Our Religious School is off and running. They have celebrated the High Holidays with Family Services conducted by Rabbi Peg and many of our students attended. We had many of our teens attending regular services, a plus for our congregation. Welcome back to Analise Arvelo, who has joined our Rel. School. Over the holidays, Gabrielle made challah with the students and at the last session, the students made their own sukkahs from popsicle sticks. Looks like fun! Our “Little Scholars” have met twice and have been studying the holidays.

On October 18, 2008, Jake Weinberger became a Bar Mitzvah. Our Rel. School students attended his Bar Mitzvah. Jake did a wonderful job and we wish much mazel-tov to the Weinberger family.

Our teen program, under the watchful eyes of Robert Cohen, will be holding its first meeting on Sunday, Oct. 26. We look forward to an exciting year as they plan events that they would like to participate in. I would like to congratulate Breanna Goldner, who played Kol Nidre on her cello erev Yom Kippur evening. This is not an easy piece and Breanna did a wonderful job. We look forward to hearing her again next year.

Barbara Kapitansky, Education Committee Chair

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the B’nai Harim Religious School. To register your child/children for Religious School, you must be a member in good standing.*

Class will continue to meet on Saturdays, twice monthly for 3 hours. There will, however, be several times during the year when classes and services will not be on the same weekend because of scheduled Bar/Bat Mitzvahs or other events as planned by the Religious School. Then sessions will be scheduled for opposing Saturdays. As in the past, you will receive a calendar of the Religious School dates for the entire year.

As part of their training, students who are close to Bar/Bat Mitzvah age will be required to attend ten services during the year. Since our classes meet at the same time as services, this is a difficult task to achieve. Therefore, we will be using a Rotation plan throughout the year that will give the Bar/Bat Mitzvah students an understanding and an opportunity to participate in the various parts of the service. All students are required, however, to remain for the entire school session, from 9am to 12 noon. All students are expected to participate in the last part of services. This will allow them to understand and become comfortable with the service format. When needed, tutoring will be provided by the teacher for the final ½ hour of the class. Family Education sessions for the parents of our older students will be conducted by our Rabbi.

Religious School tuition this year will be $175 per child for the school year. An additional registration fee (for supplies) of $35 per family is required. *

A deposit of $100 per child and the $35 registration fee per family as well as the completed application form for each child is due by August 22, 2008. Payment in full is due by September 30, 2008.

Our first class session will be Saturday, September 6, 2008 beginning at 9 am. Please have your child arrive by 8:45am so class can begin promptly at 9am.

Private Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons are available to eligible students at an additional cost, arrangements to be made directly with the instructor.

Kindly complete a separate application for each child and return it with your deposit as quickly as possible. Classes will begin Saturday, September 6, 2008.

Sincerely,

Barbara Kapitansky, Chair Education Committee

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 570-646-4668, 718-428-2140 or e-mail me at bspoco@verizon.net.

*Financial arrangements are available.

Religious School parent letter and application can be downloaded