“The Mensch Factory”
“In the heart of San Francisco, there’s a school that breaks all the rules: the Jewish Community High School of the Bay. And against the odds, it’s succeeding in ways that defy expectations.”
This week, sociologist Ezra Kopelowitz, CEO of the Israel-based Research Success Technologies, released a report detailing the results of a 15-year study of the alumni of the Jewish Community High School of the Bay. Taking an intentionally and deeply-rooted pluralistic approach, JCHS has succeeded in creating an environment in which students are invested in their Jewish identities, and also, as Kopelowitz says, “JCHS alumni express widespread praise for their JCHS education, with a majority feeling that JCHS prepared them better for college compared to their non-JCHS peers.”
“JCHS alumni provide a fascinating case study. First, these high levels of Jewish engagement were achieved at JCHS alongside high levels of academic preparation,” Kopelowitz notes. “Second, they come from a region that many would say is a challenge for Jewish engagement. Yet, they emerge with a strong sense of Jewish identity and connection to the Jewish people. But the story is still unfolding. With alumni getting married, having children, and navigating a world in flux—politically, culturally, and socially—who knows where the journey will take them?”
“What we do know is that JCHS has created a model that other Jewish day schools might look to for inspiration,” he concludes. “The Bay Area might not seem like the ideal environment for fostering a strong Jewish identity, but JCHS is proving that with the right approach, anything is possible.”
Our alums lovingly refer to JCHS as “the mensch factory.” See it for yourself. Schedule a visit today!
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