Wow! I am so overjoyed at the impact of the last four weekends on so many of our youth and their parents.

January 19-22, our Kabbalat Torah high school seniors led by Rabbi Andrea London traveled to New York City to explore various types of Judaism and of course, to enjoy good food and a Broadway show.

In the words of the teens themselves:

"My highlight was going to the Jewish Heritage Museum. Seeing a picture of Nafatli Furst, a holocaust survivor I know, immediately made the experience personal. As we walked through the different exhibits, I reminisced about the stories he told me, and this made the visit a really powerful experience for me. Additionally, the museum taught me about the different Jewish diasporas that have occurred throughout the ages. I found it fascinating!" - Daniel Durango-Cohen

Owen Levens, gives us a glimpse into the impact this experience has on him.

"Our KT trip to New York felt foundationally powerful. Growing up in Reform Judaism in America in the age of the internet, it can be easy to mistake yourself as ‘a worse’ Jew than Orthodox or Conservative Jews. I went to Crown Heights and cried. I cried when we visited Central Synagogue. I cried at the Jewish History Museum. I teared up all these times, because it was so powerful to know that there were so many Jews practicing regularly and validly in their own way. Visiting those communities dissipated that 'real Judaism' fallacy for me; seeing how those Jews had their congregation they met at, their own schedule and practices, and their own Jewish community -- like me. It made me realize that my Judaism was exactly what they were doing -- just on a different schedule, in a different outside environment, with slightly different practices. We're all Jewish and all Jews are validly Jewish."

Then on January 27, our sixth graders went to Great Wolf Lodge for their Shabbaton. Before having a blast at the water park, they led Kabbalat Shabbat services and had a festive Shabbat dinner. Their parents and Rabbi London joined them the next morning for a full day to experience the Kabbalat Mitzvah Shabbat Morning service, learn about the preparation process, and explore the relevancy of prayer and Torah for them as kids and adults. In the words of one-sixth grader, what lingers is "playing at the water park, the movie, and bonding with everyone in my class."

In the words of Danielle Dodson, a sixth-grade parent: "As a parent, I felt that the Shabbaton offered an excellent orientation to the Kabbalat Mitzvah service and the preparation leading up to it. The discussion questions provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect on my own bat mitzvah and envision my daughter’s upcoming Kabbalat Mitzvah. It was wonderful to hear the students’ thoughts as they were challenged to think about the meaning of the Kabbalat mitzvah, and more broadly of Judaism in their lives. I know they also enjoyed the opportunity to connect with each other in a setting outside of Beit Sefer (especially one that included a water park!)."

The very next weekend our fourth and fifth graders and their parents joined our Beth Emet Kahal Shabbat morning service, which was followed by a very filling Shabbat lunch. Parents and kids then explored the Torah portion together, talking about 'complaining' and brainstorming other methods to share their needs and desires. The kids remained in Beth Emet for an afternoon and night of games, activities, good food and of course, a movie. The gaga pit was a key component of the Crown Room.

Parents expressed their appreciation for this experience together:

"I'd say it was fun spending time with other Beit Sefer families and reflecting together in a relaxed and welcoming Shabbat atmosphere" -Dan Lefkovitz

"It was really nice to connect with parents and kids for me - and Sam had so much fun at the sleepover! He talked about it for days after. Thanks to everyone who helped to make it so awesome!" - Leah Burstein

"After so much time apart because of Covid, I really enjoyed spending time with other 4th and 5h grade families"

-Judy Schachter

Our fourth weekend was our GESHER Retreat. This year, highlights included an excursion to the Museum of Ice Cream, a workshop by About Faces Theater, and programs led by their teacher Cohen Kraus and Abigail Backer, MSW, and a former Beth Emet Director of Youth Programming.

Our parents, our youth, and our alumni tell us that these retreats are not only memory makers. They soldify relationships and bonding among kids, build their Jewish pride, and push their ability to explore their own ideas and listen deeply to others.

What a privilege to witness learning and living with Beth Emet!

Shabbat Shalom

Warmly,

Marci Dickman

Director of Lifelong Learning

9:00 am

Sunday Morning Minyan

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