Religion School

Over the last six years, URJ Camp Kalsman has enriched Jewish life in the Pacific Northwest as the camp’s programs have engaged hundreds of young people in Jewish learning and living. Our Temple has partnered with Camp Kalsman from the beginning, guiding its development and supporting its growth. In fact, over the last few years, Temple has sent more young people to camp than any congregation in the nation, which is a testament to the power of Jewish camping and our synagogue’s commitment to this mode of education.

Beginning in 2012, we are one of six partnerships in North America that have been blessed with a rare and significant opportunity. Thanks to a generous multi-year grant from the Avi Chai and Jim Joseph Foundations, as a program of the Foundation of Jewish Camp, we are able to join with Camp Kalsman in hiring a talented, leading-edge Jewish educator. This shared position will encompass access to and implementation of the most current methods of Jewish learning. The new educator will reside at Camp Kalsman during the summer, serving as the Director of Education, and at our synagogue during the school year, supervised by Rabbi Septimus and working directly with our Religion School program. We are fortunate to receive outside grant funding for this position, which will enhance our existing resources and augment our efforts to engage your children toward forging a lifelong Jewish identity.

This new curriculum development role is but one component of an ongoing Chanukat Chinuch (rededication and restructuring) of our multi-generational curriculum. At a time in which the challenges of engaging a new generation coincide with an economy of constrained resources and the ongoing obligation to secure the next generation of Jews, our evolving approach to congregational learning will ensure its relevance and effectiveness into the future. The new educator, serving as an Assistant Director of Congregational Learning, will bring expertise in experiential education, specifically focusing on expanding family education opportunities and informal Jewish techniques in our school while serving as a mentor to the entire Religion School faculty.

As always, our deepest appreciation for your faith in our vision and support of our efforts.

L’Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Weiner • Rabbi Daniel Septimus • Monte Levinso

RELIGION SCHOOL SCHEDULE

February 19 • NO SUNDAY SCHOOL • MID WINTER BREAK

February 23 & 24 • NO MID-WEEK HEBREW • MID WINTER BREAK