Where, oh where, oh where is home? by Nancy K. Kekst, Cleveland Jewish News, 9/18/2009
Nancy Kekst, former Director of Admissions at Agnon and an Agnon parent, reflects on the important role Agnon has played in her family’s life.
We called many places home while we lived in Cleveland – we grew up and had our life events at Park Synagogue, the children attended The Agnon School, and I worked at Congregation Shaarey Tikvah. Larry worked at National City Bank. In actuality, the place that was my real home, that touched my life the most, was Agnon.
I am very grateful to The Agnon School for the impact it had on my children and our lives for the last 20 years. I would have held the record for the longest running parent, beating Dan Polster and Connie Altose by a year, if Pamela had graduated from Agnon in 2011 with her 8th-grade class.
Agnon taught us more than just book learning, prayers, or computer. Paying Agnon’s tuition was like parenting insurance – whatever I messed up with my kids, I knew Agnon could fix. I have always been impressed with the high quality, professionalism and caring of the staff and administration. The school has carefully and thoughtfully helped raise my three daughters into intelligent, proud, loving, honest, responsible American Jews. What do I cherish the most? Our dinner table discussions about global warming, American history, Jewish traditions, all courtesy of The Agnon School. Because of Agnon, I studied Hebrew and became a bat mitzvah at age 35. Because of Agnon, I keep kosher and understand why. Because of Agnon, I value working in the Jewish community.