New Temple Israel Religious School Completes Its Second Year

 

 

 

 

 

In 2009, Temple Israel reopened its religious school after several years of inactivity.  The Religious School program is centered on helping introduce the children to synagogue life, Jewish ritual, Torah stories, and the Hebrew language.  The most important goals of the program are three-fold: 

1) To help the children feel comfortable in the synagogue 

2) To help them feel at home in any Jewish community they come in contact with

3) To help them develop their own unique Jewish identities. 

In 2009 - 2010, the children are specially focused on learning how to read Hebrew as well as how to chant, sing, and recite prayers.  They have also been making their own siddurim and writing some of their own personal prayers. 

The children are preparing to lead a full congregational service at the June Shabbaton on Shabbat morning, June 5, 2010 as part of a special commencement ceremony in their honor.   Part of the ceremony will also feature the children sharing some of their own hopes and prayers as they continue their personal journey towards developing their own Jewish identity. 

Classes the first year were taught by Suri Maron and Rabbi Robert Sternberg.  Through Suri's special creative efforts as well as her experience as a family educator, the students deepened their understanding of the Jewish holidays and how to celebrate them both at home and in the synagogue.  Suri Maron continues to assist the religious school program in an advisory capacity.  Peggy Davis joined the staff in Fall 2009 and has brought her special love and knowledge of the Yiddish language and Yiddish folk songs and folk tales with her.  In addition, her considerable artistic talent and skill in calligraphy hve brought new dimensions of enrichment to Temple Israel's religious school program.  For Purim 2010, the religoius school children presented a Yiddish folk song to the congregation.    

Temple Israel hopes to see its religious school grow in the coming year.  All families are welcome to participate.  To learn more about Temple Israel's religious school, please contact us by using our e-mail address, info@templeisraelathol.org or by calling us on the telephone at 978 - 249 - 9481.  All e-mails and telephone calls will be returned.

Posted: Sun, Jan 31, 2010 02:12 PM
Updated Sun, Apr 25, 2010 12:00 AM