Many people create a sense of home by preserving their beliefs and cultural practices. This year, several students came together to strengthen the Jewish community on campus by establishing the Federation of Jewish Students.
“My aunt started her own Jewish club when she was in high school, and she really inspired me to express more of my culture,” FJS co-president junior Adiv Yair said. “My friend Tom Perel and I decided to start a Jewish club so we could have a safe space to discuss Judaism.”
During their meetings, FJS will explore the lessons of the Torah, a Jewish doctrine, and share the traditions they practice during Jewish holidays. Their aim is to encourage learning and create a sense of community.
“I’m Jewish myself, and I’ve had my own kids go through this school feeling like a minority,” club advisor Vadim Rubin said. “So I’m happy to facilitate a group of Jewish students with common experiences.”
Although Northwood has had several Jewish clubs, all of them were eventually discontinued due to low participation. FJS aims to expand its reach by emphasizing the importance of respecting others’ values so that all students feel welcome.
“Judaism is one of the oldest religions, so a lot of other religions like Christianity were founded off of it,” Yair said. “Just because you aren’t Jewish doesn’t mean you can’t learn about our beliefs and traditions.”
Like many cultures, food is central to many Jewish traditions. Earlier this month, Yair’s family celebrated Rosh Hashanah, which marks the start of Hebrew calendar, by offering blessings and enjoying his grandmother’s delicious recipes, including tbit (rice-stuffed chicken) and challah (braided bread). Since food can serve as a catalyst for conversation and storytelling, Yair plans on sharing cultural foods like these at future club meetings.
“Jewish people are all over the globe, but my family specifically is from the Middle East,” Yair said. “So I will definitely try to make my
grandmother’s food and bring it in for people to try.”
Whether through food or activities, Yair and Perel hope to empower all Jewish students to share their stories with the Northwood community.
“At the first meeting, we played a fun activity to learn about the upcoming Jewish holidays,” club member sophomore Yuval Perel said. “A lot of people don’t care to learn, so it’s good that they learn about some of the holidays or traditions.”
To learn about Jewish culture, attend the Federation of Jewish Students’ club meetings in Room 1101 on even Tuesdays and visit their Instagram @nhsjewishclub.
