From the Western Wall to the West Coast

Recent events in Israel have led to changes in the Hebrew Immersion Program, also known as H.I.P., in which the 10th-grade students spend six weeks in Israel, immersing themselves in the culture and language.

H.I.P is postponed until the 2024-2025 school year, according to a new email that was sent from DJDS Head of School Avi Halzel. 

On Wednesday, October 25th, trip coordinator Melanie Knowles and DJDS Science teacher, announced that all H.I.P. students will have the option to choose between going to San Francisco or Washington D.C. the week of high school trip week. 

These were chosen after deliberating on other options such as Toronto, Augusta, and even Panama City. 

“It has been a lot. I feel a big responsibility to ensure that you have a great trip experience and we’re trying to do it in a short period of time and in a new city,” Knowles said. 

Avi Halzel says it is likely next year’s H.I.P. trip will be a combination of rising sophomores and juniors. Otherwise, current 9th graders will have to wait another year and go with the current 8th graders. 

The other chaperones on the trip to San Francisco include Melanie Salniker, DJDS Upper Division Learning Resource Center Assistant and Math Teacher, and Joshua Dermer, DJDS Upper Division Hebrew Teacher. Upper division principal Dr. GT and upper division English teacher Tia Woods will be chaperoning the D.C. trip. 

Many DJDS students are expressing mixed feelings about their upcoming trip during high school trip week. 

“I feel sad [that we can’t go on H.I.P.] but I understand that we can’t go into an active war zone for a school trip,” said Koby Nadel-Mansdorf, DJDS 10th grader, “I chose to go to D.C. because I feel that it’s a more experienced trip and better.”

David Monastyrsky, another DJDS sophmore, chose to go to San Francisco. 

“I feel safer because there is a war going on in Israel," Monastyrsky said “I chose San Francisco because I liked how friends are going there and I’m excited to go surfing.”