Fall 2026 Courses

Core Courses (6:30-7:20)

7th/8th Grade 
Rabbi Saks, Teen Funders: Philanthropy in Action (Fall) 

Become a philanthropist and make a real impact! In this hands-on course, students will take charge of a fund and learn how to give strategically using the ChangeMakers: A Journey through Jewish Teen Philanthropy curriculum. Together, they will explore Jewish values around giving, engage in consensus-building exercises, and ultimately decide as a group which organizations to support. Each student will also make a personal giving pledge, reinforcing the power of communal responsibility. 

9th Grade 
Rabbi Emanuel, Jewish Roots, Global People: Who We Are & Where We’ve Been (Fall & Spring) 

What does it mean to be part of the Jewish people? This immersive course explores Jewish identity, history, and sacred texts. In the Fall, students will examine Jewish Peoplehood—exploring global Jewry, denominations, and Israel-Diaspora relations.

In the Spring, they will dive into the Foundations of Jewish Texts, engaging with Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, and Midrash. Students will be encouraged to attend services in all four local synagogues, enhancing their understanding of diverse Jewish practices and deepening their learning in the Tefillah course. 

10th & 11th Grade 
Israel Up Close: History, Society & Identity

Experience Israel beyond the headlines! This course takes students on a journey through Israel’s history, society, and modern challenges. Through interactive discussions, historical simulations, and media analysis, students will gain a deeper understanding of Israel’s past, present, and future.

12th Grade 
Rabbi Shore, Living Your Values: Jewish Ethics & Leadership (Full Year) 

What does it mean to lead a life guided by Jewish ethics? This course challenges students to think deeply about moral decision-making, Jewish leadership, and their personal responsibilities as they prepare for life beyond high school. Through exploring classic and modern Jewish texts, students will engage with contemporary ethical dilemmas, ranging from business ethics to social justice, medical advancements, and political activism. 

This course fosters personal reflection, lively debate, and real-world applications of Jewish values, preparing students to engage meaningfully in Jewish life, their communities, and the broader world.

Electives (7:40-8:30)

Cooking with Chef Nate!
Hone your knife & safety skills, while learning new & ancient recipes to share with friends and family. This class is for students 14+.

Finding Your Madrichim Mojo! with Ora Jezer
How can you be the best Madrich/a that you can be? Come and learn some new skills, as well as tackle new leadership challenges in this new pilot program that will also pair you with an SU Hillel mentor!

Jewish Art with Morah Koester

On the Record: Preserving Local Voices from the Shoah, Eileen Angelini, PhD
Open to 11th and 12th grade students at the Epstein High School of Jewish Studies who have taken Ryan Howlett’s Holocaust course. Special consideration will be given to highly motivated and mature 9th and 10th grade students. Students will conduct some preparatory research outside of class time.

Students will interview Central New York Holocaust survivors, recording their testimony and will then create a video of the interviews. The video will be premiered at the community Yom haShoah observance in May 2027.

In preparation for conducting the interviews, students will explore the history of the survivor’s life before, during, and after World War II, e.g., local survivors’ countries of origin and individual historical contexts. Working in pairs, students will then curate a list of questions specifically tailored to each survivor. Students will also identify needs for archival photos, maps, and other relevant documents to accompany each survivor’s testimony for post-production editing.

Students will be given the time to reflect on what they learn from the survivor’s testimony, particularly on elements from the testimony that they did not expect to learn and/or that surprised them.

Looking for a serious challenge — and a serious reward? SUPA: Hebrew 101 is a college-level modern Hebrew course in which you earn 4 (widely transferrable) Syracuse University credits before you even graduate high school.

You’ll build real Hebrew skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening — while exploring Israeli culture, music, and more.

✅ 4 college credits

✅ A transcript from Syracuse University

✅ A huge boost for your college applications

✅ Hebrew skills you can actually use

✅ Satisfy your future college language requirement early

This course requires commitment: classes meet for both hours of Epstein as well as many Thursday evenings. There’s homework and college-level assessments. But if you’re ready to put in the work, you’ll walk away with 4 college credits and a new connection to the Hebrew language.

📅 Open to 10th–12th grade students

🎓 College credit through SUPA

$460 additional SUPA tuition payable to Syracuse University

Scholarships and SUPA financial assistance may be available.

Spots are limited — reach out now if you’re interested!