OUR ROOTS
תמים [ta-meem]
adjective complete or whole
Our name is sourced from Tomchei Temimim, the first formal Yeshiva system of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Founded in 1897 by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneerson in the town of Lubavitch, Russia, each student was lovingly called “tamim,” meaning pure, perfect or complete. This endearing tidbit packs a vital message: quality Jewish education begins with the assumption that each child is inherently holy and good.
This concept of “wholeness” is the foundation of our model of Jewish education.
CORE VALUES
THE TAMIM MODEL
Individualized, Child Centered Focus
Learner-centered education begins with a set of beliefs about each learner: We believe that each learner is unique, has unbounded potential, and an innate desire to learn. Our educators facilitate this by guiding every student to establish and work toward a set of personalized goals. Every day, each child’s potential is fostered and nourished.
The Whole Child Approach
Our whole-child approach assures significant amounts of time and attention are dedicated to more than just academics. Our schools prioritize long term social-emotional and spiritual health in order to fulfill our mission of developing kindness, self-efficacy and purpose in each student.
This gives our students the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the world—and make a difference in their own unique ways.
Integrated Curriculum
As the world outside of school becomes increasingly complex, it is ever more critical for us to help students to view their learning – and the formation of their identities – in a holistic way. Our schools push beyond the traditional paradigm of separating our “real lives” from our Jewish lives. Our interdisciplinary units are built with fluidity between general and Judaic studies, connecting students to the real-world application of their “whole” knowledge and selves in meaningful ways.
Immersive Hebrew Language
The early acquisition of Hebrew as a second language is powerful. It builds the brain’s capacity, develops aptitude for Jewish learning and is a strong basis for a lifelong connection to the land and culture of Israel and the construct of a powerful Jewish identity. In addition to formal language instruction, we seamlessly incorporate Hebrew into various non-academic parts of the day so that students can practice what they learn in natural contexts.
Future Forward
We prepare our students to gain admittance to the high school of their choice and for lives that are meaningful, productive, and happy well into the future.
The Tamim Academy Story: A Meeting of Minds and Hearts
During its ten years of operation, the Kohelet Foundation operated in the Jewish day school field by championing Jewish day school education among families and funders as well as spearheading programs and initiatives that empowered educators. The Kohelet Foundation’s targeted grants empowered schools and educators nationwide to experiment with new educational ideas and approaches to interdisciplinary integration, learning environments, differentiated instruction and development of critical and creative thinking. In all of its projects, the Foundation prioritized the importance of making its work accessible and replicable nationally.
Tamim Academies was born out of this work and will carry out its next chapters.