As I write this, virtual classes for 3rd through 8th grade students start in the next few days – Saturday, Sept. 26 for religious studies and Wednesday, Sept. 30 for Hebrew studies. And monthly packet pickups for preschoolers through 1st grade students begin Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Our traditional lessons will be imbued with three themes – home-based Judaism, the concept of shmirat haguf (caring for or protecting one’s body) and being a welcoming “place” for our Jewish children.
The Hebrew phrase of welcome is ברוכים הבאים (bruchim haba’im). Its literal translation: “blessed are those who come.”
We won’t be “coming” to synagogue this Fall, but our teachers are and will be creating virtual and in-home opportunities for learning. And blessed are they who wholly participate in their efforts. I emphasize wholly because it will take an extra effort by families to make these at-home lessons work.
Please wish our students, parents, teachers and myself, יישר כחך (yasher koach), strength, as we begin this journey.
Andrea Novel Buck
Youth Education Director
