As the school year comes to an end, senior co-presidents of Park’s Jewish Student Union (JSU), Hannah Wolk and Esther Gendler, reflect on leading the club this past school year.

According to Gendler, JSU has been a staple of her high school experience, and she said she enjoyed leading the club this past year.

“It’s been great to help out with planning the meetings and to see the strength of our local Jewish community here in St. Louis Park,” Gendler said.

Wolk said that she felt similar to Gendler, appreciating the club for how its helped her find a deeper connection to Park’s Jewish community.

“I loved being JSU president this year because it was a way to strengthen relationships with my Jewish peers at St. Louis Park High School who I wouldn’t necessarily see,” Wolk said.

Junior JSU member Leila Raymond said she hopes next year’s leaders will continue Gendler and Wolk’s mission to make the club and its discussions open to students from all backgrounds.

“I really appreciate this year’s presidents’ inclusivity. They’ve worked really hard to make JSU a great place for everyone,” Raymond said.

Wolk said she feels Park’s Jewish student union is an important club for Jewish high school students.

“(Park’s Jewish Student Union) allows kids to be involved in the Jewish community and engage in meaningful discussions,”  Wolk said. “We also have JSU dinner and learns and those are a great way to get connected with Jewish teenagers from other high schools.”

Raymond said her favorite part of JSU is the weekly dialogue about relevant Jewish topics, which vary from holidays to current events.

“I really appreciate learning about Jewish cultures and traditions (in JSU), as well as discussing our takes on current events,” Raymond said.

Gendler described JSU as a stress-free extracurricular that always brightens up her Thursday afternoons.

“We always have sushi, and a local Rabbi (Tzvi Kupfer) comes to teach us something that relates to our lives as Jewish students,” Gendler said. “Anyone who’s interested in and wants to learn more about Judaism, (or even) just wants to chill and eat sushi and Oreos, should check out JSU.”

According to Gendler, JSU meetings have concluded for the year, but will start again next fall, and all students, regardless of their religious affiliation, are encouraged to join.