Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School

Founded as Agnon School in 1969, the Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School (Mandel JDS) is Cleveland’s only Jewish community day school, embracing a wide spectrum of the Jewish community in terms of perspective and affiliation, while celebrating the richness of pluralism and the strength of diversity. Mandel JDS received its name in 2015 in recognition of a $17 million legacy gift from Joseph and Florence Mandel. This transformational funding allowed Mandel JDS to undergo structural improvements that brought the building into the 21st century. As part of this gift, an endowment fund was also established to attract, retain and support the very best teachers and specialists in their respective fields, augmenting exceptional programs not found in comparable schools. The Mandel Foundation has continued to support Mandel JDS through annual campaign contributions and funding of $12 million for Phase 3 architectural designs and capital expenses, including a full kosher kitchen, woodworking shop, and maker space, and new classrooms for unique learning opportunities.