Kehillah Corner

BY SETH GOLOB Director of Education & Marketing Communications

At a time when religious schools around the country are losing momentum, I am proud to say that TCS Kehillah is going against the national trend. We have built a strong community that continues to thrive and grow through a culture of kindness, understanding, learning, and caring.

Learning with Intention One unique feature of our program is a curriculum model that focuses on learning with intention. Our students know that they can take their Jewish learning and use it beyond the classroom. Our dedicated teachers are at the core of their students’ journey to achieve an authentic Jewish life. Hebrew is taught practically. Decoding is taught by learning to sound out words of prayers they may use at a college Hillel, or a synagogue they visit on a trip to Israel. We take a hands-on approach to education. If we’re learning about comparative religions, we visit a church and a mosque. If we’re learning about immigration, we take the ferry to Ellis Island. We apply the same philosophy for Israel education, and that’s why we’re thrilled to have Ofek, our Federation Israeli Shaliach with us this year.

Social Connections Not only do we learn, but we have fun outside of the classroom as well. Through social events, family learning sessions, and holiday celebrations, our students and families are able to connect over shared bonds and values. Our older students engage with each other in our updated youth lounge. If you stop by between 3:30pm and 4:00pm on Monday or Tuesday, you will see a vibrant group of Kehillah students chatting, laughing, playing games, and just having fun together before heading off to class. This is our community at its best.

A Welcoming Culture Inclusivity is another important piece of the puzzle. Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed many new families who bring excitement and flavor to our community. I’m working hard to get to know each family and seamlessly integrate them into our greater Kehillah community. Whether it’s enlisting a new parent to volunteer or connecting a newer family with an established family, these are opportunities to bring people together. We even have new students joining us in seventh grade with no religious school experience, who’ve jumped right in and already look like they’ve been with us for years. This is not only a testament to our program, but also to our enthusiastic new families. We look forward to building on this energy and continuing to meet our students where they are.

We encourage you to get involved in our Kehillah community! Join us for our Hanukkah and Purim celebrations, sign up to be a substitute teacher, or even volunteer to read a book to our students. We look forward to staying connected and fostering our vibrant Kehillah together.