A MESSAGE FROM RABBI RACHEL WIESENBERG

Are YOU ready for an AMAZING school year?!? WE ARE!

After months of preparation, we at the David Joshua Berg Religious School are excited to get this school year going! Teachers will be sending out their introductory letters and Class Cards will be going out, so, parents -  look for both in your mailboxes. And students - along with your school supplies, don't forget to bring your curiousity and enthusiasm to your first day of class! Your first day of Religious School is, by grade:

Sunday, Sept. 12 K-1 Program, Sunday 3rd grade, 6th grade Orientation

Tuesday, Sept. 13 2nd grade Prep Program, 4th grade

Wednesday, Sept. 14 K-1 Program, Wednesday 3rd grade, 6th grade

Thursday, Sept. 15 7th grade Oritentation

I am personally excited to meet you at High Holiday services. Whether you will be in the main sanctuary, Family Services or Children's Services, please introduce yourself to me so that I may wish you and yours a Shanah Tova.

About our School and Exceptional programs:
Our Religious School focuses on menschlekite (the proper way of acting toward others) and developing a life long love of Judaism and Jewish learning. We use fun and innovative methods to connect the teachings of Judaism to our students’ lives. All our programs encourage parent involvement. We especially encourage your attendance at PACT (Parents and Children Together) programs which provide an opportunity for fami¬lies to learn together. PACT programs complement the Traditional and Mishpacha University tracks.

Mishpacha University continues to be a unique experience. Its goal is to give parents the skills and knowledge needed to help them become effec¬tive transmitters of Judaism. This adult/family education experience has proved to be a fabulous one for everyone. We hope that all of the families in our school will join us on the family retreat, Shabbat experience and special trips.

Each year we focus on a different Jewish core value to unify our school. This year our school study theme will be "Kavod: Respecting our Heritage, Respecting Ourselves.” It will be a great opportunity for our faculty, students and their families to learn about the connections between respecting others, our Temple, the Earth and God.

  We invite all of the parents in our school to become involved in the Education committee and the Parents’ Association. I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence in Education at Temple Beth Torah. The faculty and I look forward to working with you to raise the next generation of committed Jewish adults.

  See you soon, Rabbi Rachel Wiesenberg

Religious School begins at home...
Parents must lead, not follow their children in the practice of Judaism. You know and we know and your children know that we cannot teach children how to make a Jewish home for themselves when they grow up unless they are already growing up in one now. You know and we know and your children know that the only reason to cherish Judaism in temple is if it is cherished at home.

Mitzvot are the main thing...
The whole point of Judaism is to bring us closer to God through the performance of mitzvot, a word often translated as good deeds but which really means a commandment from God. Learning to do mitzvot is the goal of Jewish education here at Temple Beth Torah, as it is the goal of Jewish life. In order to do a mitzvah, one must feel commanded by God to live as a Jew and one must know what Jews do. It is only the second of these that we can truly provide in the religious school. The personal sense of faith in God and the feeling that each of us stands before God in our lives, that feeling we can nurture and encourage here at Temple but in the end it must be affirmed by each Jewish person in the intimate spiritual privacy of his or her own soul.

Don’t get too happy when your child loves religious school and don’t get too distressed when they don’t....
Jewish education, like education in general, is a requirement for a literate, complete life. Jewish education should not be an option any more than English, math or science is an option. Usually children kvetch about things because they are trying to test limits and they are trying to determine if the thing you want them to do is really important to you. Be firm in explaining that Jewish education is important to you and you want it to be important to them. If they see that at age twelve that is great but if they don’t, you must be prepared to keep them going until they do see it. Also, you should understand that the positive effects of Jewish education may take time to emerge. Life is long and Jewish life holds more meaning the further down the road of life we are permitted by God to walk.

Judaism is more than lighting candles, blessing wine and eating challah...
Jewish values are taught in this school and Jewish values, like tzedakah (charity), Talmud torah (study), g’milut chasadim (compassion), are the soul of our faith. Jewish values can infuse Jewish rituals (eating the matzah reminds us of the value of freedom) or they can exist without rituals (like picking vegetables for the poor) but in the end this one thing is true: Jewish values are the reason Judaism has moral force in the world. We must always remember that Judaism is a way of making decisions about the great moral issues of our time, not just a way of blessing bread. And so even though your child will probably spend a great deal of time in religious school decorating Seder plates and making clay menorahs, they are always being taught in big and little ways, what it means to live as a Jew in this world.
An old rabbinic maxim says, “one who teaches a child is likened to their creator”. Seen in this way, all of us who participate in the holy work of teaching your children about their Jewish heritage are co-creators of the children of Temple Beth Torah.
So, a prayer:
May God bless us all with the patience and wisdom, the fortitude and insight, needed to create children who are proud, literate and spiritually sensitive to the needs of their people, all people and all life. Amen.

Rabbi Marc Gellman, PhD

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ART - OMANUT
Temple Beth Torah offers the opportunity for our students to work with our art specialist, on a regular basis. In art, students are able to create ritual objects, which can be used in your home. Other times, classes work together to develop a project as part of the classroom curriculum.

MUSIC - SHIRIM
Jewish music binds Jews from every background and from every place on earth. Thus, we provide our students with the opportunity to experience Jewish music on a regular basis with our music specialist. During this time students learn a wide variety of Hebrew and holiday songs as well as the chants and melodies for the Service liturgy. Each grade will prepare a special musical presentation to be performed at their grade’s Shabbaton.

SERVICES - TEFILLAH
All students in Grades 3 — 6 participate in weekly services.  For these students, leading services provides an opportunity to become comfortable with prayer and the experience of leading a congregation from the bima. It is also an excellent opportunity to reinforce the Hebrew skills learned in the classroom. Rabbi Bennet leads K — 3 in monthly services with stories from our tradition, and discussions about God and Jewish values.

LITERATURE & SEFRIAH LIBRARY
Students in each grade will have the opportunity to read Jewish books at home during the year as assigned in class. They will also visit the Sefriah and select books of interest to them. In addition they will be exposed to short stories and various genres of Jewish Literature during Tefillah and in the classroom.

FAMILY ENRICHMENT PACT - Parents And Children Together
There is no better way to teach our students than with the support and presence of their parents. Our PACT, family education programs, are designed to complement our Traditional and Mishpacha University programs. Every grade will have at least two programs designed specifically for the students with their parents. Check the school calendar and watch your mail for dates and details!

MISHPACHA UNIVERSITY
Is designed to give parents the tools to enable them to be partners in the Jewish education of their children. (See Family Education page.)

SHABBATONIM
An important goal of the Religious School is to bridge the school experience with the home experience. The Shabbaton, a family Shabbat service, is an excellent way for you to learn about and share the Shabbat experience at Temple Beth Torah. Each grade will have the opportunity once during the year to participate in this exciting event. Check the School Calendar for your child’s Shabbaton date.

CONCLAVES
Each student enrolled in the 7th - 12th grades has the wonderful opportunity to participate in a weekend retreat each year. These retreats offer students a chance to meet and learn with students from other area temples in a setting away from the classroom. Our 5th and 6th graders have a Shul-in at Temple Beth Torah. We ask that you make every effort to arrange your schedules so that your children are able to participate in these unique events. Check the school calendar for dates.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Much excitement surrounds each Jewish holiday. The weeks preceding a holiday are filled with days of learning and preparation in an attempt to make your home celebrations meaningful. Often, we culminate the days of preparation with a school or grade-wide event.   These are always exciting programs, complete with the practice of ritual observances and, of course, the tasting of ritual foods.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Throughout the year there will be special assemblies, speakers and field trips for various grades to enhance Jewish learning. These Programs are often sponsored by The Parents’ Association.

TZEDAKAH
Our primary reason for collecting Tzedakah is to teach and reinforce the Jewish obligation to give charity and to repair the world. The amount of money we collect is secondary. We ask that you initiate the giving of Tzedakah at home by setting a Tzedakah box on your table or by instituting a system by which your children can earn money to give to Tzedakah. The result of such an effort will be a true appreciation for the concept of Tzedakah as well as a feeling of pride and participation in the school’s efforts to help those in need.
Tzedakah monies should come from the children, not the parent.

SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION
Our Religious School is accessible to all students. We make every effort to main-stream students and provide support with additional one-on-one attention. If your child would benefit from these services please contact Rabbi Bennet.

CLINIC
Small groups of students meet with our Hebrew specialists to work on improving Hebrew skills. Usually the classroom teacher will recommend a student go to clinic. Contact Rabbi Bennet if you feel your child needs extra help.