Each year, Wantagh High School welcomes new clubs to its wide variety of available clubs—and this year is no exception. Last year, three new clubs popped up—the Asian Culture Club, Minds Matter, and the World Food Club. This year, there is one unique new club, the Jewish Culture Club, a club for Jewish and non-Jewish people alike to connect with peers and learn more about Jewish culture, holidays, and customs.

I founded this club and got English teacher Ms. Magnuson to supervise it.  The Jewish Club meets twice a month. When a Jewish holiday is on the horizon, the club celebrates it extravagantly; following their Hanukkah candle-lighting with an electronic menorah, latkes, and a fun game of dreidel with chocolate coin prizes, they intend to host a Purim carnival in March and a Mock Seder for Passover in April. They have also fundraised for Lev LaLev Girls’ Orphanage in Israel, dedicated to helping sickly and disabled Jewish girls in Israel, with a bake sale. 

My inspiration was other cultural clubs at the high school, the Dare to Believe Christian Club and the Asian Culture Club. So I thought it was important to establish a club for my religion. The goals of the club are to promote and offer an opportunity for students to learn about the Jewish religion, culture, customs and holidays via fun holiday celebrations and exciting events that provide an immersive and fun Jewish learning experience.