Oceanside and Uniondale students bridge cultural divides at Sikh Temple visit in Glen Cove

In a demonstration of cultural understanding, students from Oceanside High School’s Bridges program, and their counterparts from Uniondale High School, made an educational visit to Temple Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur, a Sikh temple in Glen Cove, last Friday. The visit, part of an ongoing effort to foster interfaith and cultural understanding, gave students firsthand insights into Sikh religious practices, traditions and values, including the faith’s emphasis on equality, service and devotion.
“The coolest part is that everyone is out of their comfort zone,” said Joe LaTorre, an English teacher at Oceanside Middle School and a co-founder of the district’s Bridges program. “We’re creating similarities by sharing a new experience together.”
Bridges program is a tool for inter-district collaboration, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to connect. The program, to which they apply by writing an essay about a societal issue they want to change, is now in its eighth years, and starts in seventh grade, with students forming lasting relationships across both districts. They learn to engage in conversations about challenging topics like immigration, while respecting differing viewpoints.
David Hollander, Uniondale’s director of Social Studies and co-organizer of the event, noticed the geographic and cultural divide between Uniondale and Oceanside, despite the fact that the schools were only a few miles apart. The program is intended to bridge that gap, and the aim of the field trip was to introduce students to the Sikh religion, its culture and food.
“This is exactly what we want to see — students engaging with different cultures and understanding diverse perspectives,” Hollander said.

When they arrived at the temple, the students were given an overview of Sikhism, one of the world’s youngest major religions, founded in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak. Their hosts explained key aspects of their faith, including the significance of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism’s central religious scripture. Students observed the use of the chaur sahib, a ceremonial whisk waved over the holy book as a sign of respect.
“They really emphasized that Sikhism isn’t a religion, it’s more of a lifestyle,” Oceanside student Max Greenberg said. “They were so open about being, nondiscriminatory, very open for equal rights for everyone. It’s really interesting.”
A major topic of discussion was the Sikh turban, a symbol of faith and commitment. Asked whether different colors held special meaning, Temple Gurdwara representatives explained that while personal choice influences the color selection, all turbans symbolize discipline, equality and devotion.
“The Sikh religion almost evolved … they really are OK with everyone,” Uniondale teacher Sanjay Singh said. “The core of the religion is inclusivity.”
Students also asked about milestones in the faith. Unlike bar mitzvahs in Judaism or first communions in Christianity, Sikhism does not have age-based initiation ceremonies. However, many young Sikh boys take participate in a turban-tying ceremony, signifying their transition to maturity and responsibility.

Sikh values and way of life
Students explored the Sikh approach to lifestyle choices, including the emphasis on honesty, discipline, and avoiding intoxicants like alcohol and tobacco. They also learned about the importance of marriage, as Sikh weddings (Anand Karaj) are deeply spiritual ceremonies held in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The discussion also highlighted gender equality, with students learning that Sikh teachings affirm that men and women are equal in all aspects of life.
“This is place-based learning, where they get to actually experience what they’re learning rather than just learning it out of a textbook,” Uniondale teacher Jillian Pallone said. “I heard a lot of the girls saying how they were happy that they can see that women are playing equal roles in this religion, because in other ones they’re not.”
The students also learned about the Khanda, the prominent Sikh emblem, and that the Guru Granth Sahib was written during the gurus’ lifetimes, unlike many religious scriptures that were compiled posthumously. They also discovered that there are a number of gurdwaras on Long Island and across New York, serving as spiritual and community hubs.

Cultural exchange through food and hospitality
A highlight of the visit was Langar, the Sikh tradition of serving free meals to all visitors regardless of background. As part of Sikhism’s commitment to seva (selfless service) and equality, every gurdwara operates a community kitchen, where volunteers prepare and serve vegetarian meals to anyone in need.
The students shared a meal while discussing about Sikh hospitality and the importance of service in the faith.
“We try to do at least one off-site, non-high school thing a year, and we try to do a different one each year,” LaTorre said. “In four years, the kids always get new experiences.”

Reflections on an eye-opening
experience
The visit concluded with reflections on t,he importance of understanding different faiths and cultures. The students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn directly from members of the Sikh community and gain a deeper appreciation of diversity.
Singh, who is Indian and practices Jain, a religion similar to Buddhism, highlighted the impact programs like Bridges have on students.
“I grew up post 9/11, and everybody looked at people like us as terrorists, Osama, whatever,” Singh said, “Honestly, this generation really is not like that. I remember the first year we did this, I saw white and black and Latino kids wearing turbans. I was like, ‘This feels like a fever dream right now.’”
By providing an opportunity for meaningful conversations and shared experiences, the trip to Temple Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur reinforced the Bridges program’s mission: fostering mutual understanding, respect and lifelong learning among students from different backgrounds.
“The idea here,” Hollander said, “is that being a global citizen means being out of your comfort zone, being able to engage with cultures, and being able to understand.”