![\"image002\"](\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/files\/image002-207x300.png\")
A group of Jewish public school teens in Kansas recently did their part to promote cultural understanding and tolerance, and all it took was a bagel and cream cheese lunch \u2013 and a willingness to look beyond stereotypes.<\/p>\nA group of Jewish public school teens in Kansas recently did their part to promote cultural understanding and tolerance, and all it took was a bagel and cream cheese lunch \u2013 and a willingness to look beyond stereotypes.<\/p>\n
The students, members of the Jewish Student Union (JSU) club at Blue Valley West High School, held a special club meeting in February with members of the school\u2019s Muslim Student Association. The goal of the meeting was for both groups to not only learn more about each other\u2019s religions, but also to get to know each other outside a classroom setting.<\/p>\n
The teens discussed many topics, including their religions\u2019 respective holidays, languages, foods and modes of dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a cool experience,\u201d says Beth Gasser, a senior at Blue Valley West and president of the JSU club. \u201c[I enjoyed] seeing what makes their lives so special and how it relates to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sherouk Abdelmoipy, also a Blue Valley West senior and president of the Muslim Students Association, agreed, saying that the meeting went \u201cextremely well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe JSU\/MSA crossover provided a nice perspective for both groups on the intricacies of both religions,\u201d she says. \u201c[It also] illustrated some of the similarities that exist that otherwise would have gone unnoticed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rachel Prero, NCSY\/JSU Kansas City Director, who facilitated the discussion at the meeting, said she was pleased when MSA approached JSU with a request to meet.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the challenges Jewish groups often face on college campuses is that movements that supports BDS, like Students in Justice in Palestine, will not engage in dialogue,\u201d she says. \u201cHere was a special opportunity to meet in a relaxed, non-confrontational setting and just talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
And talk the teens did. Prero says the Jewish students were eager to learn more about the hijabs the Muslim girls were wearing, while the Muslim students were curious about Shabbat and keeping kosher. Both groups were also \u201camazed\u201d to find that many words \u2013including \u201cRosh Hashana,\u201d \u201cDay of Judgment\u201d and \u201cShechina,\u201d \u201cDivine Presence\u201d \u2013 are the same in Hebrew and Arabic.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, it was a really positive meeting, and a chance for both groups to look beyond outer appearances and get to know each other as individuals,\u201d she says. \u201cWe are looking forward to meeting again in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ari Shabat, Chairman of the Youth Commission of Midwest NCSY, which runs JSU clubs in more than 30 public schools across the region, called the meeting a \u201cbeautiful showing of peace and communication.\u201d He said he hopes this will be the first of many such meetings at JSU clubs throughout the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeetings like these could change the [anti-Israel] view and rhetoric in our country\u2019s high schools, before the students reach college campuses,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a win for the Jewish People.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A group of Jewish public school teens in Kansas recently did their part to promote cultural understanding and tolerance, and all it took was a bagel and cream cheese lunch \u2013 and a willingness to look beyond stereotypes. The students, members of the Jewish Student Union (JSU) club at Blue Valley West High School, held<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133171,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community"],"yoast_head":"\n