The Re-Imagine Tomorrow's Synagogue Education Today Think Tank met for the second time on Wednesday, December 9th. Lay, clergy, and professional leaders from the community synagogues were greatly inspired by the energy, creativity, imagination, and determination exemplified in Dave Eggers' "Once Upon a School," an after school "writers' workshop" which provides homework and tutoring assistance to children in a fun and relevant way. The Think Tank group discussed how the ideas in "Once Upon a School" might be applied in the synagogue school setting. To watch Dave Eggers receiving the TED Award for “Once Upon a School”, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaSF1gPBKrA.

The group also discussed what schools say are the most important educational goals for one’s “Jewishness” versus what students and parents say is most important for one's Judaism. We learned what the research says, too!

In “A Census of Jewish Supplementary Schools in the United States 2006–2007,” (Avi Chai Foundation 2008, see pages 5 and 21) Professor Jack Wertheimer reports that when schools were surveyed about their goals for education, the five top answers were:

1. 31% giving students positive Jewish experiences

2. 18% Hebrew reading for participation in prayer services

3. 11% teaching about holidays and ritual

4. 10% preparing children to live as decent people, i.e. to be menschen

5. 9% inspiring children to observe rituals

Schools’ sixth top goal was:

7% preparing students for bar or

mitzvah.

We also know from the research that, though not separately surveyed, it appears as if parents of supplementary school students place a very high priority on the bar and bat mitzvah since there is a precipitous decrease in student enrollment immediately following seventh grade (see page 10). Meeting in focus groups during the 2006-07 year of the Synagogue School Enhancement Initiative, parents were asked why they end their children to synagogue school. The predominant answer was: “I send my kids to synagogue school to learn Jewish values.” In addition to parent focus groups, 68 sixth grade students in three synagogue schools were asked to rate the most important ideas/aspects contributing to the strength of their “Jewishness” using this list of identity markers:

1. Being part of a Jewish community

2. Caring about Israel

3. Observing Jewish law (Halakha)

4. Celebrating the holidays

5. Celebrating Shabbat

6. Making the world a better place

7. Going to synagogue

8. Believing in God

9. Learning about Jewish history and culture

10. Learning Hebrew

11. Giving Tzedakah

12. Going to Hebrew School

13. Having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

14. Hanging out with other Jews

The students responded with the following markers as their top five choices:

1. 86% belief in God

2. 86% care for Israel

3. 80% achieving a bar or bat mitzvah

4. 80% making the world a better place

5. 78% celebrating Jewish holidays

Our SSEI Think Tank is a positive, exciting community wide forum that is helping us discuss facts and issues related to synagogue education. It is the involvement and efforts of our lay leaders, clergy, and professionals who will create the Jewish education of the future for over 70% of our children. Be part of creating the change! Join us at our next Re-Imagine Tomorrow’s Synagogue Education Today session on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 when Professor Jack Wertheimer will be with us in person.