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In my high school IB [International Baccalaureate] class discussion about language and its
contributions to culture, I wanted to talk about the revitalization of the Hebrew language as a modern
language, and its religious connotations.
In the IB ethics in government dialogue about the way the fundamental rules of a society are formed, I
wanted to talk about Israel and the role of religion in the formation of the Jewish State, and the political
and ethical implications of a secular Jewish State.
In our IB discussion about the importance of a collective history for a country and for a group of people, I
wanted to talk about the Jews and how our collective history is vast and different and yet Jews have
come from all over the world to be Jews together in Israel.
I wanted to talk about these issues, but Judaism and Israel were simply not part of the collective
knowledge and cultural literacy of the students in my IB classes.
It is important for every Jew to have an outlet for conversation about Judaism in a Jewish context, and
that is what Shoresh provides. Shoresh has been my Jewish outlet, my time to talk about Israel,
Judaism and politics without having to explain my terms. Shoresh gave me the opportunity once a
week to talk about Judaism.
(Class of 2007)
contributions to culture, I wanted to talk about the revitalization of the Hebrew language as a modern
language, and its religious connotations.
In the IB ethics in government dialogue about the way the fundamental rules of a society are formed, I
wanted to talk about Israel and the role of religion in the formation of the Jewish State, and the political
and ethical implications of a secular Jewish State.
In our IB discussion about the importance of a collective history for a country and for a group of people, I
wanted to talk about the Jews and how our collective history is vast and different and yet Jews have
come from all over the world to be Jews together in Israel.
I wanted to talk about these issues, but Judaism and Israel were simply not part of the collective
knowledge and cultural literacy of the students in my IB classes.
It is important for every Jew to have an outlet for conversation about Judaism in a Jewish context, and
that is what Shoresh provides. Shoresh has been my Jewish outlet, my time to talk about Israel,
Judaism and politics without having to explain my terms. Shoresh gave me the opportunity once a
week to talk about Judaism.
(Class of 2007)
I was a Shoresh skeptic. Sometime in mid 9th grade, however, I
started to make connections between my Shoresh classes and
what I was studying at my private secular school.
Shoresh includes students like me who graduated from or
previously attended Jewish day schools as well as others who had
very little prior Judaic background. The diversity of experiences and
beliefs enriched our class discussions. I loved that our teachers
encouraged us to think critically and to reach our own conclusions
about the texts we studied.
The promise of interesting debate lured me back every Sunday
night. We considered what it means to be Jewish; the differences
between kavanah and avodah; and how--and more importantly
why--we practice our Judaism. Our teachers engaged us with
meaningful topics, such as why we should remain Jewish and how
our Jewish identity shapes our lives.
With the help of my Shoresh teachers, I now approach my secular
studies from a different perspective. I compare all protagonists to
Saul, whether I follow Holden Caulfield or Yossarian. I used Kohelet
to inform my reading of Grendel. My comments in Government
class frequently included something I learned in Israeli history class,
such as our exploration of global anti-Semitism. Thanks for helping
me integrate my secular and Jewish studies. What I learned at
Shoresh will stick with me and my classmates for years to come.
(Class of 2009)
started to make connections between my Shoresh classes and
what I was studying at my private secular school.
Shoresh includes students like me who graduated from or
previously attended Jewish day schools as well as others who had
very little prior Judaic background. The diversity of experiences and
beliefs enriched our class discussions. I loved that our teachers
encouraged us to think critically and to reach our own conclusions
about the texts we studied.
The promise of interesting debate lured me back every Sunday
night. We considered what it means to be Jewish; the differences
between kavanah and avodah; and how--and more importantly
why--we practice our Judaism. Our teachers engaged us with
meaningful topics, such as why we should remain Jewish and how
our Jewish identity shapes our lives.
With the help of my Shoresh teachers, I now approach my secular
studies from a different perspective. I compare all protagonists to
Saul, whether I follow Holden Caulfield or Yossarian. I used Kohelet
to inform my reading of Grendel. My comments in Government
class frequently included something I learned in Israeli history class,
such as our exploration of global anti-Semitism. Thanks for helping
me integrate my secular and Jewish studies. What I learned at
Shoresh will stick with me and my classmates for years to come.
(Class of 2009)
For those of you who have been lucky enough to awkwardly sit in on a class, you know
there is constant argument and discussion coalescing into challenges to one’s thoughts and
sometimes values. It’s usually respectful, and this discourse is what I believe has prepared us
for people who will challenge our Judaism, our beliefs on Israel and our values in general.
When I say "challenges," I mean literally the exact types of challenges we might receive at an
Israel rally (with its yelling, signs and direct affronts to what might be your values). But my
talking, and everyone's talking – it all comes from a love of Judaism that was sparked when we
walked into Shoresh five years ago. Even when we were out of turn we were on point.
Shmuel, Sarna’s American Judaism, Hertzberg’s The Zionist Idea, everything from Rabbi Feld’s
class (from Derech Hashem to Lévi-Strauss), Jew vs. Jew and Real Jews have all changed my
Judaism.
Every time I left a classroom I was a changed person. For the past eighteen years that hasn’t
happened anywhere else. I doubt it will ever happen again. Shoresh has contextualized where
I am as a Jew in America and the world, and instead of blandly prescribing a particular Jewish
worldview, Shoresh has charged and challenged me with discovering my own.
(Class of 2009)
there is constant argument and discussion coalescing into challenges to one’s thoughts and
sometimes values. It’s usually respectful, and this discourse is what I believe has prepared us
for people who will challenge our Judaism, our beliefs on Israel and our values in general.
When I say "challenges," I mean literally the exact types of challenges we might receive at an
Israel rally (with its yelling, signs and direct affronts to what might be your values). But my
talking, and everyone's talking – it all comes from a love of Judaism that was sparked when we
walked into Shoresh five years ago. Even when we were out of turn we were on point.
Shmuel, Sarna’s American Judaism, Hertzberg’s The Zionist Idea, everything from Rabbi Feld’s
class (from Derech Hashem to Lévi-Strauss), Jew vs. Jew and Real Jews have all changed my
Judaism.
Every time I left a classroom I was a changed person. For the past eighteen years that hasn’t
happened anywhere else. I doubt it will ever happen again. Shoresh has contextualized where
I am as a Jew in America and the world, and instead of blandly prescribing a particular Jewish
worldview, Shoresh has charged and challenged me with discovering my own.
(Class of 2009)
During the conflict in Gaza earlier this year, a group of people I know went to pro-
Palestinian rallies on the weekends, had Palestinian flags as their Facebook profile pictures, and
liked to discuss whether the humanitarian situation in Gaza was genocide. The way they spoke
about Israel made me uncomfortable and angry. Still, I did not support the Israeli operation in
Gaza and felt that the damage done to Hamas was not worth the humanitarian toll. But I did not
want my opposition to Israel’s actions to be misread as opposition to Israel. I could not stand by
Israel, but I did not want to stand against her.
The question I have continued to ask myself and explain to anyone who will listen is: "How do I
reconcile my support for Israel with my opposition to some of its actions?" Shoresh has helped
me begin to answer this question.
The discussions in Shoresh have always been, above all else, constructive. Teachers at Shoresh
are smart and open-minded.
At some point a few years into Shoresh, I began to value the time I spent here. I enjoyed
reading Tanach, learning Jewish law, and discussing current Jewish events. I find Jewish
theology so fascinating that I’ve been keeping Jewish Thought Today on my nightstand. It got to
the point this year that I would want to stay at Shoresh longer, standing at the parking lot exit
and talking with my teachers.
(Class of 2009)
Palestinian rallies on the weekends, had Palestinian flags as their Facebook profile pictures, and
liked to discuss whether the humanitarian situation in Gaza was genocide. The way they spoke
about Israel made me uncomfortable and angry. Still, I did not support the Israeli operation in
Gaza and felt that the damage done to Hamas was not worth the humanitarian toll. But I did not
want my opposition to Israel’s actions to be misread as opposition to Israel. I could not stand by
Israel, but I did not want to stand against her.
The question I have continued to ask myself and explain to anyone who will listen is: "How do I
reconcile my support for Israel with my opposition to some of its actions?" Shoresh has helped
me begin to answer this question.
The discussions in Shoresh have always been, above all else, constructive. Teachers at Shoresh
are smart and open-minded.
At some point a few years into Shoresh, I began to value the time I spent here. I enjoyed
reading Tanach, learning Jewish law, and discussing current Jewish events. I find Jewish
theology so fascinating that I’ve been keeping Jewish Thought Today on my nightstand. It got to
the point this year that I would want to stay at Shoresh longer, standing at the parking lot exit
and talking with my teachers.
(Class of 2009)
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| More Seniors Speak About Shoresh |
