Switching to a New School

Proving Myself, Being True to Myself, and My Jewish Journey

Zoe Eisenstein, Ninth Grade, deToledo High School, West Hills, California

When I was growing up, my parents searched for the best education for me. They wanted to uphold the Jewish values of raising well-educated children. While they never pushed me, they guided me to choose what I wanted to do. When I turned four months old, my mom immediately started me in “Mommy and Me” music class.

At two and a half, I started at a Jewish preschool. On the first day, I was introduced to my class, and I had a problem. I saw kids my age playing with chocolate pudding and painting with the gooey substance. I was confused about how I could benefit from chocolate touching my skin and what I could learn from that. This led me to do a “sit in” with the older class that was given actual paint for decorating the canvas, since that fascinated me.

Jewish education was a fond part of my early years. Then came elementary school. My parents found a public school near our house, which they thought would be a great stepping stone for me. I enjoyed that school for four years, and I would go to religious school during the week and on the weekends to ensure I never lost touch with my Jewish identity.

Covid struck during the late winter of my third-grade year. As schools went virtual, my passion for learning grew, and my parents searched for a school that could offer the level of education I was seeking. This led us to switch to a small private school with an immense focus on education and sustainability, but with a catch: It was completely vegan. In the past, I never ate vegan per say, but I would appreciate a well-seasoned cauliflower. Skipping a grade and having an incredible education outweighed hearing the boys bragging about how many soy hot dogs they could fit in the urinal before getting caught. The dislike for the food was universal, but I reminded myself daily that I was there for the education. I was happy, but I still craved more educational opportunities. 

A full year before my parents could even apply, they took me to an open house for a Jewish high school. As soon as we walked in and saw all the other families, I knew where I was going. The kind atmosphere, the amazing programs and the Jewish events, such as the yearly Shabbaton, were what I knew would make a great high school experience for me.

As school began, I was placed in advanced Jewish studies. I accepted my placement but was a bit timid, as I knew everyone in the class had previously attended Jewish day school. When I stepped into the classroom, I was anxious. As I scanned the room, I noticed a friend I made on the freshman retreat. As I sat next to her, my friend reassured me that this class would be one of my easiest as we were both placed in all honors, but what she didn’t realize was that she had only been to Jewish day schools and I hadn’t.

Encountering Pluralism

Rafi Kessler, Eighth Grade, Shefa School, New York

I started my educational journey at a yeshiva, just like all of my friends and family. By the time I was in first grade, my parents realized that the school couldn’t support my learning needs. The teachers didn’t have the skills to teach students with learning disabilities. It wasn’t their fault; they just didn’t know how. 

At the time, there wasn’t a school where I could stay in the Jewish community and learn from teachers with the experience and expertise that I needed, so I attended my local public school. It wasn’t the right fit for me. When I was in public school, I begged my parents every day to go back to a yeshiva. Fortunately, my parents heard about the Shefa School from a friend, and just a week before fifth grade started, we decided I would transfer there. 

It was my third first day at a new school and I was only 10 years old. I was nervous that this school also wouldn’t be a good fit for me, but I was happy to be back at Jewish school. 

At first, I was confused that Shefa was considered a Jewish school, because it wasn’t what I was used to or what I expected based on the Jewish community I belong to. I grew up in a household where everyone is Shomer Shabbos, attends shul every week and keeps strictly kosher. Even though my parents told me Shefa was a pluralistic school, I didn't fully understand what that meant. Before Shefa, I thought there was only one way to practice Judaism. 

However, by being in a pluralistic Jewish environment, I have learned that while I may observe Judaism in one way, it doesn’t mean the way other people practice Judaism is wrong. I have had thoughtful discussions and disagreements with my classmates about Jewish practice. I’ve learned about the different denominations of Judaism, which I didn’t know existed before.