A Personal Welcome From Our Rabbis

We believe that educating our children is one of our top priorities at M’kor Shalom. Throughout the history of our people, we have held learning close to our heart. Ever since the Second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, learning has stepped to the forefront of Jewish tradition. In fact, our sages teach us that "Talmud Torah K’neged Kulam," Jewish learning is the most important mitzvah because it leads to the observance and practice of every other mitzvah. And so, we are eager to accept the challenge of teaching your children.

Our students are excited about Religious School. Perhaps it is because we are consistently coming up with new and creative ways to teach. We are constantly renewing ourselves and refreshing our methods. Our faculty prides itself on its ability to create an atmosphere that is both loving and supportive, and they fulfill their mission to teach at a level for all to understand while challenging each child to reach just beyond his or her grasp.

Parents and teachers must enter into a divine partnership if the education is to have lasting effects. Therefore, we challenge our parents to reinforce what their children are learning. We guarantee that this small investment will pay major dividends in the long term. We are excited about each school year and hope that we can work together to make it a time of growth, discovery and significance for your children.

Rabbi Richard Address
Rabbi Jennifer Frenkel

A Note From The Education Director

I would like to welcome you to the M'kor Shalom Religious School. Religious School at M'kor Shalom is a positive and rewarding experience beginning with our innovative curriculum and continuing with our excellent teaching staff and commitment to Jewish education and continuity.

The goal of our "formal" educational component is to provide an atmosphere of learning that will serve as the foundation for a life-long commitment to Torah, Israel and the Jewish community.

Our "informal" Jewish education is just as important. We achieve this goal through Family Education programs, Mitzvah Program, Family and Tot Social Programs, trips to Israel (both Confirmation and Congregational trips), Youth Groups (beginning in Kindergarten) and an ongoing link to our graduates through our College Connection program.

Our Religious School starts with an introductory program for 4-year-olds, followed by our warm and welcoming Kindergarten Sunday School program that introduces these young students to Hebrew, Bible, mitzvot and celebrations. Consecration, during Chanukah, dedicates our first graders to the study of Torah. Our students continue on toward Bar/Bat Mitzvah with age-appropriate curricula of history, Bible, Israel, ethics and, of course, Hebrew, the living language of our people. All of this is blended together with art, cooking, music and celebrations for a full cultural experience.

At M'kor Shalom, Bar/Bat Mitzvah is not the end of Jewish education - far from it. Our High School curriculum of elective courses, ranging in intensity from Holocaust to Jewish cooking, keeps our teens involved and excited about coming to synagogue on Tuesday nights.

The Confirmation and Post-Confirmation programs, taught by our rabbis and master level teachers, are intellectually challenging and provocative enough to engage our older teens - we are extremely proud that so many teens choose to make M'kor Shalom a part of their lives after Confirmation.

Merle G. Steinberg, Education Director