In the past month, as I read news and features about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, I feel like the American Jewish community’s unique relationship with Israel has been misrepresented. For countless generations, my family, and many other diasporic Jewish families, have lived in the West and faced the East. Jewish liturgy and modern dialogue cultivate an undeniable Israeli center to the global Jewish...

CESJDS’ partnership with Bishop McNamara High School continued this past week, with 19 students and seven faculty members visiting their campus on Nov. 2. Last year, a group of students and faculty visited Bishop McNamara for the first time in order to build a bridge between both distinct schools and foster cultural and religious understanding by connecting the two communities. “The goal of...

On October 7, Rabbi Candice Levy went through her Saturday morning thinking it was a normal day. As it was Shabbat, she was not using electronics, and as usual, she went to synagogue. The first moment she realized that something was not right was when, during the service, her six-year old son told her, “‘Something’s wrong. The songs are not the same,’” Rabbi Levy explained. ”Because...

Over the past week, I have found myself struggling to put emotions into words. Trying to find logic in a situation where you cannot rationalize another side and their motives. Motzei Simchat Torah, like many people I opened my phone to hundreds of messages, rocket alerts and news articles.  I had decided to spend the last days of chagim with my sister in Toronto to celebrate her recent...

On Oct. 20, CESJDS alumnus Omer Balva (‘19) was killed by an antitank missile fired from Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, while serving as a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on the border with Lebanon. He was a dual Israel-American citizen who was called back to Israel from Maryland once the war began.

Among the many policy changes instituted this year, such as stricter lateness and phone usage policies, a new policy has scheduled an academic class before Tefillah on Thursdays. I never truly appreciated the quintessential Jewish and Heschel practice of beginning each day with Tefillah until it changed. Many students have voiced concerns, all of which further my confusion and uncertainty regarding...