Cultivating Kindness

Chessed and sensitivity play a central role in the chinuch of our students at Chaviva High School. We believe that educating the whole child means nurturing empathy, responsibility, and a deep sense of care for others. Our girls are known throughout the city as people who can be counted on to support others with joy and kindness, and that reputation is built through meaningful experiences that bring our values to life.

In the spirit of Chanukah, Lev students extended that sense of light beyond our walls with a visit to the King David Senior Assisted Living Home. Students reflected on how fortunate they are to be in a position of light and took the opportunity to spread joy through handwritten cards, singing Chanukah songs, and playing bingo with the residents. The girls returned to school uplifted by the experience and hopeful that they would have more opportunities to visit in the future.

That same spirit of chessed continued through hands-on learning connected to the mitzvah of bikur cholim. Our 9th-grade students traveled with Mrs. Schabes and Mrs. Fleksher to the Bikur Cholim headquarters in Cleveland Heights as part of their Hilchos Bein Adam L’Chaveiro learning. Students toured the medical supply gemach and heard directly from Bikur Cholim staff about the many ways the organization supports cholim and their families, many of whom are in Cleveland to receive treatment at our world-class hospitals. The highlight of the trip was working together to prepare Shabbos packages for cholim and their caregivers, helping bring comfort and warmth to their Shabbos. Students shared how meaningful it felt to do something tangible that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

Cultivating kindness also means fostering sensitivity, understanding, and inclusion. In partnership with the Organization of Autism Research, Yachad Cleveland presented a two-part sensitivity training for our 9th-grade students. Through interactive, hands-on, and multimedia exercises, students experienced simulations designed to help them better understand neurodivergence and disability. The training also created space for thoughtful dialogue about the importance of inclusion in our classrooms and communities, emphasizing culture and attitude change and encouraging students to see themselves as advocates for others.

Through intentional learning, direct service, and guided reflection, Chaviva High School works to cultivate a lasting commitment to chessed and sensitivity. These experiences help ensure that kindness is not only something our students learn about, but something they carry with them into the world.