Religious School/Youth

From the Director of Congregational Learning

The first few months of the year have been very busy, filled with in-person and online learning and gathering. The pandemic has not held us back!

In September, we opened our Religious School with an in-person, physically distanced gathering in our parking lot. Enrollment is solid! It was wonderful seeing so many of our families in-person. Students were able to meet their teachers and madrikhim (teen classroom aides) and get their books. And, together we were able to launch our year of learning. Our seventh grade and YADniks, who meet on Wednesday evenings, met in-person on our courtyard for the first month of school.

We were also able to gather in-person for the holidays, holding in-person teen services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and Sukkot and Simh . at Torah programming for Religious School families. We have held in-person Tot Shabbat Services. In addition, we ran online programming. Our children learned how to make napkin rings and bake a honey cake for Rosh Hashanah. Families learned how to bake pumpkin borekas and participated in an online Rosh Hashanah Seder.

We have now settled into classes being held online. Our faculty are working tirelessly to offer engaging online learn-

ing experiences. Our sixth graders have been able to continue their involvement in our Boston-Haifa Partnership. In late October they held their first Zoom “mifgash” encounter. They will continue to meet monthly. Our YADniks participated in our 2Life Communities partnership, where our teens and residents of the Golda Meir House meet weekly on Zoom, and spent time exploring the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

Our USYers were able to meet in person for a Sukkot Hangout and Kadima Movie Night (photo below) in our courtyard. And, our LUSY (Sr. USY Board) joined with teens from Temple Isaiah’s teen youth group LEFTY for a two-part workshop run by Kids4Peace on How to Be an Anti-Racist. Our USYers even ran a very successful Bagel Sale (see photo on page 18) with deliveries to congregants’ homes. Thank you to all who support us.

As we plan for the months ahead, we look forward to more in-person youth activities, engaging online learning, and celebrating the holiday of H . anukkah. We have a lot planned for the Festival of Lights. We look forward to celebrating with you both online and in person.

Wishing everyone good health,

Me’ir Sherer Director of Congregational Learning msherer@templeemunah.org

Grade 10 Rosh H . odesh activity

Family & Youth Activities December-January

H . anukkah Simh . at Tot Families w/young children USY Fire & Ice 6-12 Rosh H . odesh Gr. 10 girls H . anukkah Extravaganza Families Online Kadima Event 3-5 Rosh H . odesh Gr. 10 girls Jr. USY Event 6-8 Tu b’Shevat Seder Families Sun, Dec. 6, 2:30-3:30 pm Sat, Dec. 12, 5:30 pm Sun, Dec. 13, 4:30-6 pm Sun, Dec. 13, 6-8 pm Tues, Dec. 22, 7-8 pm Sun, Jan. 10, 4:30-6 pm Sun, Jan. 24, TBD Wed, Jan. 27, 6-7 pm

Kadima movie night

H . anukkah “How To” Workshops Dec 10, 14 & 17, 4:00-5:00 pm Dec 15, 7:00-8:00 pm Workshops will include: How to build a H . anukkiyah How to build a dreidel How to bake sufganiyot Detailed information will be sent out closer to the holiday.