RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
See Religious School Calendar for 2007/2008
(5768)

Fairmount Temple's Machane Ivrit (Hebrew
Camp) - fun in the summer! |

Religious school Bikor Cholim project. |

Consecration. |
Our Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Religious School provides a nurturing
Jewish educational environment to teach Judaic concepts, values and practices
that will inspire and strengthen individual and collective commitment to God,
Torah and Israel. It is the goal of the school to foster independent and
critical thinking, to encourage emotional, intellectual and religious growth and
to motivate constructive and caring relationships between students, instructors
and the content. The vehicles by which these goals are pursued include both
cognitive and affective methodology: Formal classroom experiences, informal
retreats and Shabbatonim as well as a variety of special programs including
Family Learning Days for all grades.
The Religious School is led by Rabbi Joshua Caruso
who assumed the combined responsibilities of Rabbi and Religious School Director
in 2007. Before joining Fairmount Temple in 2002, Rabbi Caruso was a
Religious School Director at his previous synagogue where he oversaw programming
for kindergarten through 12th grade. The dynamic Religious School
lay/professional team consists of committed teachers, skilled staff and a
dedicated Board. Together, they impart their love of Judaism to all the
studentss.
This is a sampling of this year's programs:
-
Parent/Child Hebrew, offered to children entering
the third - sixth grades, allows students and parents (or grandparents or
guardians) an opportunity to study Hebrew together led by talented teachers.
The program has attracted parents who would not typically choose to
participate in such a learning adventure, and has yielded fantastic results.
Parents are excited about their learning, and feel a greater connection to
their children’s Jewish journey by coming along for the ride.
-
Misegert Noar (Youth Framework) is a unique
experiential opportunity. Now in its third year, Misgeret Noar is a
“framework” enabling seventh and eighth grade students the opportunity to
engage with each other and with challenging Jewish texts in an informal
learning environment. Our students attend three shabbatonim (overnight Shabbat
experiences), and six Sunday afternoon retreats. This year we will be using
the Union for Reform Judaism’s CHAI curriculum, featuring the theme, Hineni
(“Here I am”). The curriculum will challenge our youth to define how they see
themselves in relationship to the community in which they live.
-
Machane Ivrit (Hebrew Camp), a pilot
program introduced last summer which brought a full day of camp fun and Hebrew
to our grade school students. The pilot year featured day trips to the Akron
Zoo and to Camp Wise as our campers utilized their newly acquired Hebrew
skills.
The Religious School offers classes from Kindergarten through 12th Grade in such
subjects as Jewish History, Customs and Ceremonies, Holidays, Holocaust, Israel,
Zionism, Hebrew, Bible, Prayer and Reform Judaism. Students who are in the 1st
Grade participate in a Consecration Ceremony on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in
which they dedicate themselves to their Jewish studies.
Confirmation occurs at the end of the 10th Grade on Shavuot morning. Confirmands
reaffirm their faith in Judaism based on the understanding that comes with years
of study.
Midweek afternoon Hebrew studies at Fairmount Temple begin in the 3rd grade.
Students continue attending Religious School midweek and weekend through the 6th
grade. For those in grades 7 to 12, we offer a variety of programs. For further
information, please contact the Religious School at (216) 464-5890 or Rabbi
Joshua Caruso, Director of the Religious School.
Links: Students in the Hebrew School, grades 3 - 5, are able to access
on-line workbook components.
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