About SCY High School

Southern California Yeshiva High School is a boys’ high school dedicated to educating its students to demonstrate competence in the modern world while deepening their commitment to timeless Torah values. In so doing, students are expected to become highly competent and productive citizens of the world while adhering to the positive moral, spiritual, and cultural imperatives of traditional Judaism.

Southern California Yeshiva High School provides a dual curriculum of rigorous Judaic and college-preparatory general studies in a nurturing Jewish environment. SCY High instills within each student a deep love of Israel and of Judaism as his heritage, his identity, and the essence of his future. Judaism is not a dry topic of study; it is a way of life that must be felt within the heart of every student.

Southern California Yeshiva High School Students are prepared to be:

1. Critical thinkers and problem solvers who demonstrate the ability to:
   • Identify significant information and issues
   • Analyze, interpret, and evaluate information
   • Present arguments in written and oral form.
   • Use numbers, symbols, and concepts to solve mathematical and other problems
2. Effective communicators who:
   • Are able to read, write, and speak in at least two languages
   • Incorporate technology as a communicative and learning device
   • Reflect self-expression and aesthetic appeal
   • Demonstrate public literacy
3. Individuals who possess a deep understanding and appreciation of Jewish history and love for the Jewish homeland, Israel
4. Individuals who are self-directed, lifelong learners who pursue knowledge:
   • In a variety of Judaic and secular disciplines
   • Independently from classical Jewish texts
   • By setting high personal goals
5. Able to demonstrate knowledge and appreciation of traditional Jewish values (middot) e.g., charity, kindness, respect, character, self-discipline, and love for the Jewish People.
6. Well-versed in Jewish texts and knowledgeable in Jewish law – able to apply learning to daily life.
7. Collaborative workers in various disciplines.
8. Positive citizens in school and community-at-large who:
   • Show respect for the rights of others
   • Apply Torah principles to their lives
   • Consistently maintain moral and ethical integrity

יפה תלמוד תורה עם דרך ארץ

Talmud Torah is beautified
when complemented by Derech Eretz

-Pirkei Avot 2:2

In order to properly understand this Mishna we must start simply by defining our terms:

What does Derech Eretz mean?

“Derech Eretz” – a term that is used hundreds of if not thousands of times throughout Jewish literature – can mean many things. Literally translated it means the “path of the earth” or the “way of the land” and has traditionally meant “being a mentsh,” i.e., a respectful and caring individual. In the context of the Rabbinic maxim above it is usually explained as meaning “the pursuit of a livelihood.” Some commentaries even include the study of the natural world, and others add those disciplines needed to function in modern society.

What does Talmud Torah mean?

On the most basic and literal level, “Talmud Torah” means the study of Torah texts. Whether they be Rabbinic Writings, Biblical Texts, Halachic Works, works of Classical Jewish Philosophy, Chassidut, Mussar, or otherwise, there is no shortage of texts to stir one’s heart and stimulate one’s mind.

But, on a more abstract level, Talmud Torah refers to more than just ancient scrolls or leather-bound tomes sitting high up on a shelf. Talmud Torah represents the struggle each human being encounters when trying to sanctify their essence. The work of refining our Self and attempting to harmonize our intellect with the Divine Intellect is the work of Talmud Torah. This work is done through the development of relationships with role models, the refinement of speech and action, engagement in Tefillah (prayer) and Chessed (acts of kindness), and the observance of Mitzvot, as much as it is done through the study of texts and tomes.

All of these meanings have informed and guided the formation of SCY High’s four pillars.

We are LIVING JUDAISM

At SCY High, not only do our students receive an academically rigorous Torah education – learning Talmud, Halacha, Tanach, Jewish History and Thought, Chassidut, Mussar, and more is at the core of SCY High – they are also guided and inspired to live the Torah and engage with their Jewish Self through Torah Study, Tefillah, acts of Chessed, Mitzvah observance, and more. Students are encouraged to truly integrate Torah into their lives to achieve the harmony which is expressed in the Mishna above.

We Are RIGOROUS ACADEMICS

At SCY High, we are committed to preparing our students for the most advanced university programs in the world. Our alumni have been accepted to Ivy League universities, internationally acclaimed graduate schools, and have been awarded academic scholarships at the world’s finest colleges. They are flourishing in advanced professions, in academia, and in their continued education.

We Are CARING COMMUNITY

At SCY High, “being a mentsh” extends far beyond the expectations we have for our students. We pride ourselves in being a close-knit school with a family feel. Teachers, faculty, parents, and students all work together and support one another. It is not uncommon to see teachers meeting with students during lunch, administrators meeting with teachers and students to discuss creative solutions to educational challenges, or parents cooking breakfast for special occasions. All this stems from our commitment to “being a mentsh” – all of us, all the time. We support each other, care for each other, respect each other, and love each other. Each student’s success is the success of the whole community.

We are PROUD ZIONISM

Although not explicit in the traditional explanations of the above Mishna, our heart tells us that a strong bond with Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) and Am Yisrael (the Jewish People) is hinted at with the term “Derech Eretz,” and this bond is at the core of SCY High’s educational philosophy. At SCY High, we celebrate Yom Ha’atzma’ut as a celebration of National Revival, we encourage our students to study and serve in Israel after graduation, and the school is permeated by a sense of longing and connection with our Homeland and our brethren. Derech Eretz literally translates to “the path of the land” and we firmly believe that the path to the Land of Israel is that of Derech Eretz.

Built on the foundation of SCY High’s four pillars, our students are truly beautified, for they compose a harmonious symphony of life in which their Torah is complemented by Derech Eretz.