30 | MAY 25 • 2023
S
hmirat haguf, Hebrew
for “caring for the
body,” is an important
act for all — but taking care
of one’s body early on in life?
Even more so.
At West Bloomfield’s
Frankel Jewish Academy
(FJA), students are caring for
their bodies — hitting the
gym while also hitting the
books.
For four years now, FJA
has offered a unique elective
course: a weight training
class. The class is led by Rabbi
Jeremy Yoskowitz, who also
teaches several Judaic studies
courses at FJA.
Along with having a
master’s degree in Jewish
education, Yoskowitz trained
as an athletic trainer in college
and has always been into
weight training and physical
fitness.
The weight training class
has increased in popularity
since its inception, Yoskowitz
says, with some students
training with him for all four
years of high school. The
class takes place three times a
week. Yoskowitz, who began
lifting weights in high school
himself, says it’s amazing
seeing the students’ growth.
“There’s been fantastic
research relating to mental
health and how weight
training and seeing those
gains can be a really positive
thing for young people’s
development, and I want to
latch on to that,” Yoskowitz
said. “We not only talk about
the safe way to lift weights
and having good form and
the standard weight training,
but also about eating a healthy
diet, getting plenty of rest and
caring for our whole selves.”
That line of thinking
connects with Yoskowitz’s
Judaic studies courses, often
focusing on spiritual growth
and development. Educating
the whole student by paying
attention to both their
physical and spiritual needs is
crucial, Yoskowitz says.
“You can’t neglect the
physical for the spiritual or
vice versa. These things have
to be done together,” he said.
“We work with our students
and their families about ways
in which they can enrich
their own selves, how they
can become not just better
learners, but the best version
of themselves.”
When the JCC health club
shut down, a separate training
room was opened in the JCC’s
Edward & Shirley Rosenberg
Recreation Center, where the
weight training takes place.
Yoskowitz works with
students on building
personalized workout plans
for their individual goals,
adjusted every month based
on their progress.
Students take advantage
of what the course offers
for many different reasons
— some to improve their
performance for their sports
teams, some to become
healthier and some simply
for fun. This semester, there
are about two dozen students
across two sections for
Yoskowitz’s weight training
classes.
With young people being
put under more and more
stress, Yoksowitz’s weight-
training curriculum stresses
the idea that along with
working hard in the gym
and in school, students have
to make time for themselves
outside of that.
OUR COMMUNITY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FJA
Frankel Jewish Academy offers a weight training class
led by Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz.
Hit the Books,
Hit the Gym
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
Rabbi Jeremy
Yoskowitz and
Caleb Robbins.
TOP: Gabe
Gordon and
Caleb Robbins.