There are many ways to make an impact on the Jewish community, and Jonah Maerov, a 2023 Grade 9 alumnus, intends to inspire those around him through his unique path. Jonah has always recognized the importance of coming together as a group and building a family, whether through school, volunteering, or his athletic career. He is currently attending Barstow College in California, where he plays college baseball.
Although Jonah can’t point to a specific moment that defined his time at CJA, the culmination of his experience at the school left a lasting impression. Jonah shares that “Over time I realized how [the CJA] shaped me into the person I am,” and how “[the teachers] really cared for each student.”
Once he entered high school, it became clear how pivotal his community had been to his growth. He notes that it’s hard to see how special the experience of a Jewish education and community is when you’re in the middle of it. “Don’t take it for granted,” he advises CJA students. “It goes a lot faster than you think it does.” He feels grateful to have met lifelong friends within the CJA walls, and recognizes that his community is his family.
These experiences helped him become confident enough to branch out and find that same sense of belonging on his college baseball team. “It really helped me understand that I belong with these people if I was able to be myself with them.” For Jonah, his best self shows up in how he and his team play on the field. It is a tight-knit group that must communicate, work, and play hard together, drawing on many of the skills Jonah first learned at the CJA.
As Jonah continues to move up in the world of competitive baseball, he aims one day to play for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He wears number 11, just as his inspiration, Kevin Pillar, did during his baseball career. Jonah hopes to follow in his footsteps as a role model for other Jewish kids like him. “I’d like to be able to show that we can make it far.” Jonah knows that there aren’t many Jewish baseball players, “but there will be.” He is determined to work through every challenge he faces to achieve his dream.