Providing students at public high schools a more in depth and serious study of Judaism is the focus of the Scholars Program developed by the Jewish Student Union. JSU is an organization for students in Kansas City public schools and serves approximately 150 students.
Fifteen students will be chosen, based on their applications, to become a JSU Scholar. The scholars will attend 10 programs beginning on Oct. 15. They will have dinner together and then discuss a topic with an assigned mentor. Each session will also feature a short presentation related to the evening’s topic from a local Jewish leader — possibly a rabbi or a Jewish educator or a professional such as a doctor or lawyer who is active in the Jewish community. Students interested in becoming a Scholars Program participant should go to the website at www.KCJSUSCHOLARS.org and complete the application.
The Scholars Program is a continuation of JSU’s efforts, which began six years ago. JSU strives to connect Jewish teens who attend public schools in the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission school districts with Jewish activities. Each school has a local school sponsor, but the after school events are facilitated by the teens. Hillel Goldstein, the Kansas City director of the program who also heads up the NCSY program in Kansas City, helps as well.
“We try to reach out to the unaffiliated teens,” Goldstein said, “and get them connected and involved in other Jewish activities.”
Goldstein was encouraged to initiate the new scholars program following incidents involving students at Blue Valley North and Blue Valley Northwest high schools last year that produced cries of anti-Semitism. Because of the JSU program, teachers know Goldstein at those schools and went to him for advice.
“Teachers at Northwest approached me to discuss the issue,” Goldstein said. “We were very involved in it because people know us.”
Those incidents also inspired area students to request “more serious learning than was provided involving very practical questions,” Goldstein said.
“I saw a need in the community,” he continued.
Luckily for JSU and Goldstein, the Jewish community’s Funders Council was offering a grant for new learning initiatives in the community at that time. A JSU grant request for funding was accepted.
Goldstein hopes to limit the enrollment in the Scholar Program to 15 students to provide better relationships with the mentors and with each other. The 10 sessions will be held on Mondays, from Oct. 15 until Dec. 17. It is geared toward high school juniors and seniors. However, Goldstein said that any interested and motivated high school student can apply. The cost for the program is $25.
During the two-month program, Goldstein expects to discuss several topics including: “Why do we pray for the government?”; “Can one violate Shabbat to save a life?”; and “Why do we need to give charity, it’s my money?” JSU also plans to hold a second session beginning in January for another group of students.
As an added bonus all participants who complete the program will be eligible for scholarships to attend a follow-up Jewish experience. Students can receive $125 to attend a weekend trip to a BBYO, NCSY or other Jewish youth organization weekend convention. They are also eligible for a $250 scholarship to go on an Israel trip.
Tova Twersky, the volunteer program coordinator for the Scholars Program, hopes the students “develop an understanding of the Jewish perspective on important and life relevant areas, and that they come to appreciate the intellectual and spiritual depths of their religion.”
Twersky grew up in St. Louis and previously helped run JSU clubs in Kansas City in 2009.
Goldstein is also searching for five or six young adults, preferably in their 20s or 30s, to serve as mentors to the students in the Scholar Program. He is hoping to pair no more than three students with each mentor. The mentors must be able to commit to all 10 sessions. Mentor applications are also available on the www.KCJSUSCHOLARS.org website.
Daniel Rosenthal, who grew up in the Kansas City area and attended the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, has already agreed to be a mentor.
“When Hillel asked me to be a mentor, I was very honored,” said Rosenthal. “I hope these students learn as much from me as I know I will from them. I know these students are going to be strong leaders of the Jewish community, and I look forward to being a part of their growth.”
Rosenthal has volunteered with JSU for the past few years, helping with some of the sessions at Blue Valley North High School and Shawnee Mission East High School. He sees the new Scholars Program as an asset to JSU.
“The JSU Scholars Program is an awesome opportunity for these students to shine as future leaders of the Jewish community,” Rosenthal said. “I am very excited to be a part of this program.”