Our History
History of The Leffell School
1966: The Journey Begins
Founded as Solomon Schechter School of Westchester in 1966 under the leadership of Rabbi Max and Leah Gelb, our school began in the basement of Temple Israel Center, quickly moved to a larger facility on Soundview Avenue, and graduated its first class in 1974.
1970s: A Move to Dellwood Road
With generous support from Chairman of the Board M. Mac Schwebel and others, the school acquired the campus on Dellwood Road that now houses our K-5 Lower School. Rabbi and Mrs. Gelb retired in 1980 and Dr. Elliot Spiegel was appointed Headmaster of the thriving Jewish day school.
1989: The Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Life Monument Learning Center
Through the generosity of the Schechter Westchester community and Joseph Gruss z”l, the Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Life Monument Learning Center was built in 1989. It houses the Schur Family Chapel, the Dubin Computer Center, a teacher center, classrooms, and the Irene Schwebel Media Center.
1990s: Educational Excellence and Increased Demand
The 90s marked several firsts, including accreditation from Middle States Association and the awarding of the Israel Shazar Prize in recognition of Jewish education in the Diaspora. Community interest in Westchester’s largest Jewish day school’s outstanding general and Jewish educational programs increased so much that the school was outgrowing its facility in White Plains.
2000: Breaking Ground in Hartsdale
Eager to ensure that the school would serve students during their formative teenage years, a group of lay leaders, including Michael Leffell, Gabe Nechamkin, David Reis, Bob Steinberg, Peter Lehrer, Steve Schacter, and James Dubin, searched for a property in Westchester and, with a generous gift from M. Mac Schwebel z''l, purchased a 25-acre site in Hartsdale that was already zoned for a school.
2001: School Becomes K-12 on Two Campuses
With the support of the entire community, construction of the first non-Orthodox Jewish high school in Westchester was completed. The Hartsdale campus opened its doors, welcoming the first ninth-grade class and the relocated sixth through eighth grades. The new campus was named the M. Mac Schwebel Upper School.
2005: Mazal Tov to the Pioneer Class
With the graduation of the pioneer class, a dream was realized and the school that began with 22 children was now K-12 with 820 students. The Class of 2005 inaugurated the eight-week capstone Lev v’Nefesh experience in Poland and Israel.
2000s: Milestones in a New Century
In 2005 the varsity baseball team reached the state championship tournament, with the team staying within walking distance of the field in order to play on Shabbat. We became one of the region’s first schools to install solar panels, earning AJC’s first-ever Energy Independence Award. The Class of 2007 presented the school with a Torah they rescued from Poland during Lev v’Nefesh. The 2009 chess team won the K-9 Supernationals Championship.
2013: Renaming of the Lower School to Honor Dr. Spiegel
The Lower School was renamed the Dr. Elliot Spiegel Lower School in 2013 in honor of Dr. Spiegel's 33 years of leadership and in commemoration of his retirement.
2013: Dr. Michael Kay Named Head of School
After an extensive national search, the board of trustees announced that Dr. Michael A. Kay would become head of school, charged with charting the course for the future of the school.
2016: 50th Anniversary Celebration
Schechter Westchester celebrated 50 years of providing a quality, values-based Jewish day school education to thousands of children and a warm, supportive community for its families.
2019: New Name, Same Heart
On July 1, Solomon Schechter School of Westchester became The Leffell School, honoring the extraordinary leadership, commitment, and generosity of Lisa and Michael Leffell. While the school’s former affiliation with the Schechter Day School Network ended in 2016, when it merged into Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, we have retained the distinctive set of Jewish values and principles for which the school has become known since its founding.
