1) No homework on Fridays

Saturday is the day of rest. The Jewish people understand that they can not subject their youth to such stressful atrocities on the Sabbath.

2)Having the whole month of October off

Every Jewish Holiday under the sun (besides Passover, of course) was shoved into that one month on the Jewish calendar. School may have gotten out later than everyone else, but at least while all the other kids were at school, we all had all that free time to go to holiday services.

3)The moms knowing more about the gossip in your school than you do

“What?! Where did you hear that?” “Jacob’s mom told Rachel’s mom who told Benny’s mom who told my mom”

4) Christmas time

“So, do you have like, a Hannukah bush?”

5) Seventh grade being the most hype year of your life

Going to an average of 3 bar mitzvahs per week is totally normal for any middle schooler. Especially when as the year went on the parties would just get more lavish as everyone tried to out shine the last party. Seriously, as my first semester of college comes to an end, I can say without a shred of doubt that I have never been to a party as wild as one of those bar mitzvahs I went to when I was thirteen.

6)The heaviest concern weighing down on you is which boy was gonna be your first slow dance at your bat mitzvah

Can I pick a boy who's shorter than me? Can I choose him even if Leah told me she was going to pick him? Are we gonna grind?! How do you grind?! Do I just do a figure eight with my hips? What even is grinding?!?!

7) Never knowing the pleasure of having pepperoni pizza or a ham and cheese sandwich at lunch

This wasn’t a huge burden on me personally since I’m more of just a cheese girl. But I have heard the stories of others and their struggles with the lunch policy. Let’s keep it kosher, ok ladies and gents?

8)Trying to out sing your friends at Shabbat services

Gotta end that week on a high note.

9) “Why are you grounded?”

“I didn’t practice my Torah portion.”

“My mom got an email from my Hebrew teacher.”

“Someone told my mom I was grinding.”

“I didn’t write my thank you notes.”

10) Finding your Best Friends

Jewish Day School was such a unique and odd experience, that the friendships you make there are cemented simply because no one else understands the peculiar sensation of going through puberty while embracing your Judaism at the same time.