By Eva M. Trieger
SAN DIEGO — This city is home to a few Jewish day schools and each one has a special niche. I only recently became aware of the incredible aspects of Torah High, the only girls-only Jewish high school available to the community. What makes this school unique?
In his office crowded by auction goodies for the upcoming fundraiser, to be held this Sunday, March 10th at 5 pm, I grabbed a few moments from the rabbi’s inundated schedule to learn about the challenges of running this amazing school and attempting to host a successful gala that would bring new money into the school for all of the unbelievable programming that goes on here.
The school is small. Forty seven girls attend. For this small number, Rabbi Peikes and his board seek out the best and brightest, most qualified teachers, many of whom are part time. They come from area colleges and high schools, and are imminently skilled. Some teachers come from San Diego State University, some from Mesa College, one from Scripps Ranch High School, and another from La Jolla High School. Other teachers are retired but come to teach a class out of a passion for sharing their gift.
Why hire 52 teachers for only 47 girls? Because this school and their rabbi love to cater to the individual learning desires of their students. Over 150 girls have graduated and they attend seminary in Israel and 4 year colleges all over America. Many of the girls who attend Torah High set the bar very high for themselves. They want advanced placement (AP) classes that aren’t available just anywhere. When they told the administration they wanted to take AP Engineering, AP Biology, AP Art History, the school listened and brought in incredible teachers. The goal wasn’t only to make the girls proficient in that area, but to “empower them to become passionate” Rabbi Peikes explained. The beauty in hiring part-time staff from so many institutions added to the flexibility in the scheduling.
As we in education all know, time is our biggest enemy. With this in mind, Rabbi Peikes scheduled these elective classes before the time for davening. Not only did this ensure that students arrived on time, but it also kick started their day with a course that they specifically requested. The current administration has wooed many groundbreaking individuals, and from my first-hand interactions I can relate that these teachers are devoted. In my communications with just a few, Elaine Lepow, Elisheva Edelson and Judy Kelin, it is clear to me that these teachers are among the most devoted and committed I’ve ever met in an academic environment.
Torah High is hosting its Casino Night this Sunday night, March 10th, on the campus of Congregation Beth Israel, 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego. (Torah High School, which operates under Orthodox auspices, leases space from the Reform congregation.) Casino Night is an important event and fundraiser for the school. This event goes a long way towards ensuring that programs that are in place can continue and that anticipated programs will come to fruition. Your donations and attendance will show support and commitment to creating a thriving, vital Jewish future for San Diego’s young Jewish women.
Tickets may be purchased at torahhs@yahoo.com or if you cannot attend this auspicious event, raffle tickets will also support this worthwhile effort.
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Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com