Behind Our School Name
Why Mercaz Academy?
Selecting a name can be a tricky task. We are used to this exercise in our role as parents. We want our child to have a name that sounds pleasant and modern, but we also look for a name that carries with it some meaning. We felt the same way with our quest for a name for our new school.
We realized that what we wanted in our name is a reflection of what we are and want to be as a school. We wanted the name to convey a hub of excellent academic experience. We wanted our name to express our openness to the entire breadth of the Jewish community—no matter a person’s religious background or political views. The name should show that this school serves as a nucleus that supports vibrant Jewish life for miles around. The name should project a refreshed approach to education but also one that is rooted in our heritage that is both ancient and modern, with roots in Israel but that reaches globally, including Long Island.
Mercaz is the name that resonated. Mercaz reflects these various meaningful factors and tells our school’s story. Mercaz, meaning “center” in Hebrew, reflects the Academy’s determination to be a center of educational excellence. The theme of center also informs that we are not only centrally located on Long Island, but that our school is central to the vibrancy and continuity of Jewish life on Long Island. The idea of “center” also reflects our non-polarizing religious view—while we are and will remain Orthodox, we are neither right wing nor left wing—all are welcome here. And the prominence of Hebrew in our new name demonstrates our unifying connection to Israel and Jewish life across the world and across the ages.
This streamlined name of Mercaz Academy projects academic excellence, both modernity and timelessness, as well as our unbreakable bond with Israel and the Jewish community. Our school has been and will remain a center that will radiate the warmth and light of Torah throughout our region. We are excited to re-dedicate our school as Mercaz Academy.