Ma’ayanot strives to nurture the interests of all students and provide intellectual challenge in and out of the classroom. In addition to its robust science and STEAM enrichment, Ma’ayanot offers enrichment in Judaic Studies and humanities in order to nourish students’ spiritual and human side.

In the humanities enrichment program, directed by English chair Samantha Kur and history chair Chani Rotenberg, students research individual projects in an area they choose. Schoolwide programs, such as book clubs about student-selected summer reading and an annual Book Day “allow students to participate in a reading community,” said Kur. Said participant Meira Shapiro, “I love that they give us the reins, but are always there to offer guidance and support. I also love the activities like our monthly book club and our outings to the city to see various plays, because they allow us to explore the subjects that we love with others who love them too.”

For the Torah enrichment program, students often choose a text that is not on the curriculum. As Rabbi Donny Besser, program director, explained, “Torah enrichment empowers students to take charge of their own learning and fill in any gaps by identifying topics they want to learn.” Most students learn with a chavruta. Miriam Fisch, a senior, currently learns every week with Ma’ayanot principal Rivka Kahan, and junior Aliza Cohn feels privileged that she can video-conference with Israel to learn with her grandparents, Rabbi Joel and Shulamith Cohn. Junior Noa Rubinstein said, “Through Torah enrichment I have read different books and explored topics that I would have never come in contact with otherwise, and expanded my appreciation for Torah and Jewish thought.” Her chavruta, Meira Shapiro, added, “It helps me connect to my chavruta in a way one can only when one frequently has deep Torah discussions with a close peer.”