Some teenagers spend many years searching for their connection to Judaism. Some wonder about how they can explain to others their relationship to the Jewish religion. 

One way teens can express that connection is through the Student to Student program of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), which brings Jewish high school juniors and seniors to other schools where there are few, if any, Jewish students. 

Student to Student sends four-member groups to schools throughout the St. Louis area and beyond, typically with at least one student in the group from each branch of Judaism. These students give presentations to middle school and high school classes on the different aspects of Judaism. They discuss a range of topics, such as keeping kosher, Jewish holidays, Israel, Shabbat and other activities that highlight life as Jewish teenager. 

“[Students] present to high school classes about what it means to Jewish,” said John Kalishman, president of the JCRC board. “We do this to try to combat stereotypes and foster strong relationships with other groups in the community. We know this touches the lives of students in the classroom, and hopefully this changes their views and stereotypes for their lifetime.”

Kalishman said the feedback JCRC receives from schools hosting the Student to Student program is often very positive. Many times, schools have asked JCRC to send more groups to continue presentations. 

“A lot of the time, the questions students ask reflect a lack of knowledge, rather than anti-Semitism,” Kalishman said. “So having high school students [talk about Judaism] goes a long way toward clarifying knowledge and conveying accurate information. Teachers believe that it provides an enormous learning opportunity for the students in their classrooms.”  

Many students at the host schools have never interacted with Jews. JCRC chooses to send teenagers because the organization has found that students are much more likely to relate to their peers than to adults. 

“I think the program is effective because it’s other high-schoolers [that talk to] the students,” said Pardes Lyons-Warren, Student to Student member and a senior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. “They feel more comfortable when we start to say what school we go to and what clubs we do. It shows them that we’re the same and we can relate to each other on different levels.”

One of the difficulties Student to Student members can face is how to keep what they say strictly in the context of their personal experiences. A skill Lyons-Warren has developed is making sure what she says isn’t misconstrued as reflecting the beliefs of all Jews.

“Group members just answer with their [personal and] family experience,” Pardes said. “We don’t try and talk for our whole religion or for our whole group. We say my branch and my family practices this way. We say that some people do this and some people do that since it’s not the same all across the board.”

Max Baker, a Student to Student participant and a senior at Ladue, applied to join before his junior year and is a group leader at his presentations. He joined the program because he wanted to share the Jewish religion and the impact it has had on his life with as many as people as he could. 

“I decided to join JCRC because it is fun, not time consuming, and we bring Oreos,” Baker said. “The students are always excited to ask us questions, which is a lot of fun. We need to educate others about the Jewish religion. If we do not come and speak, they will only learn about our religion through textbooks.”

Kalishman hopes incoming high school juniors and seniors who are passionate about Judaism will consider applying to  the Student to Student program so they can share their understanding of Judaism with others. The program is open to all who apply, and applications will be available next spring. 

“I would encourage any high school junior or senior who really cares about their Jewish identity, combating anti-Semitism and negative stereotypes, to think about participating in this program,” he said. “They can make a lasting difference in the lives of of other kids.” 

Learn more about the JCRC and the Student to Student program at jcrcstl.org.