When I first came to CESJDS, I was nervous I would feel excluded because of the way I practice Judaism. I’m not very religiously observant, and I didn’t know how I would fit in with people from so many Jewish backgrounds. After five years at JDS, I can say that my nerves were unfounded, as JDS’ pluralism makes the school a space for everyone.
JDS is a pluralistic Jewish day school, meaning the school values “a principled commitment to the diversity of Jewish backgrounds, beliefs and practices of our community,” according to the JDS website. Although I think that is an ambitious goal, I’ve been able to see how it is manifested at JDS firsthand through my everyday experiences at school and with my friends.
As a pluralistic Jewish day school, JDS is one of the only high schools of its kind. While there are other Jewish schools in the surrounding area, many are affiliated with a specific denomination. JDS is unique as it brings Jews from all across the spectrum, Orthodox to Reform, together into one community.
According to the JDS website, as of 2024, the JDS community is 24% Orthodox, 53% Conservative and 9% Reform. Additionally, 12% identify as “other” and 2% as “just Jewish.” In a world where religious differences often divide people, pluralism helps us build a community based on mutual respect and love for Judaism.
One way that JDS demonstrates its value of pluralism is through its many Zman Kodesh (ZK) options, which range from davening ZKs, such as Sephardic Minyan to non-davening ZKs such as journaling. This pluralism allows me to be less or more observant of Judaism than my friends without fear of judgment.
Additionally, having these options helps me explore how I want to practice my Judaism in ways that a strictly denominational school would not. Before coming to JDS, I rarely davened at all. Now, although I still don’t pray habitually, my ZK, Derekh Tefilah, davens a few times a week which allows me to do as much or as little as I want. At JDS, I feel that no minyan path is seen as better or more authentic than the other. Rather, all are considered different ways to express one’s Jewish identity.
Pluralism also creates opportunities for civil debates and discussions about different ways to practice Judaism. Judaism has an incredibly broad spectrum of observance levels, and going to a school with people from a variety of denominations helps people from all sides of the religious spectrum understand the other ways people practice the religion.
Whether it’s in a Jewish text class or just in a lunchtime conversation, I’ve had many opportunities to learn about a tradition or custom that I wasn’t familiar with. For example, since coming to JDS, I’ve learned more from my friends about tzniut, the Jewish concept of modesty, and how it differs from how I observe Judaism. These discussions help my peers and me learn more about different denominations of Judaism and strengthen our ability to listen to perspectives different from us, which is an important life skill.
Pluralism is especially highlighted on grade Shabbatons. My roommates and I had to discuss and compromise about things such as turning on our room’s lights on Shabbat or what minyanim we were each going to attend. This makes the Shabbaton not just a fun trip with my friends, but an experience where I learn more about different forms of Judaism.
That said, pluralism isn’t always easy. Even at a place like JDS where pluralism is a core value, it does not necessarily come naturally. It takes patience and effort to be open-minded. It requires everyone to try to understand and learn about each other’s practices in order to foster acceptance and inclusivity. Pluralism thrives when we ask questions, learn new things and challenge our assumptions and prejudices about others.
I feel grateful to be at a school where there is not just one way to be Jewish. Although it may not always be the first thing on everyone’s mind amidst classes and extracurriculars, I encourage everyone to realize how unique JDS is in this way, and to take these opportunities to learn more about other people’s practices and Judaism itself.
