Maccabim Hebrew School is center to the Jewish community's Israeli and American children, ages two and older, who live in Chicago and its suburbs. Our mission is to help develop and strengthen the children's Jewish-Israeli identity and values, connections to Israel, and their Hebrew language skills. Maccabim was established in 2001 and currently serves 70 children from 37 families. Since 2001, more than 1200 children have benefited from Maccabim's program. Maccabim is a non-profit organization.
Unlike traditional Jewish day schools or synagogue-affiliated Hebrew schools, Maccabim provides a unique anchor for Israelis in the diaspora to connect with Israeli culture, heritage, language, and Jewish learning. As a Hebrew immersion school, Maccabim conducts classes primarily in Hebrew, led by professional educators who are native speakers. Families come from various Jewish backgrounds, and the immersion approach ensures that students can communicate with family in Israel, feel at home with Israeli culture, understand Jewish history and heritage, and lead their families in celebrating Jewish holidays. Parents of Maccabim students consistently report these benefits, highlighting the distinctiveness and value of the Maccabim experience.
