Rodeph Sholom School
Annual Report 2024–2025

Letter from Alumni Siblings

Dear Rodeph Sholom School Community,

One of the first books we each remember reading as Kindergarteners at Rodeph Sholom School was The Little Engine That Could. In so many ways, the school that shaped us during our combined 16-year span as students came to exemplify the spirit of the small yet mighty blue engine that rises to the occasion through determination and belief. This School we still proudly call home has made more of an impact on us than any other institution we have been a part of – as New Yorkers, Jews, siblings, and public citizens.

Much of that impact is thanks to the generosity of so many who came before us. The new science labs where we learned chemistry through Mr. Parente’s famous gummy bear experiments, the expanded gym where we played (or watched) competitive recess HORSE games and listened to Purim Shpiels, and the modernized classrooms with Smartboards that mesmerized us were all made possible by the School’s strong culture of philanthropy. We recognize even more clearly now that these physical enhancements and the School’s exceptional programming depended on the steadfast support of the Annual Fund and capital campaigns – philanthropic initiatives our parents and their peers contributed to year after year.

Inspired by this generosity, we have been enthusiastic supporters of the Annual Fund for over a decade and, most recently, made our first major gift to support the Suzie Newman Playground to be built between the 84th Street campus and Synagogue. We are thrilled that the School’s youngest learners – whose enrollment increased by 19% in the last year – will get to enjoy this new and secure outdoor play space in the very same area where we, like so many other students, learned to play and grow.

The Jewish community of New York City now is faced with a moment of challenge as antisemitism has reached record-setting levels in our city. The ADL reported 976 antisemitic incidents in New York City in 2024 – 157 of them directed at Jewish institutions, an 18% rise from the previous year. Now more than ever, we feel a strong responsibility to rise to the occasion and support our thriving independent Reform Jewish day school. Recent research from Prizmah affirms the impact of that support: Jewish day school alumni are more than twice as likely to say that Jewish identity is very important to them, and four times more likely to feel a strong connection to Israel. As siblings and alumni, we are grateful for the confidence in our Jewish identity that Rodeph Sholom School instilled in us. As donors, we are proud to help ensure that the next generation of Jewish leaders will be as fortunate as we are to call Rodeph Sholom School a forever home.

It is in this spirit of gratitude and commitment that we are honored to introduce the 2024-25 Annual Report. This year’s report celebrates the hundreds of families including alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends who supported the School over the last year. We can all be immensely proud of strengthening the special vision of this exceptional place. Just as the little engine persevered, Rodeph Sholom School continues to thrive because of a community that believes deeply in its importance and what it can achieve.

Thank you for being part of this community that continues to invest in Rodeph Sholom School and its generations of Jewish leaders to come.

With gratitude,

Nathan ’10, Madeline ‘12, and Caroline ’17 Press