school located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1937 by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik and his wife Tonya Soloveitchik. It is named after Rabbi Moses Maimonides.

Today, Maimonides is a Torah institution with approximately 550 students from early childhood (2–4 years) through grade twelve with over 2,000 alumni, including multiple Rhodes Scholars, National Merit Scholars, prominent professors, scientists and business leaders. More than 325 of them are living in Israel.

Campus

Maimonides School currently is situated on a 4-acre (16,000 m) campus in central Brookline, and is housed in one building.

Saval Campus

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The Saval campus, named after Maurice Saval, a longtime school Chairman and benefactor, includes the Elementary School (kindergarten through grade five), Middle School (grades six through eight), Upper School (grades nine through twelve), business office, and other administrative offices. Other features of the Saval campus are the Judge J. John Fox gymnasium, S. Joseph Solomont Synagogue, 22,000 volume Levy library and Beit Midrash (house of religious Judaic study), laboratories, a student lounge, and additional office and study space. The inner courtyard includes a SprinTurf playing surface—the Ezra Schwartz Field—for outdoor play. The Esther Edelman Learning Center has undergone a cosmetic upgrade with new furniture, computers, air-conditioning and thermal pane windows. The Middle School level includes the Study Zone, a nurse's office, an art room, a science lab and a social worker's office.

Brener building

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Between 1998-2019, the elementary school was housed in the Brener building, which is across the street from the Saval building, where the Elementary School had formerly been. In addition to classrooms, the building contained a lunchroom, small gym, admissions office, and library. Grades E2 - 5 also had their own playground for recess.

The Brener building is named for Leonard Brener, noted philanthropist (to Maimonides and the Perkins School for the Blind among other educational causes). A decorated detective with the Boston Police Department, Mr. Brener was known affectionately as 'Brennan' to his (mostly Irish) coworkers. After his retirement from law enforcement, he became a financial advisor, achieving the rank of Senior Vice President with Dean Whitter Reynolds. In addition to the Brener building itself, Mr. Brener donated the art room on the Saval campus in memory of his sister.

Nearing the end of the 2018-2019 school year, it was announced that due to decreased enrollment and a tighter budget, the following year the Elementary School would be moving back into the Saval building. Brookline Public Schools currently rent out the Brener building.

Student activities

Current clubs and activities

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The following is an incomplete list of different middle and upper school student-run clubs and organizations, and other extracurricular activities (listed alphabetically):

  • School Newspaper (Spectrum)
Published on the first day of every month, Spectrum contains school news, world news, sports, entertainment, world language, and opinion sections. Spectrum is now online at http://www.maimospectrum.com.
The 2009 team was the most successful team in Maimonides history having won the Massachusetts State Championship. The National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia accommodated Maimonides School in allowing the team to compete on Friday, thereby allowing the students to keep Shabbat-observance. Because of this deviation, the power ranking system did not apply to Maimonides, and the team was placed in the ranking at number 20, tied with Maine. The only previous time the team had qualified for the Massachusetts State Tournament was a Sweet 16 finish in 2006. The 2010 team reached the Sweet 16, the 2012 team reached the Final 4, and the 2013 team reached the Elite Eight. The 2021 team had a Sweet 16 finish in the Massachusetts State Tournament, competing for the first time over Zoom, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
  • Model United Nations Annually, the Maimonides School delegation receives multiple awards at the Yeshiva University National Model United Nations.
  • Troop 54, Boy Scouts of America
  • Chessed Committee who coordinate seasonal supply-drives, volunteer days, and awareness speakers.
  • Chidon Hatanach (National Bible Contest)- Menachem Shindler, the 2009 North American Champion, won 2nd in the Diaspora and 5th in the World contests in the Yom Haatzmaut Chidon HaTanach HaOlami contest. Alexander Kahan was the 2010 North American Champion, competed in the 2011 Chidon HaTanach HaOlami contest. Past Chidon HaTanach champions from Maimonides include Yechiel Robinson and Yochanan Stein.
  • David Project Club which teaches students about current events and Israel Advocacy.
  • Drama Club (produces annual high school drama production - http://www.freewebs.com/maimonidesdramaclub)
  • Junior Achievement: Titan The 2006 Co-state-champion Titan team placed fourth in the northeast, and thirteenth nationally.
  • Literary Magazine (The Current): Has won several awards in the past, noted for its creativity in original music pieces, photography, poetry, and short stories.
  • The Weekly Briefing: A weekly newspaper containing articles about various news stories pertaining to the last week's worth of current events. The paper also posts the weekly schedule and events, a list of student birthdays, puzzles and trivia. It is posted every week.
  • Math team
The 2006 team won second place in their division in the New England region.
The 2018 team came in first in a competition between over 150 Jewish day schools in the world.
  • A Bisol Torah is a weekly student-run parsha publication.
  • Student Council
  • Book Club
  • Yachad Board is a subgroup of Greater Boston Yachad, a chapter of Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities
  • Yearbook (Halapid)
  • Mishmar Talmud
Once taught by Rabbi Dovid Shapiro, now taught by Rabbi Yaakov Jaffe. Each Thursday night following the days worth of classes, high school students are invited to learn extra Gemara.

Athletics

Maimonides is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. Interscholastic sports include basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, and tennis. The school's teams are named the M-Cats. In November 2010, the school's athletic teams received the MIAA Sportsmanship Award in recognition of their good sportsmanship.

Boys teams

Girls teams

Students versus faculty

A teacher takes a shot in the 2006 seniors vs. faculty basketball game.

Faculty Basketball Game

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This game is a longstanding tradition that matches the male members of the senior class against the male faculty in a game of basketball, proceeds from which are donated to charity. The 2008 game was particularly exciting, as the seniors raced back from a large deficit to tie and win the game in the last few minutes. In 2009 the faculty won the game for the first time, only to lose again by one point in 2010. In 2011 the game was an easy win for the seniors, but the faculty won again in 2012 and 2013. The faculty won in 2017. In an incredibly close game in 2018, the seniors beat the faculty.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year is $38,340 for the high school.

Controversies

Finances and governance

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In late 2005, the school faced mounting budget deficits. To help alleviate the deficit, the School's Board of Directors initiated cost-cutting, layoffs, and an extraordinary fund-raising effort. The school successfully balanced its budget for 2006–07 and seemed to have achieved that with which most Jewish Day Schools continually struggle—correcting financial course without severely damaging enrollment or the quality of its education. At the same time, the school's governance structure changed. Formerly managed by a 7-member school committee, the school was now governed by a new board and a new board chair, Timberland CEO Jeff Swartz. The school committee became much smaller (3 members) and supervised only one person, the school's Rosh Yeshiva.

After the cost-cutting measures, the school was sued for age and gender discrimination by three of the laid-off teachers. On July 3, 2009, The Jewish Advocate reported on the outcome of the Deborah Onie case: "The court found, however, that the reason the school gave for not renewing the contract was non-discriminatory, as it related only to her refusal to accept the authority of Klammer and Posner. In 2005, Onie brought the allegation of age discrimination to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the state's chief civil rights agency, which was unable to conclude that there was a violation of statutes." The Evelyn Berman and Phyllis Schwartz cases were settled out of court.

According to varying news reports, the private Maurice Saval trust, whose sole beneficiary is the school, lost between three and eight million dollars due to the Bernard Madoff scandal. In April 2009, the school did not renew several teacher contracts due to the financial crisis caused by the Madoff scam, and to increased demand for financial aid caused by the recession. The school also raised tuition 9.9% to meet rising expenses, its highest increase.

Additional teacher layoffs occurred in the spring of 2010 due to a decline in enrollment in the elementary and upper school divisions. Class sizes were increased and the number of high school sections was decreased. With these decreases in the number of faculty came an increase in the size of the administration. In 2009, Barry Ehrlich, a former NH high school history teacher and former Head of School of NYU Langone's Child Study Center was hired as the school's K-12 Director of Curriculum. In 2010, the administration was expanded again with the hiring of a high school assistant principal, Rabbi Dov Huff, an alumnus.

The school announced on May 6, 2018 that for the 2019 - 2020 school year that they plan on renting out the Brener building and consolidating all of the school into the Saval building in order to further reduce expenses.

Notable alumni

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Noah Feldman

References

  1. "MIAA League Directory" (PDF). MIAA. September 12, 2014.
  2. "Brookline Eyes Jewish Private School To Ease District Crowding". Brookline, MA Patch. July 16, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  3. "School website news story on Mock Trial team success". www.maimonides.org. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. "Pack 0054–Maimonides School (Brookline, MA) – The National Jewish Committee on Scouting". www.jewishscouting.org. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  5. "Chidon Finals Take Place in NY". USA Chidon Ha-Tanach. May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  6. "School website news story on Titan team success". www.maimonides.org. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  7. "School website news story on math team success". www.maimonides.org. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  8. "A Bisl Torah". A Bisl Torah. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  9. Wittner, Michael (February 21, 2019). "Yachad hosts inclusive shabbaton at Maimonides". Jewish Journal. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  10. Ballard, Katrina (December 19, 2010). "It's not about winning, but living right". Retrieved January 6, 2023 – via The Boston Globe.
  11. "Program Highlights". www.maimonides.org. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  12. "Tuition and Affordability". www.maimonides.org. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  13. Paulson, Michael (December 20, 2008). "Swartz on Maimonides and Madoff". The Boston Globe.

Further reading

  • Farber, Seth (2003). An American Orthodox Dreamer: Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Boston's Maimonides School. Brandeis University Press. ISBN 1-58465-338-8.
  • Siefer, Ted (October 1, 2006). "Day School Drama". Boston Globe Magazine. Retrieved October 13, 2006.

External links

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