The other day I was sitting at the Shabbos table, thinking that the meal would be just another routine Shabbos meal. This table was different from any other I had sat at before; it included three professors, two academics, a doctor, a man who escaped the holocaust and myself.

They asked me what year I was in school. When I replied I was a Senior at The Academy, they all nodded and immediately moved on to their own conversations.

At one point in the meal I finally asked the question that was bothering me. “What do you think a Jewish Day School student should graduate with?”

Each individual, some whom are Shomer Shabbos, some whom are not, responded with their own opinion. But all agreed that I should graduate with a strong background in Hebrew and ideally be a fluent speaker.

They all agreed I should know Rashi’s methodology, have a basic understanding of the Talmud, own the skills to study Talmud, have a thorough knowledge of the Tanach, among other skills.

This forced me to think about my past three years at the Academy. When I first arrived, the Jewish classes were all discussion based. The only classes that were Jewish and challenging were Hebrew and Zionism.

Several of my classmates recently argued that they thought the Academy needed to go back to the discussion based classes. I disagree, and the people at the Shabbos table were further proof that the “new” Judaic classes were necessary for the Academy.

The Judaics classes really changed last semester my Junior year. For the first time, at least for me, we opened a Hebrew-text Chumash, and studied Torah with mefarshim.

I remember the initial struggle. Slowly over time Judaics became a class I actually paid attention in. I began to apply myself and really care. I began to truly “learn”.

This past year, many Academy students have struggled with the onset of a tougher Judaic curriculum. In my opinion, it was time for our Judaic classes to become real limmud chodesh classes.

I now can say I have opened a Talmud, understand the construction of the daf, know the tractates of the Talmud, have a basic understanding of Jewish History, and that I know the books of the Tanach. I can say that I have studied mefarshim.

Several months ago, Rabbi Margolies posted a questionnaire in the Jewish Chronicle that all Jewish leaders should be able to answer. Many of them were questions that two years ago I would not have been able to answer. It was sad to me seeing that piece to think that once, I would not have been able to answer a simple question like, what does Tanach stand for? Now I find myself more than able, having learned so much in the past two years.

The Judaic curriculum changes have positively impacted me. I have learned and grown so much thanks to my Hebrew and Judaic teachers.

So as I graduate, and head off to school next year, I hope that the Academy continues in its path of strengthening the Judaic studies courses. I wish the teachers and students “rav hatzlacha,” and hope that we all appreciate just how far the Academy Judaic learning has come.