Over the past few decades thousands of Jewish teenagers in Arizona have attended Hebrew High, where they not only learned fascinating facts about their heritage and studied Hebrew for credit, they also made enduring friendships. Hebrew High’s programs bring Jewish students together from all walks of life.
Students have varied points of view and religious upbringing and belong to different high schools and synagogues. They are encouraged to take classes with teachers and rabbis who have diverse perspectives. Hebrew High creates opportunities for students to study, work, travel to Israel, perform community service and socialize.
Tess Suchoff attended Hebrew High for four years and graduated from the program in May 2009 before attending Brandeis University. She believes it made a difference in her life for a variety of reasons.
“Going to Hebrew High allowed me to dive into the parts of Judaism that weren’t talked about in Hebrew school. I was able to take control of my Judaism and connect and converse with other students who were interested in some of the same sorts of niche topics such as ‘Judaism in Literature’ and ‘Jewish Literature’ or ‘Why Marry Jewish?’ Also, the teachers more often than not were able to find interesting subjects to discuss or fun ways to present information, such as a legal proceeding to support or deny ethical dilemmas.”
Another student, Sophie Loeb, who graduated from Hebrew High in 2010, explains it this way: ”For me, Hebrew High was sort of just the next step in my Jewish education, but I know that for some, it was their only real connection to their religion or faith. I was always very involved in my temple and in my temple youth group, so attending Hebrew High was what all of my friends did. Despite maybe feeling obligated to go every Tuesday night, I ended up really enjoying Hebrew High.”
Students who attend the program can take Hebrew for high school foreign language credit, which is helpful for both college admissions and the ability to actually speak Hebrew when visiting Israel.
Suchoff says her Hebrew High experience was one where discussion was encouraged by teachers. In addition, she had meaningful conversations regarding difficult topics with her peers, ultimately helping all of them better understand themselves and their community. One of the highlights for many of the students is having a place and a time to meet new Jewish friends outside their high school and synagogue and socialize with their peers.
“A lot of my close Jewish friends went to my high school, but it was also really nice to be able to see some of my other friends who went to other schools or temples or who were older or younger,” Sophie Loeb says.
Hebrew High is a timeless institution where many teachers were at one time students themselves, and many students keep nurturing those friendships throughout college and beyond. Suchoff explains: “I had many friends from Hebrew High and even continued onto college at Brandeis University with a couple of them!
“I liked it because I found the classes interesting and it never felt forced. It was an extra couple of hours a week with friends that I didn’t see every day since I lived in central Phoenix while most of them were in the Scottsdale area, closer to the JCC.”
Loeb, who just graduated from the University of Arizona and is considering a medical career, says: “Honestly, Hebrew High was totally social for me. I did enjoy many of my classes, and I graduated with a degree in honors, so I did end up taking many thought-provoking and challenging classes, but it was more of a place and time to be with people who shared my religion. I liked the community feel and the opportunity to learn from others I normally wouldn’t get to learn from.”
Loeb continues, “As someone who has always been involved in 10,000 things, Hebrew High was just another piece of my puzzle. My senior year, I ended up missing a lot of Hebrew High Tuesday nights due to my intense dance rehearsal schedules, and I really did feel like I was missing out. Hebrew High had become a piece of me those past few years, and it was strange not counting on being at the JCC those Tuesday nights. I guess I didn’t notice the impact it truly had until it was ending!”
Masada Siegel is a graduate of Hebrew High and has been an instructor in the program for the past seven years. She is a freelance reporter, author and consultant. For more information, masadasiegelauthor.com.
