After 12 Yrs of Jewish Education...
Is the Year in Israel Necessary?
Ask anyone who knew me in high school- I was pretty focused religiously and academically. Israel for me was not "rehab", the "one last chance at inspiring me" or a year for me to finally "grow up".
So why a year in Israel? Aren't 12 years of Jewish education enough? Why can't yeshiva high schools do what the Israeli seminaries and yeshivot do? With four years of college and perhaps another two to eight years of graduate school and internships ahead of them, shouldn't they get on with their lives?
I posed this question to our graduates studying in Israel this year (see my itinerary below).A few shabbatot ago, twenty boys from the Classes of 2010 & 2011 sat around a table in Beit Shemesh at shalosh seudos, and each one answered the question "what has been the most impactful aspect or event of their year in Israel" .
The answers were varied and, frankly, surprising.
"Realizing that all Jews are brothers- one people"
"Being at the Shalit tent the night he was being released"
"It doesn't matter what one looks like-he can be a serious Jew"
"There is so much to Judaism-there's so much more to learn"
"I have decided who I want to be & what I want to do in life"
When a child leaves home after high school graduation, it's not like going to summer camp. You are now an adult. You have to decide what YOU think, what YOU believe, and who YOU are. Despite only being a (frequent) cellphone call, BBM or e-mail away from their family and friends, these boys said that being in Israel in a yeshiva at this particular and powerful juncture in their lives has made a huge impact on their worldview and personal philosophy.
Where would you rather have these epiphanies? Surrounded by kids from similar homes with similar values, with teachers whose sole focus is your growth as a human being and a Jew? OR on a college campus with professors whose goal is to get their students to reconsider everything their parents and tradition has taught them, with peers whose values are radically different from yours?
"My child shouldn't go to college because they already went to high school". I have never heard a parent say this. The same is just as true with the yeshiva or seminary year.
My year in Israel left an indelible mark on me- it's still guiding decisions I make every day- 30 years later!
Every child deserves to have this experience!
Yeshiva Highlites will appear next on Friday, February 3. Good luck on your midterms and enjoy your vacation!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell
P.S.Two WYHS Grads Were Featured on Fox News!!
