COMMUNITY NEWS
Zucker Jewish Academy Marks New Chapter With Ribbon-Cutting in Boca Raton, Fla. More than 300 people gathered Sunday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new Boca Raton home of Zucker Jewish Academy, marking a historical milestone for the young Jewish day school and the families it serves. Hosted by Head of School Rabbi Binyamin Fogelgarn, the event brought together students, parents, educators, rabbis, community leaders and representatives of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for an afternoon of celebration and reflection on the journey that brought the school to its new campus. Among those attending was Rabbi Ephraim Palgon, a Senior Education & School Coach within the Zucker network. The fast-growing Zucker expansion currently includes 11 Zucker schools across North America and Canada, all sharing a commitment to providing strong academics, a love of Judaism and transformational education. The ceremony also reflected the support of Boca Raton’s Jewish community. In attendance were Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton Synagogue, Rabbi Yaakov Gibber of Boca Jewish Center, Rabbi Schwersenski, Head of School at Katz Hillel, Rabbi Sklar, Outreach Director at the Boca Raton Kollel, Rabbi Korkus and community leaders Shlomi Lagassi and Reuven Elmekayis. Their presence underscored the significance of the new school within a community that has long
placed a strong emphasis on Jewish education, Achdut (unity) and communal life. Several representatives of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were also present, including Sergeant Yerian, Deputy Moss and Deputy Raschty. The school expressed its appreciation for the ongoing support it receives from the Sheriff’s Office, led by the beloved Captain David Moss. A Long Road to Boca Raton For the Zucker community, Sunday’s ceremony represented the end of a long and sometimes complicated journey. It represents the culmination of years of work
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and the dream of families who believed in the Zucker mission. Before arriving at its permanent home in Boca Raton, the school operated from a temporary location in Deerfield Beach. It moved to Coral Springs in 2024 before returning to Deerfield in 2025. Despite relocating several times, the school community was growing increasingly stronger. Leubitz said, “We weren’t just implementing someone else’s vision; we had the opportunity to create the kind of school we believed our students needed.” Getting to the ribbon-cutting required considerably more than locating a building. It required a
COMMUNITY NEWS team of dedicated leaders committed to the mission. This was led by Rabbi Pinchas Scharf, Zucker Jewish Academy’s co-founder and senior Rabbi. The school’s administrative team includes Rabbi Fogelgarn as Head of School, Mrs. Rachel Leubitz as Principal, and Mrs. Abby Brody as Early Childhood Director. Many months of long days and late nights were invested to complete the construction, licensing, compliance, zoning and the many other requirements involved in preparing this new educational facility, and for this the entire school community is deeply appreciative. Zucker Jewish Academy of Boca Raton expresses much gratitude to Rabbi Chaim Glazer and Mr. Greg Sapeinza for their invaluable wisdom and guidance throughout the process. The school also extends a big thank you to Ms. Chana Korkos for her tireless dedication in ensuring the school had a seamless transition to the new campus. By Sunday, however, the long list of logistical challenges gave way to a much simpler moment: opening the doors. As the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting, approximately 300 people participated in a countdown together. Ten. Nine. Eight. For the school’s administration, teachers and families, the moment carried the weight of everything that had come before. Seven. Six. Five. Students, parents, rabbis, educators, community members and law enforcement representatives counted together. Four. Three. Two. One!
The ribbon was cut. Mazel tov! The room erupted in celebration as the formal ceremony gave way to singing and dancing. For those who had been part of the school’s journey, it was an emotional payoff to years of planning and hard work. More Than a Building While a ribbon cutting traditionally celebrates a physical location, the focus of Sunday’s event was ultimately on what would happen inside the new building. Zucker Jewish Academy combines general and Judaic studies with a broad range of enrichment opportunities. The school’s programming includes STEM, indoor and outdoor art education, an exceptional music program, robotics, sports and fitness, along with hands-on and project-based learning. The approach is centered on developing the whole child, with students encouraged to explore their interests, solve problems, collaborate with others and develop confidence as learners. In the classroom, that can mean a child studying mathematics one moment and applying those skills to
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a hands-on project the next. It can mean exploring science and technology, creating art, learning an instrument, participating in sports or studying Jewish texts and traditions. As Brody explained, “We want our children to grow academically, but we also want them to become confident, kind, curious and independent learners who know that they are valued and that they belong.” Rabbi Fogelgarn shared “Everything we do at Zucker Jewish Academy is student-centered. Not only our incredible staff, curriculum and intentional pedagogy, but even our outstanding maintenance team understands that every decision is informed by what is best for the student experience”. The goal is to create an environment where academic learning and Jewish identity are not separate experiences, but complementary parts of a child’s education. The new campus will also provide space for the wider community. That community component is particularly important for a Jewish day school. This new home is not only a place where children spend their school days, but also where
COMMUNITY NEWS families can develop relationships, gather for special events, commemorate Chagim, and celebrate their children’s milestones. A Community Comes Together Sunday’s guest list demonstrated that Zucker Jewish Academy’s story extends beyond its students and faculty. The presence of rabbis representing several local congregations, educators from other Jewish schools and community leaders reflected a broader interest in strengthening Jewish education in Boca Raton. The participation of Sheriff’s Office personnel added another dimension to that community connection. For families, building a school also means building a sense of belonging. The new campus gives Zucker students a place they can identify as their own—a place where they will learn, make friends, celebrate success and create memories throughout their elementary school years. For the dedicated staff, it is inspiring to be part of the process of creating the most positive learning environment possible and to engage students in meaningful and transformational learning. For the administration, it provides the physical foundation for the next stage of the school’s development. And for Boca Raton, it adds another educational institution to a community that has become an important center of Jewish life in South Florida. Looking Ahead The ribbon-cutting ceremony
was ultimately less about looking backward than looking forward. For everyone gathered Sunday, it was worth pausing to recognize how far the school had come. When the ribbon was finally cut, the response was immediate—music, singing, dancing and celebration. It was a fitting conclusion to a long journey. With a permanent home now in Boca Raton, the focus turns toward building a lasting school community. That means welcoming new families, expanding programming and continuing to develop an edu-
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cational model that combines academic and pedagogical excellence, Jewish values, hands-on experiences, and transformational education. For the children walking through the doors, the history of the building may matter less than what happens inside it. They will have classrooms in which to learn, spaces in which to create, opportunities to explore STEM and the arts, build robots, learn instruments, places to play and compete, and a community in which to develop their Jewish identities. Those everyday experiences are what will ultimately define the new campus. With its new Boca Raton home now officially celebrated, Zucker Jewish Academy enters its next chapter with a growing student body, an expanding community and a campus designed to support the school’s vision for the future. The ribbon was cut. The doors are open. Teachers are facilitating. Children are thriving. And enrollment is increasing rapidly! A new chapter for Zucker Jewish Academy in Boca Raton has officially begun. And it’s all about the students!