Imagine a place where Jewish tradition meets the challenges of a rapidly changing world. That place is the Lauder Javne Jewish Community School. It stands here in Budapest as a testament to the enduring power of community, knowledge, and innovation.
Lauder Javne Jewish Community School opened its doors in the autumn of 1990. This happened after a year of preparation following the regime change. A team dreamed of a rebirth of Jewish education. They created the legal framework and educational program necessary to get it off the ground. Ronald S. Lauder’s support was essential to moving this milestone forward.
The Lauder Javne Jewish Community School transformed a grim building into a fun community Jewish school. It was open to innovation. Years later, another milestone was reached. The school moved to the Budakeszi Road building. This ended years of dispersal. Now, the little ones and the big ones could live together. From that year on, celebrating the school’s birthday every February became a tradition.
This is no ordinary school. Lauder Javne Jewish Community School offers a comprehensive education. This education spans from kindergarten to high school. Children from 2.5 years old to school-leaving age have the opportunity to attend. After the 8th year, there is also a language IT year. Some students graduate at 19 or 20. The Lauder Nursery School is located in a green belt setting. It has a modern villa building and a new modern wing. Children seek stability, predictability, and security. The school provides this in a family atmosphere. Families are an integral and active part of the nursery’s philosophy.
The school’s primary objective is to communicate values effectively. Jewish traditions play a central role. The goal is to help young people become highly educated. They should be responsible and innovative members of the Jewish community and Hungarian society. Lauder Javne Jewish Community School creates a healthy and diverse social environment for its students. Personal effort, integrity, responsibility, and achievement are valued here.
The Lauder Javne Jewish Community School emphasizes skill development. A skill-developing, process-oriented, knowledge-based curriculum is provided. This gives students opportunities to be active shapers of the learning process. Students receive ongoing support. This helps them develop their independence. They learn to respond to intellectual, social, physical, ethical, and aesthetic challenges.
The school also boasts an English Plus program. This program was launched in 2004. It is for children who can already communicate in English. The framework has been developed and consolidated over the years. It runs from Grade 1 to Grade 10. The first four grades are taught 10 hours per week in English. They follow an international curriculum. Children learn reading and writing in English from the first grade.
The Lauder Javne Jewish Community School’s kosher kitchen is another important aspect. It was built and maintained with the support of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and the Reichman Foundation. The school believes that a Jewish educational institution should include the basic symbols of Jewish religion and culture.
Graduates often stay connected with Jewish tradition. They celebrate Jewish holidays together. Relationships between the alumni and the school continue. Alumni enroll their own children in the Lauder Javne Jewish Community School’s Kindergarten and First Grade. The Lauder Javne Jewish Community School welcomes all. It wants to develop the academic, social, and artistic skills needed. These skills are needed to pursue studies and live a happy and successful Jewish life.
The Lauder Javne Jewish Community School is more than just a school. It is a community. It is a place where children are nurtured. They are taught to be open-minded, reflective, and responsible. They learn to face the challenges of the future with success. It’s a place where Jewish identity is explored and celebrated. It is a unique institution that embodies the values of tradition and modernity.