Personal meaning and intellectual growth emerge from rigorous study. More than simply amassing knowledge, we strive for our “intellectual efforts to be stirred by a blazing passion” in order to “stimulate ingenuity and independence of mind, encouraging students to create new ideas out of old.”

“Knowledge is fostered by curiosity; wisdom is fostered by awe.” Live a life of exploration inspired by a worldview that “wonder...is the root of all knowledge.” We boldly pursue opportunities for personal growth and challenge.

In caring for all people we recognize that small, private interactions shape our culture of compassion. Informed by the understanding that “there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings,” we relentlessly pursue Hesed (compassion) and Tzedek (justice) locally, in Israel, and throughout the world.

Pluralism nurtures a “diversity of talents, a variety of rituals, soul searching as well as opposition.” Our intellectual, spiritual, and religious growth is fostered by personal striving, in-depth study, curiosity, and upon the questions we ask of ourselves and of one another.

“Self-respect is the fruit of discipline” and our community of integrity depends on all individuals seeing beyond themselves and the immediate to acknowledge and to act on behalf of others. Ultimately, we must not give “power to narcissistic, self-indulgent thinking” and we recognize that “the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”