Sometimes, especially around Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippor, I like to sit in the back of the sanctuary after the kids have left the building and just be alone with my thoughts.  This time of year can serve as a time for reflection, where we can look back and not only reflect on the year we’ve finished, but look to the future and work towards being the best versions of ourselves.  I like to reflect back on the year before and not only try to improve myself, but improve our Jewish Learning Center. 

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This past year I finished out my tenth year of being principal, and it was our best year yet. I truly feel as though we’ve struck the perfect balance between making sure our program is academically demanding, and a place where our children are excited to be. This past year we took a coach bus into Brooklyn to visit the Jewish Children’s Museum where we learned about our origins as a Jewish people, studied the Jewish holidays, created Jewish art and participated in a Jewish game show. We went to AMC theaters to see the movie “David.” The children learned about an important story from the bible while munching on popcorn and hanging out with their Jewish friends. We also studied Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim, the ethical treatment of animals, with a Torah study at Benner’s Farm where we also talked about Kashruit while feeding chickens and petting bunnies. These trips were big highlights of the year, but it wasn’t all that we accomplished. We learned Hebrew with both books and technology in groups based on skill levels. We honored our Veterans with a breakfast and tribute program. We pressed olives for oil lamps at Chanukah and we made muffins that contain the seven species for Tu B’Shevat. We made our own matzah on Pesach. I can go on and on.

 

Our Jewish Learning Center is truly one of a kind and I’m really proud of what we have been able to accomplish.  I’m even more excited for what we have planned in the coming year.  We plan on bringing back Saturday morning family services for our youngsters.  We plan on building up our Tot Shabbat and Grown up and Me Program.  We are going to begin having monthly Family Shabbat dinners.  We are rebuilding our youth group and teen group and adding more educational and social opportunities to engage our kids as they move through the upper grades of religious school and beyond. 

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My philosophy has always been the same – I want our kids to leave our program with a stellar education, being able to participate in a synagogue service, either here or elsewhere.  But just as important, I want our students to be happy, proud of their Jewish heritage, and to grow into mentches.

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It’s more important than ever to engage our children and their families as well.  North Shore Jewish Center is our Jewish home away from home.