It is hard to believe that it has been almost three years since the idea of Jacksonville Torah High School was first conceptualized. It seems like only yesterday when a school with three students began in the Jacksonville community. Previously, families who wished to continue Jewish studies beyond middle school had to send their children away or uproot and move elsewhere. How fortunate is Jacksonville to watch an idea for another Jewish resource, with the sole purpose of contributing to the continued growth of Jewish education and identity, come to fruition right here? In June of 2019 JTHS graduated our first student and this month celebrated our third “First Day of School.”
Principal Ita Rabinowitz, spent the summer strengthening the curriculum in an effort to ensure a successful year ahead for the returning and incoming students. The Hebrew curriculum, led by Penina Weltman has also been enhanced with the assistance of Jill Abel, Israel Partnership Director at the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville, through the Partnership2Gether Classroom Connection. Students at JTHS will connect regularly with a classroom at an Israeli school to develop relationships with students there, to practice their Hebrew language skills, and to continue to strengthen their ties to Israel. Jacksonville’s Shaliach, Rotem Gabay, will also be contributing to the program by providing resources that will teach students about modern day Israel from the establishment of our Jewish state through present day. We have also added a Jewish History class taught by Chai Gross that is enlightening and en-GROSS-ing. We are grateful to welcome back our returning teachers- Rabbi Yaakov Fisch- Chumash, Rabbi Avi Feigenbaum- Parsha, Penina Weltman-Ivrit, Chai Gross- Jewish History, and Emily Rosenbaum- Math. We would like to extend our warmest welcome to our new staff members- Rabbi Sammy Kahn- Halacha, Rabbi Joey Hamaoui- Navi, and Dr. Elliott Rosenbaum- Practical Spirituality.
The mission of Jacksonville Torah High School is to support the development of Jewish students who will become future leaders that we can all be proud of. For more information about Jacksonville Torah High School, visit the website at www.jaxtorahhigh.com or feel free to contact me at sbecker@jaxtorahhigh.com or (561)908-1841.
Wishing you “Hatzlacha Raba” this school year!
