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September 17, 2010
A Jewish education for teens
TAG and Torah High provide learning and shmoozing.
MICHELLE DODEK
How do the majority of Jewish teens in the Lower Mainland continue their Jewish educations in a meaningful, relevant way if they choose secular public or private high schools? There is more than one option for those interested in following up their bar and bat mitzvah learning with something more mature and in-depth. There is even a chance to earn credits toward graduating from high school.
Both TAG and Torah High will be welcoming students at King David High School every Monday night, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., starting Sept. 20. Although the programs have different emphases, they have consciously decided to meet at the same time and place in order for students to be able to shmooze and to see that Jewish community – and its diversity – is important.
TAG Jewish Community Supplementary High School has been around for more than 15 years and is open to all Jewish teens. The program has evolved since its inception and organizational support for it has increased. Currently, sponsoring agencies include Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah, Or Shalom, Temple Sholom and Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. There is even a bus hired that picks students up at Beth Tikvah in Richmond and brings them to KDHS.
The new director of TAG is Noam Dolgin, who is well known in the community for his Jewish environmental and outdoor education programs.
“The strength of this program is its diversity,” said Dolgin of TAG. “We have four shuls involved, kids come from the Hebrew schools and some from Talmud Torah and RJDS [Richmond Jewish Day School].”
Clearly enthusiastic about the work ahead, Dolgin explained that TAG has developed a new multi-year program for students in grades 8 through 12. Themes for each grade determine the class they take in the first hour with their age cohort each week. These themes include personal Jewish identity, Israel advocacy, Jewish history, justice and tzedakah. After a break and the chance to socialize with all the TAG and Torah High students, the participants in grades 8-11 split into their elective classes. The new Grade 12 leadership program keeps the most senior students occupied both hours of the evening. “We wanted to focus on leadership and life post-high school for the Grade 12s,” Dolgin explained. “They’ll have lots of field trips and guest speakers.”
Dolgin advertises his program as a “vibrant Jewish educational and social environment for youth.” He suggested that the best endorsement for TAG was that a former student told him that TAG was the absolute highlight of their week.
Torah High also comes with accolades. Last year, there were 40 students in the program and the current director, Rabbi Stephen Berger, is anticipating that the numbers will be stronger this year.
Created and designed by the youth division of the Orthodox Union, the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, Berger explained that a number of the courses at Torah High are accredited through the B.C. Ministry of Education. As a result, students who satisfactorily finish Hebrew language courses or a course on Jewish philosophy earn elective credits toward high school graduation.
“Every kid should ideally go to a Jewish high school, but if they don’t go, Torah High is an excellent option,” he said. “Most of NCSY’s kids are at King David High School, so our students are from other private schools and public schools.”
Berger has set up meetings with school counselors at public schools to alert them to the opportunities that Torah High offers to Jewish students in grades 10-12. He also has a Facebook group.
Torah High offers both classroom and experiential learning. While 75 percent of the time is spent in class, the other 25 percent is spent doing Jewish activities because action is part of being Jewish, said Berger.
“We have arranged a private meeting with Alan Dershowitz for students in our Israel advocacy class after he speaks to the community,” the rabbi explained by way of example. “Other Jewish experiences include going to Shabbatons in cities like Edmonton and New York with NCSY to keep Shabbat and be with other Jewish teens. We latch on to whoever is doing something. We’ll have people participating in the Beth Israel Whistler weekend for part of their credits.”
A new course Torah High is offering this year is aimed at helping students who will soon be facing difficult situations on university campuses. Titled Israel in Jewish Identity: A Jewish Leadership Course, the class features facts and discussions on emerging Israeli policy and public relations battles.
Both Torah High and TAG are still accepting applicants. Dolgin mentioned that, if students can’t fit TAG into their schedules this term, TAG’s second term begins in January, with the option to start at that time. For more information about either program, visit tagbc.ca and vancouver.torahhigh.ca.
Michelle Dodek is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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