Tamchui 2026: The Impact of Social Justice Learning

18 Peer-to-peer lessons taught

8 Hours of student-driven research

6 Powerful nonprofits engaged

1 informed, driven community 

The Suzanne and Bernard Pucker Tamchui Program teaches and inspires Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, by honoring nonprofit organizations. With its own curriculum and dedicated three weeks of learning, students in Grades PK-8 put special focus into three topics of interest related to current events. The topics and organizations, which change every year, are selected by Middle School students. 

After weeks of research and lesson planning, Grades 6-8 kick off Tamchui by educating their Lower School peers. With the help of faculty mentors, students crafted age-appropriate activities to teach PK – Grade 5 about Food Insecurity (Grade 6), Immigration and Refugee Justice (Grade 7), and Combatting Antisemitism (Grade 8). 

“I taught about Refugee and Immigration Justice. We read the third graders a book and had them make welcoming posters. It was really fun, and I liked getting to know them,” said Aar G. in Grade 7. 

“The Middle Schoolers told us about how [refugees] are people who come from all over the world, and they’re not that different from us,” said Grade 3 student Hannah K. 

A Kindergarten student shows off her Jewish pride artwork

“We had to come up with a curriculum, and then we had to demonstrate it for the teachers. They’d make corrections and we’d redo it, we had to redo it four times. But teaching was exciting because we got to see how hard it is, and also how rewarding it can be! [The students] were really into it and liked all the activities we did,” Said Grade 6 student Yael C. 

A Grade 1 student hold up a model of the Leket food delivery truck

In the week following their peer-led lessons, students in all Grades met with representatives from six impactful nonprofits — two for each topic — situated both locally and abroad. This year’s organizations included Food for Free and Leket (Food Insecurity), The Refugee Dream Center and the Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (Immigration and Refugee Justice), and the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Stand With Us (combatting antisemitism). These professionals took Rashi through a deep dive on why their work is important, how they do it effectively, and what it means for the people they serve. They also taught us about the power of working across lines of difference and staying curious, open-minded to new perspectives and ideas, and the impact of empathy for others. Some organizations were new to the community, while others, like Leket, have had a relationship with Rashi nearly a decade in the making. 

“We learned about [Leket’s] food pantry, and how they use trucks to deliver food to people,” said Grade 1 student Noah S. 

“One that was exciting to hear about was how the [Simon Wiesenthal Center] said it could improve the world one action at a time,” said Yael. 

“The work that [BIJAN] did was really interesting, and how the representative hosted an immigrant in her house,” noted Grade 8 student Evan D. 

The final week of Tamchui is when all the students’ knowledge comes together for reflection and celebration. Aptly dubbed “Chip Week,” every grade takes the time to delegate four poker chips toward the topic or topics that resonated with them the most, and show what they would like to continue learning about. 

“The chips represent the students’ curiosity and care. The distribution of chips by the end of the week then informs our further studies in Social Justice. Students have many opportunities to show what they like learning about and what made a lasting impression from Tamchui,” said Social Justice Coordinator Sally Rose Zuckert. 

“I put all my chips in food, because we need to always have food to live,” said first grader Izzy Z. 

“I put one chip in each topic, and then an extra one in Jewish pride—” the framing of combatting antisemitism for our youngest students “—because I like being Jewish,” said Kindergartner Sasha R. 

In the end, Immigration and Refugee Justice received the most chips this year, a physical glimpse into the current interests of Rashi students. We feel so lucky for the contributions of each non-profit who lent us their time and expertise. Rashi is proud to be donating over $1000 to each organization to honor their participation and positive impact on the world. Finalizing the program with a school-wide Kabbalat Shabbat celebration, the entire community experiences the educational, emotional, and spiritual impact of The Suzanne and Bernard Pucker Tamchui Program — a 30+ year academic tradition — and what Tikkun Olam means to them.