Ivry Prozdor Graduation Speech: Seth, Class of 2009

The Rebecca and Israel Ivry Prozdor High School

"When I was going—for the very first time—to The Jewish Theological Seminary, which had that very impressive, dignified name, I showed up on that very first day in a suit. Luckily, this was still eighth grade, so I could tell people I was going to a bar mitzvah party.

"The great thing about Prozdor is that we come from a variety of backgrounds and our teachers also come from a variety of backgrounds: some are students here and some are students elsewhere, and some are rabbis who have already had their training. But regardless of our religious backgrounds, we have all learned that Judaism is a multifaceted experience, and over the past few years here, we have explored that experience and every aspect of our faith from every possible viewpoint. And we have reached many different conclusions.

"Some Prozdor students are fervent believers and some have more of a cultural appreciation, but despite our differences in beliefs, we are all members of a Jewish community and we all feel that bond deeply. I hope and know that we will continue to feel that bond with Prozdor and our Jewish community in general, and that we will continue to have that for many years to come."