These are exciting times at the AMIT Yehuda Afula Jr. and Sr. High School. Eli Nissenholz, the school’s new principal, completed his first year at the helm, and the goal of combining the school’s two tracks into one more cohesive learning environment has been achieved to a large extent. The school used to comprise a yeshiva track offering high-level Jewish and secular studies, and a general high school track that was less academically challenging; now the two are much more integrated.
The rationale behind the change is that all students will benefit from studying and socializing with peers from a range of backgrounds, rather than being in a homogeneous environment. Since AMIT Yehuda is the only religious high school in Afula, with a student body of 300 boys from the city and its periphery, it educates teens from strictly observant homes and traditional homes, as well as those from unobservant homes who choose to have a religious high school experience.
AMIT Yehuda Afula also offers students the Israel Defense Forces’ cadet program, which began with a class of 15 boys in the 10th grade. Although not technically soldiers, the teens come to school in uniform and are expected to behave with military-like discipline.
Most of the cadets are expected to go on to vocational junior college, where they will earn a technical certificate. Whether or not they opt for those extra years of education, the program graduates are short-listed for army service in the Israel Airforce’s technology unit. This is a well-respected unit that provides its soldiers with a challenging and meaningful military service. It also helps guarantee them significantly better employment options after their service than they would have had otherwise. In the coming year, a new 10th grade class of 15 boys will begin the cadet program as well.
“The cadet program expands their horizons,” said Principal Nissenholz. “They learn to demand more of themselves and become serious about their studies. You see boys who maybe were trouble-makers suddenly coming to school on time, completing assignments, taking the lead in volunteerism, and so on. Their peers look at them with new respect and their self-esteem goes up accordingly.”
The school has a nearly 100% enlistment rate in the IDF and approximately 75% of graduates choose to attend a pre-army program or do a year of service to further their personal and intellectual development, along with leadership skills and knowledge of the Land of Israel.
AMIT Yehdua Afula also stresses the importance of learning outside the classroom. A range of trips provide the students with opportunities to learn about Israel, develop leadership skills and cooperation.
The school also places great emphasis on living Torah-based values, and acts of chesed are an integral part of school community. These activities are totally student-run, from the conception stage through the planning and implementation.
One particularly impressive chesed project this year was a bar mitzvah celebration that the students put together from A to Z for a young boy who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to mark this major milestone in his life. The 13-year-old bar mitzvah boy is the son of Ethiopian immigrants. He doesn’t study at AMIT Yehdua Afula and his parents are not particularly observant. While they were in favor of him having a bar mitzvah, their difficult economic situation did not allow for much. Upon learning about this young man from the municipal social welfare department, the students at AMIT Yehuda Afula decided to adopt his case. They spent months learning with him, teaching him to lead prayers and read from his Torah portion. They raised money from their families and community, and got numerous businesses to make in-kind donations. Their efforts were so successful that they presented the bar mitzvah boy with a siddur and a brand-new pair of tefillin that he used when called up to read from the Torah. They were also able to hold a lively party in his honor.