EXPLORING SHABBAT SCHOOL. More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews. -Ahad Ha am

Transcription

1 Congregation Torat El Jersey Shore Jewish Center 301 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ (732) Rabbi Jacob S. Friedman Religious School EXPLORING SHABBAT SCHOOL More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews. -Ahad Ha am As a sacred community building relationships, we continually strive for excellence as we look to create programs that are creative, meaningful, thoughtful, and relevant to the lives of our members. Over the past few months, our clergy and Education Committee have been exploring ways that we could continue to build upon the strengths of our Religious School program as we look to create the best educational experience for our youth and for their families. All of this comes at an interesting time for supplementary school education on a national level. All across the country, this past decade in supplementary school education has been filled with an exploration of numerous different models seeking to make Jewish education more engaging, exciting and relevant for all of its participants. From experiential education, to family education models, to experimentation with technology-based models and camp-based models, Religious Schools across the country are undergoing a profound shift in culture to continue to ensure that they are relevant and efficient in maximizing the precious time that is spent with students, all the while striving to meet the needs of families who are increasingly overworked and overscheduled. With all of the above in mind, we have been exploring the idea of having a "Shabbat School," in which our students would come on Wednesdays and Shabbat, instead of Wednesdays and Sundays. Although we are well aware of the potential challenges (particularly sports), we wanted to discuss our thinking with you in order to seriously explore this possibility for the following reasons: Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun Rabbi Sara Metz President: Andrew Robins Executive Director: Pam Cardullo

2 1. Shabbat is a day to revitalize our spirit, to take a break from the pressures of the week and come together with our larger community in order to strengthen ties and deepen relationships. As a community that values Shabbat, and seeks to engage more of our members on Shabbat, it makes sense to us to have a program in which Shabbat is "experienced" and not simply "learned about." Much like playing a sport instead of merely learning the rules of the game, our students would learn by doing; they would be participants in Shabbat instead of spectators. 2. Assuming that at most, our engaged congregants will be able to come to synagogue once over the weekend, it makes the most sense to ensure that we are maximizing their experience. Setting families up to come on Friday night, and Jr. Congregation, and Sunday morning simply is not realistic. As Rabbi Barukh Ha-Levi writes in his book "Revolution of the Jewish Spirit"...Jewish education cannot continue to be simply learning about Jewish things but not having the opportunity to engage in Jewish things. In Hebrew schools today, kids are reading about Judaism, perhaps talking about Judaism, but they're not practicing Judaism. They're not experiencing Judaism. Is any wonder these children become uninspired? If Jews won t or can t come to the synagogue both days of weekend, then doesn t it make sense for us to bring them on Saturday, on Shabbat? No amount of talk about Shabbat, no amount of discussion about prayer, no amount of understanding about Judaism will, or should substitute for the real deal. 3. A Shabbat - centered model will foster more creativity and more experiential education. As we do not write on Shabbat, or use videos on Shabbat, our curriculum will, by necessity, be more active and engaging. 4. All of the Conservative synagogues across the country who have switched to this model report that it has given them clarity on their educational values and curricular goals.

3 5. As students approach b nei mitzvah, they will be able to experience the service in "live time." This will help them to become more comfortable and confident as they prepare to lead the congregation in tefilah. 6. Moving our program to Shabbat will give more of our members the gift of Shabbat in a multi-generational setting. Taking a break from the hectic pace of life through study, prayer, social connections, and of course sharing a meal together, is a central part of what it means to live in a sacred community building relationships. FAQ's: What about Sports? Our sense is that sports are equally a challenge on Sunday and Saturday. Assuming that to be true, our policy would be to welcome our students and families when they are able to join us. If they come early (or late) and have a few hours of "Shabbat" with usthat would be wonderful! While there is a certain percentage of overall time that we expect our students to participate in our program, we would do our best to work with families who have sports commitments on Shabbat. Having said all of this, if there was an option to schedule games later in the afternoon on Saturdays, that would be preferred. What about observing the laws of Shabbat? How can you be in school and not write? The short answer is; it takes some work, but it is really wonderful! From games, to drama, to music, to song, prayers, and stories, there is a vast amount of curricular ideas and materials out there to create a vibrant, engaging, and dynamic learning experience for your children. Our Wednesday schedule will remain, as it has been in years past with students working more on writing and reading. What would parents do during "Shabbat School?" As always, parents are welcome to stay and pray in the main sanctuary. At times, parents will be invited to and encouraged to participate in some of the programming with

4 their children, and we would work to create independent programming for parents to have a chance to experience more of Shabbat as well. Some synagogues have family Shabbat services where parents, grandparents, and children participate together. Others have parallel experiences (kids in class, while parents are in a Torah discussion, book group, Torah Yoga group, healing service, etc) Some of these ideas will be explored as the year progresses. What if there is an emergency on Shabbat? If your child had an emergency, we would call you on Shabbat. It is that simple. What if I needed to pick up my child early? You would let Rabbi Metz know in advance if you planned on picking up your child early. If you do not have advance warning of a necessary early pick-up, simply come to the synagogue and you may pick up your child. What about snow? School closure decisions will be made by 3pm on Friday afternoon if school will be cancelled due to inclement weather. How will you keep track of my child at dismissal? Teachers will have attendance lists and will use a sticker system to keep track of who gets picked up. Will my child get to eat? Yes. Not only will there be snack time in the morning, students and parents would be invited to join us for Kiddush following Shabbat School. The idea would be that parents would come into the building to pick up their children, hopefully stay for a nosh, and then leave as a family.

5 What about Sunday - only students? Currently our Ganon (Pre-K) through 2 nd grade attend Religious School on Sundays. That day would switch and they would attend on Shabbat. What about the 7 th graders? Currently our 7 th graders attend Religious School on Wednesdays and are required to attend Shabbat services. We believe that they will have deeper and longer lasting learning experiences for them to attend Religious School on Shabbat. When there is no bar or Bat Mitzvah, they will learn with their teacher in the classroom for about half the day and will join the main service for about half the time. While they are in the main service, their teacher will help them in their learning of the prayers and in giving the meaning, history and choreography associated with the prayers. What about Hebrew High? Hebrew High will continue to be held on Wednesday evenings.

6 Potential Shabbat School Schedule 9:30 am- 12:00 pm All students (Ganon - 7 th Grade) 9:30-9:40 Students gather with teachers in the chapel all together. Board members & Rabbis greet parents and kids as is currently done. Ganon - 1 st Grade 9:40-10:20 Students are dismissed to classrooms for a Tot shabbat type service. Younger children, prospective members, visiting friends are welcome with parents. 10:20-11:30 Students learn with their teacher in the classroom. 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th Grade 9:40-10:20 Students have Tefillah (similar to Jr. Congregation) and song session with the music teacher. 10:20-11:30 Students split up to learn in their respective classrooms. 5 th and 6 th Grade 9:40-11:00 Students learn in their respective classrooms. 11:00-11:30 Students come together for have Tefillah, similar to Jr. Congregation and song session with a music teacher. The 6th grade teacher will bring students into the main service at her discretion some weeks. 7 th Grade 9:40-10:45 10:45-12:00 Students are dismissed to learn with their teacher. Students join main service for sermon and Musaf. *On shabbatot in which there is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, 7 th grade students will join the main service at 9:40. All students 11:30-12:00 Students gather in the main sanctuary to help lead Ein Keloheynu and Aleinu and receive candy as is currently done. 12:00 Parents pick up children in the social hall at Kiddush and are invited to stay for lunch.