Learning Together. Learning From One Another.

Yom Kehillah is a new and innovative community-wide program for Religious School students in grades 3-6, their parents, and all interested adults. Barnert Temple’s Lifelong Learning Committee is excited to bring this new program to our Barnert Community.

Jewish learning is one of the three pillars of Judaism. Through creative and experiential programming, Yom Kehillah will investigate the “Big Questions” about living Jewishly, such as:
Yom Kehillah will offer children and their parents time to learn together as well as time to study separately, creating unique opportunities for intergenerational learning and exchange. Yom Kehillah is part of the Religious School program. All students in grades 3-6 and their parents are expected to attend.

Rabbi Elyse Frishman and Sara Losch are working with a team of Master Educators, including Sharon Halper, Rabbi Joel Soffin, Helen Fleischmann and Howard Nadler, to develop and teach the Yom Kehillah program. The curriculum highlights Jewish ritual, spirituality and values, supporting areas NOT covered by our Chai Curriculum.

Review the FAQs (see below) for additional info on the Yom Kehillah program. If you still have questions, contact Sara Losch, Rabbi Elyse Frishman, Rich Feifer (Lifelong Learning Committee), or Karen Hart (Ombudsman, Lifelong Learning Committee).

Yom Kehillah (Day of Community) FAQs

What is Yom Kehillah?
Yom Kehillah is a “Day of Community” that will bring children and adults together one Sunday morning each month. During these sessions, various opportunities will be provided for attendees to learn, explore, and enjoy being together as a Jewish community at Barnert.

Yom Kehillah is a regularly scheduled day of Religious School (on a different time schedule), a day of family learning for students and parents in grades 3-6, with an invitation to all adults in our community to join.

Through creative and experiential programming, Yom Kehillah will investigate the Big Questions about living Jewishly, such as: Isn’t is enough to be a good person? Does Jewish ritual matter? How can I get closer to God? What does it mean to “live Jewishly” at home?

Why is Barnert undertaking this?
The initial impetus for creating Yom Kehillah, and the reason why the change was adopted so expeditiously, was the Temple’s budget for next year. The economy has taken its toll on all organizations, and Barnert is no exception. This financial pressure led our leadership to re-evaluate the school curriculum, and to ask challenging questions about what could be done differently to achieve the Temple’s vision. Our finances provided the impetus to start the process and created the urgency, which then unleashed the creativity and innovation needed to redesign our curriculum. In the end, we’ve successfully addressed the financial concerns, while ending up with a stronger program. A win-win.

Are both Religious School sessions together?
Yes.

Do adults learn with children?
During the first half-hour and last half-hour, everyone (adults and students, regardless of grade) will be together. During the middle hour, children and adults study separately.

Why are parents being asked to attend?
Parents are being asked to attend because their involvement will create a richer experience for their children, AND they will personally get a lot out of it, too. You’ll see!

What if I have children in different grades?
Parents will be together with their 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children during the time when adults and children are together.

What if I have a Religious School child in 1st or 2nd grade?
1st and 2nd grade Religious School classes will still take place on Yom Kehillah days. However, there will only be one session - 9-11 am - on these days. This allows parents with children in different grades to attend Yom Kehillah while their 1st and 2nd graders are in class.

Who is designing and teaching Yom Kehillah?
Rabbi Frishman and Sara Losch are working with a team of Master Educators including Sharon Halper, Rabbi Soffin, Helen Fleischmann and Howard Nadler. Cantor Sher is our music resource.

How is Yom Kehillah different from the Religious School curriculum?
The curriculum for Yom Kehillah highlights Jewish ritual, spirituality and values. While we touch on these in Religious School, time does not allow Religious School students to investigate and discuss these topics in an in-depth manner. Yom Kehillah offers a different style of learning where children and adults of different ages and backgrounds can explore, learn and discuss these topics together.

When will Yom Kehillah take place?
Typically, Yom Kehillah will take place from 9-11 am on the third Sunday of the month. There are some exceptions, and the Temple calendar and Religious School calendars have the complete list of dates.

Is attendance expected for our Religious School children?
Yes.

Am I expected to attend with my child?
Yes. Yom Kehillah is a day of family education. Parents and children study and learn together.

What if both parents can’t attend on a particular date?
It is always best for both parents to attend; however, if one parent attends, your child will still benefit.

What if my child can’t be there?
Yom Kehillah is considered a regular day of Religious School. The Religious School attendance policy applies to this program.

I want to attend but have younger children. Will I need to leave them at home?
If your younger child is enrolled in 1st or 2nd grade Religious School, s/he will have a class from 9-11 am on the day of Yom Kehillah. If your younger child is not enrolled in the Religious School, there will be special programming for children ages four through seven, guided by our madrichim (teen assistants). A donation is requested for these children to attend.

What if I have a child who is not enrolled in Religious School?
Before each Yom Kehillah, you will be asked if you need babysitting for a younger child (ages one to three-and-a-half). We will have teens on-site to watch the younger children. A donation will be requested to cover the cost of this babysitting.