One highlight of the academic year has been the Lunch and Learn program, Posnack School’s way of providing students with additional enrichment in a wide array of disciplines. These include speakers within the legal, science, and business fields, along with those involved in current events, such as survivors of the horrific events of October 7th. Attending a Lunch and Learn not only broadens students’ knowledge but also equips them with valuable life skills. They also allow for a fantastic opportunity to learn about hosting guest speakers and how to plan events, which can be beneficial throughout one’s life.
Ashira Drury, Posnack School’s Director of Student Life and Academic Resources, facilitates the Lunch and Learn program. “Posnack School hosts Lunch & Learn events in order to expose our students to a wide variety of topics,” Drury stated. “Clubs and individuals may bring in speakers to educate students about subjects such as careers in a certain field. By hearing from a professional in the field, students gain knowledge about how the material they are learning in school can be applied in their future. Students may learn about a possible career that they had never thought of before.”
Lunch and Learns are typically organized by various student-run clubs and initiatives that are integral to Posnack School’s vibrant community. These groups, driven by their passion for specific subjects and causes, seek to create engaging and informative sessions for their peers to pique their interest aside from academic courses. Junior Daniel Benmoha, sophomore Shayna Landau, and senior Ilan Roisenfeld have all contributed to Lunch and Learns with speakers who discussed various topics about Judaism.
The Holocaust Awareness Club, headed by Benmoha, sponsored a Lunch and Learn with Elisha Wiesel, son of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, for students to learn to advocate against antisemitism and how to go through life as a Jew in the current state of the world. The Holocaust Awareness Club allows students to stay connected and never forget about the events that happened during this terrible event in our people’s history.
“When Mr. Wiesel spoke, it felt like he was someone I could know personally from my synagogue,” Benmoha remarked. “That is not something you get from most other people. We all share a common bond in our behavior and outlook on life, and that is something we should strive to keep.”
Sophomore Shayna Landau sponsored Holocaust survivor and author Irene Zisblatt to share her story. Zisblatt’s story is a motivational anecdote about grit and determination. She shared her use of critical thinking skills to survive the Holocaust and her authorship of a book to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive for many generations. Zisblatt is a prime example of a Jewish leader who takes action and problem-solves to survive; she taught young Posnack School students who attended the Lunch and Learn valuable life skills that they will carry with them for years to come. Benmoha and Landau, along with many others, have contributed to the community-supported discussions that keep students engaged in what is happening in the Jewish world.
In addition, the Lunch and Learn program provides an amazing opportunity for students to venture through the professional world. Junior Simon Karni hosted marine biologist Nick Gadbois to enlighten his peers about his interests and profession. “Having a Lunch and Learn helps educate people in a familiar setting,” Karni stated. “It makes everyone more comfortable being with friends and teachers they know in a place they know. It also helps kids internalize information about specific topics and helps cultivate people’s specific interests.”
Karni also shares an insight he learned during the Lunch and Learn: “After hosting the Lunch and Learn, I learned that in marine biology, there are many different fields you can pursue inside the broader job title of a marine biologist, such as marine engineer, consultant, or environmental lawyer.”
Another profession-based Lunch and Learn was with Assistant State Attorney Veronica Walker, who spoke about her role in the Division of Hate Crimes. Students learned about the distinct nature of hate crimes and how they differ from other crimes, as well as the parameters of classifying a hate crime and what penalties are given for certain hate crimes.
The new Posnack School Marketing and Entrepreneurship Initiative has also hosted an interesting Lunch and Learn. Elana Black, a Creative Lead at Amazon’s brand innovation lab, came to speak to Posnack School students about what it means to go into the field of Marketing. Black spoke about the marketing campaign she and her team put together for Amazon’s popular product, the Cheeto Duster. She went in depth about how to assemble a marketing plan and taught the students about the four P’s: price, promotion, place, and product. Black spoke about the creative side of marketing, giving students an insight into a side of marketing that they may not have been aware of before. “I had such a great time teaching students about what marketing entails,” Black remarked. “I believe the Lunch and Learn program is an outstanding way for students to learn more about potential job fields.”
All in all, Lunch and Learns can have many benefits for Posnack School students. Benmoha says, “These talks motivate Jewish students to take real actions in today’s world, helping them navigate challenges while staying true to their faith and culture.”
Drury, the driving force and coordinator of these sessions, speaks on the goal of Posnack School Lunch and Learns – to inspire and educate students on interesting new subjects. “After a Lunch & Learn, I hope that students will come away with something new that they learned, “Drury said. “If one student can gain knowledge or be inspired by a speaker, the event is a success.”
In a constantly evolving world, Posnack School’s Lunch and Learn program stands as a pillar of education and opportunity, equipping students with the ability to face hardship with empathy, knowledge, and ambition to make a meaningful impact wherever they may end up.
