Our school and congregation are ready to take the next step and begin creating opportunities for families to learn together, the whole family together, on Jewish time, within the communal life of the synagogue. We are developing a Family Learning Day, Yom Kehillah, to be offered on a choice of two days: Sunday 12/5/10 or Saturday 12/11/10, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. We have a creative, committed planning team involving our clergy, educators, and lay leaders. Rabbi Matt, the teachers, and myself will facilitate activities on these days with the help of the madrikhim. We will not have Sunday School in December, although we will continue to have Hebrew classes mid-week.

The theme of our first Yom Kehillah will be Shabbat. Our goal is to provide families with the knowledge and understanding to create their own family observance of Shabbat. We will do this by  creating a Shabbat experience that provides opportunities to connect to God through Torah study, prayer, family and community, ritual, and tzedakah. Another important outcome is that families will make connections with other families to celebrate Shabbat together in the synagogue and at their homes. Activities are being planned for children and adults together as well as some separate learning through sichot (discussions), text study, games, music, dance, and art.

 I invite all members of our congregation to join us as we engage in the awesome process of re-imagining Jewish education.