Although not precedent-setting, it is unusual: An Orthodox girl's school has
taken up residence at a Reform congregation.

The 26 students of the Torah High School's Girl's Division, along with their
principal, Rabbi Shimon Zehnwirth, relocated earlier this year from quarters
at the Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School to the grounds of Congregation
Beth Israel. Now reaching through 11th grade, the school next year will have
its first 12th grade class, so sufficient room was at a premium.

Stuart Simmons, executive director of Congregation Beth Israel, said a
number of issues had to be settled before the arrangement could be made.
First, Beth Israel had to check with its own Beth Israel Day School (which
goes through fifth grade) and with its supplementary (after-school)
religious program to make certain that sufficient space even would be
available for the girls.

With the supplementary school students using the classrooms only two weekday
afternoons, it was clear the Torah High School students could use the same
classrooms five mornings and three afternoons. During the time that the
supplementary school classes are in session, the girls move to other
facilities, such as a science room used by the day school, or to the
library.

The space problem solved, there were the more mundane issues of how much
rent the school should pay, matters of insurance liability and the like.
Finally, there was the issue of how well would the Orthodox rabbis of the
Torah High School -- an affiliate of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva in Jerusalem --
could get along with the clergy of the Reform congregation.

A meeting among Rabbi Michoel Peikes, dean of the Torah High School,
Zehnwirth and Beth Israel's clergy -- Rabbi Ben Kamin, Rabbi Sheila Goloboy
and Cantor Arlene Bernstein -- "went very well," Simmons said.
While there are numerous theological issues formally dividing the Orthodox
and Reform movements, Zehnwirth said on a personal level the rabbis are able
to coexist amicably.

"All Jews of all walks of life should get together, no matter where they are
coming from or what their background is -- that is without question," the
principal said. 

"They were very welcoming," Rabbi Peikes added.  "Part of our education is
dealing with Jews of different backgrounds. The children are very happy."
The girls, all post-bat mitzvah, conduct Shacharit services in their
classrooms every morning, and on occasion Cantor Bernstein has come to join
them. "To be Jews together davening is a very beautiful thing," Zehnwirth
said. It is not a matter of Bernstein leading services because she is a
cantor, "it is just a matter of Jews coming together."

Like the boys division of Torah High School, which has met since last year
on the grounds of the Conservative Congregation Beth El, the girls division
"gets along just fine" with members and clergy of other movements, Zehnwirth
said.

"I think what is very special here are the warm relationships we have with
the administration," Zehnwirth said. "Every single person has a smile for
you, without exception. They love the girls and the girls love them; it is a
special environment."

Simmons said when the idea of the Torah High School relocating to Beth
Israel was first raised, "I had a hope that somehow the subliminal message
would be that when there are so many places in the world where Jews are
conflicted with each other, where they discount or disrespect each other,
that here were a Reform institution and an Orthodox institution cooperating
and working together."

"I think both the Torah High School and Beth Israel overcame our mutual
hesitancy to do this, due in fact to Rabbi Peikes' openness and enthusiasm
in recognizing this would be a wonderful environment for the girls, coupled
with our desire to break down another barrier in the Jewish community,"
Simmons added.

"I love the fact that we are doing this!"