Jewish Studies Club Becomes A nity Group

who identify as Jewish allows for a stronger connection to form between these students.

for holidays at Upper School assemblies to spread positive awareness rather than negative awareness.” ere were multiple steps in this process. e leaders of the group – senior Josh Titens, junior Eliana Campbell and freshmen Mahri Wenzel and Ella Sadka – had to nd a faculty sponsor and create a mission statement. e leaders approached Director of College Counseling

Whensenior Lauren Hazan entered Upper School in her freshman year, she knew something was missing in her Greenhill experience. She wished there was a way for her to nd a community of people similar to her.

Four years later, Hazan reached out to Associate Director of Equity and Inclusion Monsie Muñoz to form a Jewish a nity group.

“I think that my Jewish education encouraged me to build a Jewish community at Greenhill,” Hazan said.

Muñoz encouraged the idea, so at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, Hazan started the process of forming the new Jewish A nity Group.

Jenny Fisher to be their faculty sponsor.

“Being Jewish is very important to me, and so I was really happy to help the students,” Fisher said.

All throughout Fisher’s rst eight years at Greenhill she sponsored the Jewish Studies Club, which this year transformed into the Jewish A nity Group.

“My understanding is that the main di erence between Jewish Studies Club and an a nity group is that a club is open to anyone regardless of how they identify,” Fisher said. “An a nity group is focused more uniquely on kids who identify with whatever the identi er is.”

Hazan said an a nity group that brings together students

“[A club] does not build the same community that an a nity group does,” Hazan said. “I was surprised there wasn’t already a Jewish a nity group, considering the big Jewish population at Greenhill and the [number] of a nity groups.”

Fisher said the O ce of Equity and Inclusion was always supportive of the idea of having a Jewish a nity group, but the decision of whether the Jewish Studies Club would be transformed into an a nity group was up to the students.

[A club] does not build the same community that an affinity groupp does. I was surprised there wasn’t already a Jewish affinity group, considering the big Jewish population at Greenhill and the [number] of affinity groups.” e a nity group came into existence at a time when antisemitism is prevalent on school campuses. A er witnessing acts of antisemitism, Hazan said she was more motivated to nalize the group to give Jewish students a place to express themselves and spread awareness about hatred of Jewish people. e main thing is combatting stereotypes,” Hazan said. “We have discussed potentially having presentations

Campbell said she wanted to make the club an a nity group to bring the importance her family places on Jewish values into her Greenhill life.

“I really wanted to share [our religion] because as a Jewish person, it’s our goal to bring light into the world,” Campbell said.

Antisemitism on college campuses has in uenced Hazan and many other seniors’ college searches.

“It’s really horrible seeing all of the [antisemitism] on college campuses, and I know I’m not the only individual who has to account for it when looking at schools,” Hazan said.

Given the rise of antisemitism in the nation in general, the new Upper School a nity group includes conversations about Jewish hatred on college campuses and Jewish hatred on a broader spectrum.

“I think that with the rise of antisemitism there can potentially be some other conversations that happen, that are very sadly necessary but productive conversations,” Fisher said. “ e di erence now is who’s in the room.”

Now that these conversations will be conducted between only Jewish students, new points may be spoken, Fisher said.

Sophomore Lilly Middleman, a member of the Jewish A nity group, said she is appreciative of having a space to spend time with people who share her religious beliefs. She said she is excited that the group exists as an additional outlet for her to express any questions or observations regarding Judaism.

“I love that there is a place I can go where I can talk and connect with my Judaism,” Middleman said. e leaders of the group said they hope to continue to build a stronger Jewish community through awareness initiatives and interactive holiday activities.

“I’m going to be really eager to see how this grows,” Fisher said. “It’s exciting to see there are student leaders who wanted to do this, and I’m happy to support the students.”