In yesterday’s New York Times, David Brooks wrote an article describing the Yiddish word haimish. Haimish is the qualities associated with an unpretentious warm environment in which you feel relaxed. Brooks argues that the fancier or more elegant an establishment—be it a restaurant or a hotel—is the less likely it is to be haimish. As he puts it, “Often, as we spend more on something, what we gain in privacy and elegance we lose in spontaneous sociability.”
In the last few years, Duke School has moved into a nicer, prettier and, dare I say it, more elegant campus. In lots of other ways we have become more professional—online forms, weekly centralized communications and a myriad of other advances. However, as a school and a community haimish remains important to us. Learning, dialogue between teacher and parent, and a love of school happen more easily when everyone is comfortable. In lots of ways, Duke School is dedicating itself to haimish this year. Having teachers and parents read the same book this summer was to help strengthen the community. Writing a school song was meant to build community. Encouraging attendance at sporting events, fall festival, and the end-of-year party all help build a haimish culture. Further, Sandy and David will be holding coffees so you can talk with and feel more comfortable with them. All for haimish.
We will never get the balance between growth and haimish exactly right. However, as glad as I am about Duke School’s improvements, I do not want our sense of community to lessen. Help continue to strengthen Duke School’s sense of community.
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