Author: Natalie McKee (Natalie McKee)

What Begins at AJA Reaches Beyond the Field
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What Begins at AJA Reaches Beyond the Field

Coach Bobby Schwartz and the AJA Lions Football team once celebrated a perfect, undefeated season capped by a championship win. That special group of athletes has since carried their success onto the next level of competition. Recently, Coach Schwartz reunited with his former players on the sidelines of the Shoal Creek Showdown Taco Shack Bowl...

The Magic of Reading Buddies
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The Magic of Reading Buddies

One of the most anticipated moments of the week at Austin Jewish Academy happens every Friday afternoon, when Kindergarten and 2nd grade students gather for Reading Buddies. For the last 30 minutes of the day, the two grades pair up and share the joy of stories together. But this program is about much more than...

When the Floodwaters Rose, Our Community Rose Higher
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When the Floodwaters Rose, Our Community Rose Higher

This summer, the AJA community was reminded of the strength that comes from standing together. On July 4, devastating floods swept through Central Texas, destroying homes—including that of AJA parent Chrissy Eliashar and her three children. In a recent episode of The Rabbi and the Other Guy podcast, Chrissy shared her family’s harrowing story. Woken...

AJA Community Rallies Around the Eliashar Family After Devastating Flood
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AJA Community Rallies Around the Eliashar Family After Devastating Flood

On July 4, devastating floods swept through Central Texas, destroying the Jonestown home of the Eliashar family—deeply valued members of the Austin Jewish Academy community. In the days that followed, AJA families, staff, and local Jewish organizations stepped up with overwhelming support, offering everything from donations and housing to meals, hugs, and words of encouragement....