EDUCATION
Education Matters
The Mother's Circle Outreach Program at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee By Ryan G. Van Cleave
While the Education Matters column often focuses on what’s happening in our local schools, what’s becoming clear is that some of the most important education taking place in our community is happening outside of traditional classrooms. One group that’s making a true difference in this manner is The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee whose mission is “Saving Jewish lives and enhancing Jewish life in Sarasota-Manatee, Israel, and around the world.” Hearing that, one might think that if you’re not Jewish, what they do isn’t for you. Not so! One of the ways they advance this mission is by “strengthening ties between the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish community and the broader society in which it exists.” To be clear, the broader society means everyone, and from talking to Flora Oynick, the Federation’s Engagement Director, they truly mean everyone, no matter their age, gender, socioeconomic status, or religious beliefs. One of the Federation’s most interesting outreach programs is The Mother’s Circle, which provides free educational resources and programs for non-Jewish women who are raising Jewish children or have Jewish people in their lives. While Jews make up only 2.2% of the U.S. population, it’s estimated that 5.3 million adults and 1.3 million children are being raised in a partly Jewish manner. “It’s a non-threatening environment where people can ask any question and participate in an honest dialogue,” explains Oynick. And after each meeting (Oynick also calls them “celebrations”), people can get additional information through web resources. This program has proven so popular that even some men have attended to learn about Jewish culture, rituals, heritage, and beliefs! And as Oynick has stressed, anyone is welcome to come and learn. This organization — formerly called the Sarasota Jewish Community Council — has been around since 1959. In 1980, its name was changed to what it is today but it didn’t change its goal of preserving scenesarasota.com
March 2014
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