Embracing Identity: The Importance of a Jewish High School Education

At de Toledo, we help students take pride in their heritage, culture, and religion as they grow into confident young Jewish adults. Young adults face pressure from every direction. Pressure to fit in. Pressure to be “cool.” To like the right bands. The right movies. The right clothes. Without a firm foundation or a sense of belonging, these pressures can be overbearing. A Jewish education, particularly one that instills a strong sense of identity grounded in history, wisdom, and knowledge, provides the foundation teenagers need. Tahlia M., a 2023 de Toledo grad shared, "At de Toledo, I was able to take so many different pieces of my life and find what my Judaism meant to me... and now I want to keep learning about that in college." A de Toledo education empowers young Jews to explore the world with confidence and purpose.

One distinctive feature of the de Toledo experience is the Shabbaton. Every year, we hold a four-day Shabbat retreat at the beautiful Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University. The retreat provides students a unique and powerful time to connect to their faith, one another, and their shared values. de Toledo students regularly share that the Shabbaton is “life-changing.” The retreat is a powerful validation of our uniquely holistic educational approach. Junior Eden S. shared, “The Jewish education at de Toledo makes Judaism come to life in a whole different way! From Shabbaton and our holiday celebrations to all of our ‘tikkun olam’ (community and charity) activities, being Jewish has become something I consider core to who I am.”

 

At the same time, de Toledo students also participate in our school’s one-of-a-kind Global Jewish Education program, which includes the opportunity to go overseas and study at Jewish schools, all the while living with Jewish host families. Our partnerships now encompass schools in Israel, Uruguay, Hungary, Turkey, Uganda, and Mexico! These programs support a sense of Jewish peoplehood and bolster our students’ spiritual and emotional sense of life purpose and self-identity.

In the current social and political climate, Jewish high school students face unique challenges as they move on to college and beyond. de Toledo 2018 grad, Rachel S., said, “It has become so abundantly clear to me how important it is to have a Jewish community, and I’m so grateful to de Toledo for providing me with that…especially now!”  We know that college campuses can be a battleground for identity, and one of our fundamental tasks is to help students feel comfortable and confident in their Jewish identity. We strive to prepare our students with the context and knowledge needed to navigate the world proudly as Jews. Sophomore Goldie M. shared, “though I’ve always considered Judaism to be my religion, being here at de Toledo has, maybe for the first time, made me feel like it’s part of my core identity.”  By helping prepare students for the challenges of adulthood, de Toledo acts as a bulwark against ignorance, intolerance, and prejudice.

The de Toledo Jewish Studies curriculum is designed to challenge and excite students from a wide array of backgrounds and religious practices. For students interested in textual study, we offer coursework in Honors Tanakh and Talmud, and for students with little or no formal Jewish background, we provide introductory classes and programs to learn about their Judaism.

 

de Toledo’s Jewish Studies program also includes classes focusing on the environment, gender, justice, speech & debate, and philosophy – all curated through Jewish sources and perspectives.   This immersive approach provides our students with a unique set of tools for critical thinking, living purposefully, and navigating the diverse landscape of the world. Overall, our school’s Jewish tapestry builds a source of strength and resilience that will ultimately help our students navigate the challenges and complexities they will face at college and in their adult lives.    

 

de Toledo is a beacon for Jewish teenagers navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence. By providing a nurturing environment, fostering a strong sense of identity, and equipping students with the knowledge they need, we empower the next generation of Jews to face the world with pride, confidence, and a deep connection to their heritage.