BY LAURIE KAMENS
"It meant that the program we could offer was not the quality that we really wanted for the students," said Sharon Kamens, acting chairwoman of the newly formed Community Hebrew High School.
Community Hebrew emerged after Central Hebrew officials, looking to solve their registration problem, discovered that the high school at Oceanside's Temple Avodah had had the same problem with enrollment. So the Conservative OJC and the Reform Temple Avodah agreed to merge their high school programs. B'nai Sholom
of Rockville Centre is also involved in the merger. Central Hebrew has students from neighboring towns such as Baldwin, Long Beach and Lynbrook.
"We want to emphasize that there's much more that brings us together than separates us," said Karen Feit, principal of the new high school.
Community Hebrew will open on Oct. 16, and bring many changes in curriculum, faculty and scheduling to the existing programs. "We will make a conscious effort to define both unity and respect for diversity in Judaism," Feit said of the consolidation of Reform and Conservative curriculums.
Asked about the school-s goals, Kamens pointed to its mission statement, which reads, in part: "There is common ground between conservative and reformed Jews that allows us to educate our teens together and to keep them involved in a dialogue on Jewish life."
"We-re pretty excited about this," Kamens continued. "Certainly the OJC and Temple Avodah have had many joint programs in the past, such as holiday programs. Our main concern
s that children continue their Jewish education well into their teens and beyond, and here is a perfect opportunity."
The rabbis involved also sounded positive about the project. "This will set a wonderful precedent for the community," said OJC Rabbi Mark Greenspan. "This will help kids grow up with a ... deeper understanding of what we have in common."
Rabbi Barry Schwartz of Temple B'nai Sholom had a similar reaction. "I can't emphasize enough the importance of higher Jewish learning, he said. It's encouraging when congregations participate together to make a stronger Hebrew high school for the community."
When asked how the merger would benefit his synagogue, Temple Avodah's Rabbi Uri Goren said, "It won't. Like the zebras in
the jungle, there's safety in numbers. It is only as a group that we'll benefit ... This will show that Jews of different denominations
cannot just study together but be together."
Both Goren and Greenspan are scheduled to teach the new, two-tiered curriculum, covering general requirements in the first hour and students- electives in the second, and a social period in between. "We will focus on core values of Jewish tradition, sacred texts and a love of Israel," Feit said.
Greenspan described the school-s value to the community as a place to have a safe dialogue. "It's not about learning skills," he said, "but as my friend Rabbi Goren says, it's an opportunity to understand the world through Jewish eyes."
In addition to academics, the program will expand socially to include students in grades 8 through 12. "We're going to be changing the life of the program," Kamens said. "Socially, the kids will have a lot more friends their age in school."
The projected enrollment for the upcoming year is 50-plus students, with a tuition cost of $345 per student. The new program
will be held Monday nights at 7 p.m. at Temple Avodah, though the school will change locations once again next year.
"The leadership of the temple is looking forward to making sure the program works," said Phillip Perlmutter, president of
Temple Avodah. "We are very positive about it. This is a good thing for the entire community."
OJC President Jonathan Wolf said, "By creating a vibrant place to continue their education, kids can become more enthused about being Jewish. Then, as they grow up, they will join synagogues and have Jewish homes. We gain because the community gains."
And how has the merger been received by the community? Kamens said there hasn't been much reaction from parents yet,
since the process of merging took the entire summer, and registration forms have yet to be sent out. "I can say that, sitting on the school board at the OJC, the parents are definitely interested in this and think it's a good thing," Kamens said.
"It will take time for people to learn how to work together," said Greenspan about the challenges ahead. "It will be a growing experience."
Feit concurred, adding, "This is a wonderful point in time for all of us to raise the bar and think creatively."
B'nai Sholom President Jack Friedman declined to comment on the merger.
Information on the Community Hebrew High School is available from Feit, at (516) 458-8499.
Laurie Kamens is Sharon Kamens-s daughter. Joseph Kellard contributed to this story. Comments about it? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
