When many St. Louis Jewish families talk about sending their kids off to college, the conversation often turns to antisemitism. It’s a worry that’s only grown louder in recent years. Headlines about campus protests and hostility toward Jewish students are now common. This fall, two local congregations are taking action before their teens leave home.
Congregation B’nai Amoona and United Hebrew Congregation have been selected as two of only five synagogues in the country to pilot the Beren Scholars Program, a national effort to prepare Jewish high school juniors and seniors for what they may face beyond graduation.
The program launched last year at Los Angeles’ Sinai Temple, funded by the Robert M. Beren Family Foundation. After a successful first year, Sinai’s Rabbi Erez Sherman invited four other synagogues—New York, Miami, Houston, and St. Louis—to join the initiative.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham of B’nai Amoona said he jumped at the opportunity. “I thought it would be an incredible way for our 11th and 12th graders to connect with other teens from around the country, but also to really become better prepared to combat the antisemitism they are going to face when they arrive on a college campus,” he said.
“I heard about the program from my Rabbi and when I heard about this opportunity I felt like it would be really good to be a part of,” said Evan Abowitz, a junior at Parkway Central High School and member of B’nai Amoona.
Abraham said he and Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg of United Hebrew had already been in discussions about teen programming, and the Beren Scholars project offered the perfect fit.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We were thrilled to partner with B’nai Amoona for the Beren Scholars program,” said Rabbi Rosenberg.“The goal is to help teens talk about being Jewish and prepare for college, but what’s really powerful is bringing Jewish teens together. Even though all our students are from St. Louis, they bring different perspectives as young Jews.”
“Going to a school with no Jewish activity, I have gotten to hear the stories of other students from different schools in the area and the experiences they have had,” said Erin Greenblatt, a senior at Pattonville High School and member of United Hebrew Congregation. “Talking with one another we give, and receive, ways to cope with the antisemitism at our schools and how to respectfully educate others.”
The group has met only twice, but Rosenberg said they’re already seeing the impact. Teens are learning from one another and discovering how different their Jewish experiences can be.
Each session begins with a national Zoom featuring guest speakers—among them Rabbi David Wolpe, Sarah Idan (Miss Iraq), Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League and Rev. Johnnie Moore—followed by local discussion in St. Louis. Students also read “10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College” as a shared text to guide conversation.
“I feel like now I’m more prepared to communicate or solve any situation I may go through during this time,” Abowitz said.
“I think our teens don’t always know how to respond to antisemitism, and sometimes it’s masked in ways they don’t recognize,” Rosenberg said. “When they get to college, they’ll encounter people with different views and experiences, and they’ll hear things they’ve never heard before. We need to make sure our students feel good about being Jewish, so when they’re questioned or challenged, they feel strong enough in their identity not to shy away or hide.”
The yearlong series will culminate in a leadership weekend in Los Angeles over MLK weekend, where all five synagogue cohorts will come together for Shabbat, workshops, and national speakers.
“I would tell another Jewish teen to never back down from who you are, no matter how much hate surrounds you,” Greenblatt said. “The Jewish community is stronger than the antisemitism around us and can get past it.”
“I love that this program is bringing together teens from two congregations to learn from and with each other and build relationships with one another,” Rosenberg said. “And, in interacting with teens from other cities, I am hopeful that they will gain an appreciation for the Jewish community here in St. Louis and the experiences they have here.”
“These teens are going to be the faces of Jewish life on campus next year,” Abraham said. “If we can give them strength, knowledge and community before they go, that’s something every St. Louis Jew can take pride in.”
