Together we are launching a single, unified, premier independent Jewish community day school for PreK-12, built on the exceptional legacies of Perelman Jewish Day School and Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. 

This moment calls for bold leadership and enduring vision. By coming together, we are building something greater than either school can achieve alone. Rooted in our shared values and guided by a deep responsibility to our students, families, and community, we are creating a unified school designed to shape the next generation of knowledgeable, compassionate, and courageous Jewish leaders. At a time when Jewish identity, literacy, and connection matter more than ever, we believe that by aligning our talent and resources, we can ensure that Jewish education in Greater Philadelphia flourishes for generations to come.

Perelman and Barrack have long talked about becoming a seamless system. These latest conversations have been ongoing for the past two years, which have led to Board votes and the definitive plan to launch this new school together.  

A dedicated and active task force including the Heads of School, Board Presidents, and key Board members from both institutions―Bennett Andelman, David Cohen, Daniel Eisenstadt, Scott Erlbaum, Dov Haselkorn, Rena Kopelman, Lisa Sandler, and Jonathan Zabusky―in consultation with both schools’ Executive Committees, have been discussing strategic opportunities and benefits for the past two years. To gain additional perspectives, over time we expanded that group to include the entire Boards of both schools as well as senior administrators and expert consultants. With the official announcement, we look forward to engaging more of our professional team members and lay leadership as we bring the vision of a unified school to life.

As a premier independent Jewish community Day School, we will pursue academic distinction, foster enduring curiosity, and encourage moral and social development centered on kindness and rooted in Jewish wisdom and values. We will continue to embrace the broad spectrum of the Jewish community―Klal Yisrael―and help students engage meaningfully in Jewish life, cultivate a deep commitment to Israel, develop the tools and mindset to succeed at the university level, and make a lasting impact in their communities and beyond.

We are committed to thoughtfully elevating the cultural elements, educational philosophies, and operational practices from each legacy institution, weaving them together into a dynamic and innovative educational environment. As a unified school community, we will leverage the combined faculty and staff of both institutions for their talent, dedication, and passion for teaching.

Our students will benefit from a consistent and vibrant academic culture and larger school community from PreK-12. Families will enjoy a streamlined transition from elementary school through high school, greater access to educational resources, and a school leadership team unified in support of each child’s educational journey. We also believe that we will generate greater financial resources to advance our visionary endeavors. 

The new school will be the only PreK-12 independent Jewish community day school in Greater Philadelphia, and the only local Jewish school to draw on the exceptional legacy of a combined 150 years of academic excellence. 

We have an extraordinary opportunity to guide children through a meaningful PreK-12 educational journey within one unified community. A cohesive school identity will foster deeper relationships, continuity, and belonging for students and their families. Faculty will benefit from enhanced collaboration and professional development, creating an even more dynamic and engaging learning environment. Together, we will unlock broader access to resources, exceptional teachers, and expanded opportunities for mentoring, leadership, and service.

The Perelman and Barrack Boards voted on February 22, 2026 to finalize the agreement between the two schools to create the new unified school. Pending regulatory approval, we are planning for a fall 2027 opening. We promise to keep our communities updated as we have more details to share.

2026-27 will be a year of increased collaboration between Barrack and Perelman as the legacy schools continue to operate much as they have been but begin preparing for full unification in the 2027-28 school year. As planning continues for the new school, we will share regular updates via email and community meetings, in person or on Zoom, and through a new website (coming soon). 

With the start of the 2027 school year, our community will be united as one school, bringing to fruition years of planning. The planning committee and our educational leadership teams are excited to bring this vision to life when the new school opens.

Building on the shared commitment to Klal Yisrael (the unity and collective identity of Jewish Peoplehood) that is central to Perelman and Barrack’s values, the new school will continue to cultivate a culture of understanding that reflects the highest ideals of our Jewish heritage. The new school will be committed to maintaining the legacy schools’ diverse, inclusive community that values and embraces students and their families by fostering an environment in which all our community members feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive. And, we will continue to teach our students to be accepting and kind and inspire them to build a better world. 

We are thrilled to announce that Rabbi Marshall Lesack, Barrack Hebrew Academy’s Head of School since 2021―and a Barrack alumnus and Perelman alumni parent―has been appointed the first Head of School, and Daniel Eisenstadt, an officer of the Perelman Board of Directors, will chair the new school’s Board. We will have additional details about the remaining leadership structure to share in the year ahead. While the full structure is in development, we will build upon the exceptional leadership teams of each school and design a structure that will meet the needs and bold vision of a larger school and expanded community in a thoughtful and integrated approach.

With the public announcement, we are thrilled that we can now invite more of our faculty to participate in planning for the new school. We recognize the value they will bring to the planning process, sharing their expertise, depth of experience, and passion for education.

Yes. The Barrack, Perelman, and Saligman names will be retained.  Each school and campus will continue to operate under its existing name, which reflects longstanding traditions, community ties, and naming commitments.  At the same time, to reflect their new shared identity under a common parent organization, the schools may adopt a unifying system-level name that would appear alongside the individual school names in certain contexts, such as communications, admissions materials, or on a shared website.  This unifying name will complement, but not replace, the Barrack, Perelman, and Saligman names.

Our vision is for the new school to operate across three campuses. Barrack’s recently purchased campus will serve as the home of the middle and upper school. The Stern Center in Wynnewood will continue as one of two elementary school campuses. We are committed to maintaining a second elementary school campus in the Northern Suburbs of Philadelphia. As Perelman has shared with its community, plans are underway to identify a new home for the Forman Center that will best serve the needs of our students and families.

No. Mitch was recruited by his alma mater in Chicago to fill its open Head of School position. As Mitch has said, he would not have made the decision to leave for any other school. Mitch has been deeply engaged in, and integral to, the planning process since its inception two years ago. Over the past two years, Mitch and Rabbi Lesack have built an incredible partnership, and because they have both built highly capable and collaborative leadership teams, the new school will have a full complement of exceptional leaders to bring the school planning committee’s vision to life.

Perelman’s Head of School search continues to be led with great care and flexibility, with a focus on identifying candidates seeking an interim role—individuals who will ensure Perelman continues to thrive as we prepare to launch the new school. During this transitional year, our exceptional Senior Leadership Team of Shira Wohlberg, Perelman’s Director of Institutional Advancement; Chagit Nusbaum, Forman Center Principal; and Emily Cook, Stern Center Principal and Director of Learning, will support the school’s Interim Head of School and will work closely with Rabbi Lesack. 

During the 2026-2027 school year, Perelman and Barrack will each have an experienced leadership team in place to manage daily operations, supported by a strong faculty and staff. Perelman will also have an interim Head of School. The teams from both schools will work closely with Rabbi Lesack, who will ensure stability and continued success during what will be an important transition year for both schools. Just as he has actively participated in strategic planning for the new school over the past two years, Rabbi Lesack will continue to play a central role in the planning process next year. He will also visit Perelman’s campuses throughout the year, ensuring that there will be consistent opportunities to listen to, learn from, and engage with Perelman’s students, families, faculty, and staff.