Unlike previous graduating classes, the class of 2026 will not be spending their second semester of senior year with Alexander Muss High School in Israel on the Irene and Daniel Simpkins Senior Capstone Trip. When the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran the day before the seniors were set to depart for Israel, the trip was cancelled indefinitely, leaving the senior class with an abnormal end to their high school experience.
According to High School Principal Lisa Vardi, a team of administrators, teachers and families have been working hard since spring break to send the seniors on part of their trip.
“We just thought, ‘okay, we need to pivot,’” Vardi said. “And what we decided to do is to put together a three-plus-week trip to Central Europe.”
After weeks spent traveling internationally with friends, working various day jobs and finding many activities to fill their empty days, the class of 2026 is departing for Warsaw, Poland, on April 23.
The Capstone trip usually includes a brief visit to Central Europe, lasting around 10-12 days. This three-week trip, planned by Vardi with the help of the Jewish tour company Ayelet, is a more extensive visit of Europe. The graduates will visit various Jewish and non-Jewish historical sites in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Jewish teens from the area that we go to, and also seeing the Jewish history portion of it all,” senior Bee Kotler said.
When Vardi initially got word from Alexander Muss that the Israel trip was fully cancelled, she immediately began to think of an alternative for the seniors. It was very important to her that they be able to experience their Jewish roots and bond as a grade.
Vardi and Ayelet drew up an itinerary and sent a copy to the seniors and their families to allow them to respond with feedback. After hearing their concerns, the itinerary was adjusted accordingly so that the 61 students who signed up for the alternative trip could have the most ideal experience. In addition to more outdoor activities and free time, a two-day hiking trip in the Swiss Bohemia was added.
While the class of 2026 and their families were ultimately disappointed that they would not be going to Israel, they are grateful that JDS has worked hard to ensure that they do have a final senior experience.
“Getting to go to countries in Eastern Europe that have different cultures presents all kinds of opportunities for them,” senior parent Ben Greenblum (‘97) said. “So I do think that there’s things that they can get out of this that they wouldn’t have gotten out of going to Israel.”
A special aspect that Vardi is excited about for the trip is the Shabbat experiences in different European locations. Graduates will be able to daven in historic Jewish synagogues and choose from several different pluralistic communities.
There will be five rotating teachers chaperoning the graduates, with Athletic Director Becky Silberman being the admin on duty for the first part and Vardi taking over for the last few days. Vardi emphasized her gratitude for the teachers who worked the trip into their schedules in order to create this experience for the students.
“I think that it’s really great that JDS put a lot of effort into finding a different experience for our kids this year,” Greenblum said. “This is a very difficult time, and it wasn’t really JDS’s responsibility to find a way to work around the war and the situation in the Middle East. The fact that JDS did that and was able to pivot and find an opportunity for the kids is really fantastic.”
Vardi is thrilled at the opportunity to design an experience in place of the Israel trip, and that the seniors will be able to learn about their rich history in a special way.
“I’m really excited for the students, and I’m very proud of the way in which we designed this experience,” Vardi said.
