Dear CRS Community,
Ten years ago, Larry and Elisabeth Lerner made a gift to our community that would shape generations of teens to come. By establishing the Susan Goodstein Lerner Youth Engagement Initiative in loving memory of their wife and mother, they paved the way for hundreds of CRS Confirmands to deepen their learning, their Jewish identity, and their CRS connection through our Confirmation capstone trip to Berlin, Germany. As we approach a decade since the creation of this transformative learning experience, we know that more teen travel opportunities can only benefit our high schoolers.
With enthusiasm and joy, we announce the launch of our 12th Grade capstone trip to Spain in
May 2025. This 12th grade journey is made possible by support from The Lewis Weinberg Educational Enrichment Fund, established by Erika Weinberg and Matthew Nord in loving memory of Erika’s father Lewis – a dedicated educator. Their generosity will enable CRS to subsidize the travel of every student who wants to participate in this exciting experience.Why Spain? As our seniors prepare to launch beyond the nests of home and CRS, it’s imperative that we position them to enter adulthood with pride in their Jewish identities. We are also obligated to prepare them to encounter Jewish diversity with curiosity and confidence. The Spain trip is an opportunity to expose our oldest teens to the multi-vocality of Judaism. By exploring the rich and different traditions of Sephardic Judaism, we can further drive home a key tenet of our Reform belief – that there is no one right way to be Jewish. Especially as teens explore campus life, new communities, and new relationships, it’s essential that Jewish difference is introduced as a value to be embraced.
The 12th grade trip to Spain will serve four main goals: to nurture ongoing bonds among teens, educators, and clergy, to build a bridge to life at CRS post-high school, to highlight the authenticity of Jewish diversity, and to celebrate the milestone of concluding high school. The Clergy and Education teams are partnering to create a trip where we will explore Jewish history, celebrate your children’s achievements, and introduce them to Jewish life as they prepare to enter a new chapter.
We feel so blessed to now offer such a robust curriculum and travel calendar for our 8th-12thgraders and we look forward to growing with your families.
With joy and anticipation,
Your CRS Clergy and Youth Education Teams
