The Rashi School is an independent, Reform Jewish private school in Dedham, Massachusetts. It offers both secular and Jewish education. Founded in 1986, the school currently enrolls more than 230 students in grades Pre-K–8. As of 2025, the student-teacher ratio was 6:1.
Etymology The school is named after Shlomo Yitzchaki, an Ashkenazi rabbi who is typically known today by the acronym Rashi. He was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and Torah.
History In 1982, Rabbi Henry Zoob formed a committee to explore interest in a Jewish Reform day school. After a four-year planning process, the Rashi School opened in 1986, enrolling 16 students in kindergarten and first grade.
In 1999, the Rashi School introduced its core values: Ruach (Spirit), Kavod (Respect), Kehillah (Community), Tzedek (Justice), and Limud (Learning).
In 2006, the school's eighth-grade class took its first trip to Israel. The trip is now an annual tradition and a culminating event of Jewish Studies at the Rashi School.
In 2010, The Rashi School moved to its permanent campus in a wooded 162 acre site on the banks of the Charles River, within Newbridge on the Charles Campus for Hebrew Senior Life."Rashi School." Jewish Advocate [Boston, MA], 24 June 2011, p. 23. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A260792577/ITOF?u=cmu_main&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4232ec3c. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.
Location Past locations of The Rashi School 1986–1988 Temple Shalom, Newton 1988–1989 Bigelow Middle School, Newton 1989–1993 Mishkan Tefila, Chestnut Hill 1993–1998 High Rock School, Needham 1998–2000 Former St. Mary's School, Dedham 2000–2010 Walnut Park / Jackson Road, Newton 2010–Present NewBridge on the Charles Campus, Dedham
Dedicated location The school's permanent location on the Hebrew Senior Life campus was opened on October 17, 2010.
The building is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified "green" building.
Heads of School 1986–1992 Rabbi Richard "Rim" Meirowitz 1992–2002 Jennifer Miller 2002–2003 Shlomit Lipton (interim) 2003–2008 Rabbi Joe Eiduson 2008–2015 Matt King, Ed.D. 2015–2018 Mallory Rome 2018–2019 Robert "Bud" Lichtenstein (interim) 2019–2024 Adam W. Fischer 2024–Present Emily Charton
See also History of education in Dedham, Massachusetts
References