Changes come to Beth Ohr’s Hebrew school

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Over the past two years, the Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Ohr, in Bellmore, has undergone some extensive changes in both its curriculum and physical appearance.

The lively conservative synagogue, which merged with Temple Israel of South Merrick in 2019, now serves around 60 students in its school, and offers a fun, unique and experiential approach to Jewish learning, thanks to the efforts of Ellen Algunick, Beth Ohr’s director of congregational learning and programming.

Algunick arrived at Beth Ohr two years ago from the Boston area, where she built her career in education. After initially working in a public school setting, she took some time off to raise her children. Everything after that, she said, was in a Jewish setting. Before moving to Long Island, she finished her time in Massachusetts as principal of a Jewish school.

“It was rough being a school principal during the pandemic,” Algunick said. “Some factors in my life had changed, and I felt I didn’t need to be in Boston anymore. Two of my three kids were here in New York, so I started looking for jobs here — and I found this job, which sounded perfect for a semiretired school principal.”

Algunick began her role in person in August 2021. “When I walked in, I saw a Hebrew school that looked like the Hebrew school I went to,” she said, “but I saw a lot of potential, because that’s what I like to do. I like to fix and build.”

At Beth Ohr, Algunick is in charge of all learning. But in her first few years, her focus has been on revitalizing and expanding the Hebrew school.

“I’ve expanded the program,” she explained. “Last year, we added a kindergarten component, and this year we’re adding an early childhood class for kids ages 3 to 5.”

The younger students meet

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