The Educational Director's message

As our Religious School year concludes, it is time to reflect on our achievements and plan for our future. It has been a pleasure to watch our students grow educationally, spiritually, culturally and socially while experiencing the joys of being Jewish. Our spiraling curriculum has enhanced our students’ Hebrew language, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. Our Religious School’s individual grade Shabbatot and mitzvot projects, combined with creative learning experiences that explored our traditions, holidays, history, Israel, mitzvot, life cycle, values and ethics, augmented our students’ knowledge and character. Our innovative school-wide holiday programs, special cultural arts presentations, curriculum-related field trips, workshops and an enrichment program, as well as our students’ involvement in the OJC’s synagogue events, have helped to nurture each child’s Jewish knowledge, growth, identity and community spirit.

For Yom Ha’Shoah, our fourth through seventh graders viewed and discussed the extraordinary movie Paper Clips. Our school-wide Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration was a “Tour of Israel” with “stops” in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat and Safed. We commemorated Lag B’Omer with games, races, and, of course, ice cream. For the end of the year, our students had a Zimriyah (songfest) with each class performing under the direction of our music teacher, Michael Scolnick. We are grateful and proud that our school offers a vast variety of opportunities and experiences to link Jewish learning to Jewish living. Our students don’t only have books to turn to; they have experiences, habits, understanding, and vibrant, meaningful memories.

With thankfulness, our Religious School has truly achieved strong partnerships with our clergy, educators, parents and the entire synagogue community. Todah Rabbah to Rabbi Scheff for his guidance, wisdom, warmth and for being an integral part of our Religious School as well as teaching our sixth graders. Many thanks to Rabbi Drill for sharing her creativity, spirituality, and knowledge with all our students at community davening and parasha study and also for teaching our seventh graders. Sincere thanks to our wonderful, dedicated, professional educators for a vibrant, enjoyable Jewish learning environment for our students: Esther Berkowitz, Shlomo Berkowitz, Rachelle Krausz, Cortney Kuperman, Alison Metzgroff, Rabbi Leana Moritt, Sharon Pollack, Sharon Rappaport, Jared Rosenbloom, Lisa Schwartz, Miriam Silber, Robin Sokol, and Chaya Weisberg. Thank you to our terrific teachers’ aides, who were great role models for our children and helped in our classrooms: Adam Berg, Daniel Berg, Haley Coopersmith, Amanda Dolber, Eric Dolber, Gabrielle Freedman, Eric Hirsh, Adam Kaplan, Allison Kleinberger, Alana Sokol, and Greg Yucht. A special thanks to my office assistant, Dana Kaplan, for her warmth, skills, reliability and hard work, which have always been so truly valuable and appreciated. Mere words cannot express my gratitude for her years of dedication to our school. We are proud of Dana, Daniel, and Amanda as they go off to college. Our Religious School is very grateful to Sharon Aach and Hara Hartman, our School Board Co-Presidents, and our entire School Board, whose everlasting energy is constantly devoted to providing a superior education for all the children at the OJC. I would like to thank our class mothers and the many volunteers who helped with our fundraisers, drove on field trips, set up at holiday and cultural arts programs, and assisted with curriculum-related art/educational experiences in our school. I wish I could mention every person individually for the full accolades that are deserved, but the list of all our dedicated volunteers would take up many pages in this bulletin. The efforts of our volunteers are truly reflected in the happiness and progress of our children, as well as the growing success of our Religious School. I would like to thank OJC President Barry Friedman, Treasurer Glenn Hirsh, the OJC Boards, Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Youth Community, our office personnel, and custodial staff for their devoted support, efforts, and energy.

Thank you to our wonderful parents for sharing their terrific children with our Religious School community. Your commitment to your children’s Jewish education is admirable and your support of our school is truly appreciated. It is a great pleasure to share the “nachas” of watching your children grow Jewishly.

Most important, I would like to thank each student for making our school a happy community of dedicated learners and for a truly productive, successful, enjoyable school year! Yasher Koach to ALL our fantastic students! You are terrific!

Our Religious School Graduation will take place on Friday evening, June 6th. A special Mazal Tov to our graduates: Jenna Baitler, Colby Cohen, Rachel Damin, Jordan Dubbs, Samantha Heitzner, Jason Kleinberger, Aaron Lesserson, Stephanie Levy, Gabrielle Ment, Andy Mosner, Rebecca Mosner, Joshua Panter, Zachary Pavolic, Chloe Rabinowitz, Lucas Ruderman, Allison Waldman, Daniel Weiner, and Benjamin Yassky. May this be the beginning of their quest for more Jewish knowledge and Jewish life!

Our Religious School plays an important role in helping to shape our children’s Jewish identity. Whatever the student's age, we strive to educate the whole child and create menschen who will grow to be knowledgeable, committed Jewish adults. Judaism is rich and powerful enough to be its own best advocate if we teach with excellence and enthusiasm. Please remember:

PARENTS ARE OUR PARTNERS!

LEARN TORAH, LIVE TORAH, AND PASS IT ON WITH LOVE!

CONNECTION + COMMITMENT = COMMUNITY + CONTINUITY

We are looking forward to another productive, successful, enjoyable Religious School year in 5769! Have a fun, memorable summer,

B’Yedidut,

Sandy Borowsky