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JRC Religious School

JRC Religious School 5782: Shevet Anu B'Yachad

We are very excited for our plans for this fall! Throughout this year, we will celebrate our theme: Shevet Anu B’Yachad, We Dwell Together. This Hebrew phrase is adapted from the song Hinei Mah Tov, from Psalm 133, which states, “How good it is and how pleasant, when people dwell together.” Indeed, how wonderful it is that we get to be together again, to learn, grow, and explore this year. 

Our new Interim Education Director, Rabbi Elisa Koppel (if you haven’t met her yet, see her bio below) has been working hard with the JRC leadership to make plans for this fall.

Registration for school is now LIVE!!!!!

Click Here to Register Your Student

Here is some important information about this year! More details and calendar are coming soon:

  • A core value of our education program is that all students in the congregation are included in Jewish learning. This means that our school program is designed with the awareness of diversity and different needs, and that we are committed to creating successful learning for all of our students. 

  • Our awareness of diverse needs and commitment to inclusion means that if your child cannot attend in person, we will work with you to figure out how their Jewish education will continue this year, as part of our community.

  • Our Kick-Off Family Havdalah will be held on August 28 at 6:00pm, outdoors at the synagogue. We will gather for the end of summer, get to know each other, and blow the shofar as we prepare for the upcoming holidays and school year. Details coming soon.

  • School will officially begin on October 3 (October 2 for Darchei Mitzvah). Leading up to opening day, Sundays in September will be full of opportunities for families to gather at the synagogue for special holiday programming including: The Year End Roundup, Tashlich Extravaganza, Let’s Get Ready to Sukkah!, and Sundaes on Sunday in the Sukkah. Details coming soon.

  • Both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning during adult services, we will offer High Holy Day programming for 5 through 12 year olds, parallel to the regular services. Older teens are welcome to help out for community service credit.

  • All of our Kindergarten through 6th Grade religious school students this year will be at JRC from 9:30am to 12:30pm (7th grade continues on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:50am). Kindergarten through 2nd grade curriculum will now include a Hebrew Through Movement component and other specials, including STEM, arts, and kinesthetic activities.

  • Snack will be provided each week to all students (a snack fee is being included with registration). Options will always be provided to accomodate for all known allergies or intolerances in our school community.

  • For 4th-7th grades we will offer optional Hebrew enrichment, once a week, online. Depending on numbers and needs, learning will be via zoom (or other video chat) in either small groups or one-on-one. Keep an eye out for registration for this additive learning opportunity, coming in September. There will be an additional fee for those that opt into this program.

  • In consideration of creating a learning environment that values both safety/security and welcoming/community, all members of our community will wear name tags on Sunday mornings. Gathering and returning name tags each week will be part of our entrance and exit procedure.

  • All Sunday morning classes will include a variety of chugim, specialty activities, including not only music, but also other arts, STEM, cooking, and physical activity.

We want to hear from you! Your ideas, and your childrens’ ideas, are vital to our creating a thriving learning community. Please be in touch with our Director of Education, Rabbi Elisa Koppel [hyperlink to email address], to tell us about your family, your needs, your thoughts, and to share your input on how we can work together to build a community that fosters learning, growth, and a love of Judaism, as We Dwell Together.

Meet Rabbi Elisa Koppel

Rabbi Elisa Koppel is delighted to join the community at Judea Reform Congregation as Interim Education Director.

Prior to her position at Judea Reform Congregation, she has had diverse experience as a rabbi and educator, including both synagogue and organizational work, with much of that time spent in the world of informal and experiential education. She has spent many summers at Reform Jewish summer camps in a variety of capacities, most recently at URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy.

She also serves as the Networking Vice President for the Women's Rabbinic Network, as well as serving on the Voice Committee for the Association of Reform Jewish Educators.

Rabbi Koppel's passion is education, seeing her role as a rabbi, and as a teacher, to help others of all ages to experience Judaism and to give them the tools they need to create and define their own Judaism.

Read more about Rabbi Koppel here. 

Read Rabbi Soffer's announcement about Rabbi Koppel to the congregation here.

Read Rabbi Koppel's message to our congregation here.

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Thu, July 29 2021 20 Av 5781