Student Voices
Kehillah High is something that earns credit for being a significant turning point in my life. I grew up in Pasadena and attended a small suburban synagogue with little to no opportunities to continue my Jewish education as a post-Bat Mitzvah teen. I never had any other Jewish friends growing up in a predominantly Christian environment and had no idea of the extent of the Greater Houston Jewish community. After attending the Alternative Winter Break Trip to New Orleans, my eyes were opened to an entirely new perspective. I was introduced to all these other teenagers just like me that I never knew existed. From then on I knew I was meant to get more involved in the Jewish community by continuing my education at Kehillah High, and even serving on the Leadership Team.
In 2021, I was given the biggest opportunity and blessing I’ve received thus far in my life — visiting Israel with Kehillah High along with close friends, my sister, and others I would get to know better. The sights we saw, the activities we did, the constant learning, and the memories will be something I will carry with me as long as I live. I was inspired so much that I will now be taking a gap year in Israel in the upcoming fall and couldn’t be more ecstatic.
Kehillah High opened the door for me to make life-long friends, form new opinions and alter my way of thinking. It allowed me to open my heart and mind up to Judaism and have a deeper understanding and thirst for learning. Looking back, I cannot believe the butterfly effect this simple four-day voyage with a bunch of strangers would turn into.
- Amy Nossal, Class of 2022
To say that my life would be different without Kehillah High is an understatement. Kehillah High has helped to shape me into the person I am today. Through Kehillah High, I have learned valuable leadership skills and how to converse with those I might not necessarily agree with. I have learned that Judaism isn’t just something that belongs to me, it’s something that binds a community and creates a sense of hope in dark times and happiness in others. Kehillah High has offered me an escape from the stressful world of being a high school student in a public school and given me a place to talk about something other than algebra and chemistry. Kehillah High offers me a place to meet people and become friends with kids like me. Kehillah High provides a place for teens to take a break from the real world to make life-long friends and talk about issues important to them. One of my favorite parts of Kehillah High is the friends that I’ve made. The bonds I’ve created, I am sure will last a lifetime. Kehillah High has provided a place where I can see my friends that I otherwise wouldn’t ever see due to distance and busy schedules. I am forever grateful for the skills I’ve learned, bonds I’ve created, and opportunities granted through Kehillah High.
-Mikayla Kaplan, Class of 2022
My favorite part about Kehillah High is the friendships I have made through the program. By connecting three synagogues in the Houston area, I am able to meet new people and continue to learn about and practice Judaism with them. The friendships I have made at Kehillah High as well as what I’ve learned about Judaism and its impact on the world around me will last long past my time at Kehillah High. -Bailey Maierson, Class of 2021 |
Kehillah High’s innovative program provides an educational curriculum dedicated to teaching teens not only about Jewish values and traditions, but how those can be applied to the challenges they may face in school and throughout their lives. -Jack Alberts, Class of 2020 |
Kehillah High is truly a place for every Jewish teen, because no matter our differences or quirks or whatever, we are all Jewish and leading the Jewish community together. Kehillah High is something I look forward to every Wednesday, because I get to see my friends, teachers, and rabbis. It's a place to find out which parts of Judaism interest you because the teens have input in what we get to learn. It is a place where I am really happy! |
When I heard about Kehillah High in the summer before junior year, I had no idea what to expect. Over the past two years at Kehillah High I have not only learned about interesting and relevant Jewish topics and their implications on everyday life, but also made life long friends who I would never had met if not for this program. I am so happy that I continued religious school at Kehillah High. -Jake Greenberg, Class of 2017 |
Kehillah High is a great way for me to learn more about Judaism. I also love the incredible teachers and feel that I can talk to them if I need to. -Carol Lahana, Class of 2019 |
Attending Kehillah High this year was one of the best decisions I made in high school. Not only did I continue my Jewish education while attending public school, but also got the opportunity to attend AIPAC Policy Conference, which I will remember for the rest of my life. -Rebecca Burd, Class of 2016 |
Kehillah High has been an amazing experience. I live over an hour away in a smaller town – Lake Jackson. There is no synagogue, so I have been coming to Brith Shalom for Hebrew school classes since I was in second grade. I have met many wonderful people here throughout that time. However, from being in Kehillah High this year, I have been able to meet even more people from different schools and synagogues. The classes have been diverse and it has been cool to have classes at the other congregations, as well as a variety of other places. I was also given the incredible opportunity to go to AIPAC Policy Conference this year through Kehillah High. There I learned a lot and I was able to bond with my peers more closely. I am very thankful to have been able to participate in Kehillah High. I think this has been a great first year, and unfortunately my last. I am honored to be part of the first graduating class of Kehillah High and I hope there are many more to come! -Emilee McGill, Class of 2016
