Student to Student

Building Understanding. One Conversation at a Time.

Beginning in the 5787/2026–2027 school year, we will launch Student to Student, a national educational initiative that prepares Jewish high school students to share their personal Jewish experiences with non-Jewish peers.

Students will receive specialized training to tell their own stories, answer thoughtful questions, and foster meaningful conversations that replace stereotypes with authentic relationships. Presentations will take place in classrooms throughout Central New York, helping build understanding at a time when respectful dialogue is more important than ever.

Through Student to Student, our teens will develop confidence as Jewish leaders while making a meaningful impact in schools across our community.

Interested in becoming one of our inaugural Student to Student presenters? This program is open to rising 10th through 12th grade students.

Yom HaShoah Documentary Project

Preserving Memory. Inspiring the Future.

Every survivor's story is a gift. As the survivor generation grows smaller, it becomes our responsibility to ensure their voices continue to educate future generations.

Launching in 2026–2027, the Yom HaShoah Documentary Project will bring together local Holocaust descendants, students, educators, and community partners to preserve family stories through oral history, research, and film. Students will learn interviewing, historical research, and documentary storytelling while helping create a lasting record that honors the past and confronts Holocaust denial and antisemitism.

The project will culminate in the production of an original documentary film, created by and with our students, that will premiere at the 2027 Central New York Yom HaShoah Commemoration. More than a film, it will be a lasting testament to memory, resilience, and the responsibility each generation bears to carry these stories forward.

Together, we are ensuring that memory becomes legacy.

36 Shore Stories

Celebrating 36 Years of Inspiring Jewish Teens

The 5787/ 2026-27 school year will be Rabbi Evan Shore’s 36th year teaching at Epstein! Rabbi Shore has shaped the lives of generations of Jewish teenagers throughout Central New York. His passion for teaching, commitment to Jewish learning, and unwavering belief in every student have left an indelible mark on our community.

Throughout this special year, we'll celebrate his remarkable legacy through 36 Shore Stories—a collection of memories, reflections, and life lessons shared by students, alumni, families, colleagues, and friends.

Every story reflects the relationships, laughter, wisdom, and inspiration that have defined Rabbi Shore's extraordinary 36 years of service.

Do you have a Shore Story to share? We'd love to hear it.

Teen Taste of Israel 2027

The Journey of a Lifetime

Teen Taste of Israel is far more than a trip. It is a transformative experience that helps students deepen their connection to Israel, strengthen lifelong friendships, and discover their place in the Jewish story.

Our 2027 journey will take participants across Israel's remarkable landscapes—from ancient history to modern innovation—while exploring Jewish peoplehood, culture, service, and identity. Students prepare together before departure and continue learning together after they return, making the experience a defining part of their Jewish journey.

Thanks to generous community support and RootOne funding, this extraordinary opportunity costs $750 plus spending money. The application deadline is August 1! Students in grades 8-11 are eligible to apply, and spaces are limited.