Between the Closing of One Cycle and the Beginning of Another
There are moments in the calendar that seem to make time stand still—dates that invite us to pause, look back, and ask ourselves what we have learned from the journey we have traveled. The period between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B’Av is one of those moments. For generations during these days, the Jewish people have remembered events that deeply marked their history, from the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem to other episodes that severely tested their strength.
Our tradition, however, teaches us that remembering does not mean living trapped in the past. Memory, when accompanied by hope, becomes a driving force for building a better future.
The Parallel of Two Cycles
This period also coincides with another significant moment for our community: the end of the school year. While the Hebrew calendar invites us to reflect on our history, thousands of students, teachers, and families are celebrating the conclusion of a year filled with effort, learning, and growth.
Every graduation and every farewell to the classroom represents far more than just the end of a course. They reflect a community that continues to champion education as one of the fundamental pillars of its identity.
For centuries, the Jewish people understood that buildings can disappear, but knowledge, values, and education travel with people. When there was no Temple, there was a school; when there was no kingdom, there were families transmitting traditions and teachings to their children. That conviction is what allowed our culture to be preserved anywhere in the world.
Today, our schools are the living expression of that legacy. Within them, they do not just teach sciences, mathematics, or languages; they also shape individuals who are committed to their community, their values, and the responsibility of building a better society.
The end of the school term is, therefore, a source of great pride. Behind every diploma are stories of effort, perseverance, and triumph over challenges, as well as the quiet dedication of teachers and families who guide the growth of the next generation.
From Remembrance to Reconstruction
These days also remind us that every ending opens the door to a new beginning. Just as one school cycle concludes to make way for the next, the history of the Jewish people demonstrates that after every hardship, the possibility of rebuilding always exists.
This is precisely the message of Shabbat Chazon. Although its reading speaks of warnings and challenges, it also invites us to imagine a different future if we learn from our own history.
We live in times of rapid change and great challenges. More than ever, we need people who are academically prepared, but who are also committed to solid principles, human sensitivity, and a deep sense of belonging.
Our community has risen to that challenge generation after generation. Every student who completes a stage represents an investment in the future, and every family that chooses education strengthens the legacy received from those who came before us.
Even Tisha B’Av, one of the most solemn days on the Jewish calendar, ultimately transmits a deeply hopeful message: after mourning comes reconstruction. A large part of the history of the Jewish people can be understood precisely in this way: a story of resilience, adaptation, and hope.
Looking Ahead
Today, we continue to build within our institutions, synagogues, schools, and families. While our students enjoy their summer break and prepare for new challenges, we too can reflect on what we want to preserve, strengthen, and transmit.
Because education does not end when classes conclude. It continues:
- In the home
- In family conversations
- In our everyday examples
- In the way we live our values
May this period allow us to remember the past with gratitude, value the present with pride, and look to the future with confidence. May the closing of this school cycle also be the start of new projects and opportunities to keep growing as individuals and as a community.
After all, the history of the Jewish people has taught us a truth that remains valid generation after generation: it is always possible to build again. And perhaps there is no more beautiful way to do so than by educating those who will write the next chapters of our history