Kesher School
Enrollment Application for the 5772 (2011-12) School Year
To receive an information package, call 410-464-9402 or email info@beittikvah.org
Questions about Kesher School? Email our principal Debbie Rosenberg at kesherprincipal@beittikvah.org
To receive an information package, call 410-464-9402 or email info@beittikvah.org
Questions about Kesher School? Email our principal Debbie Rosenberg at kesherprincipal@beittikvah.org
"The Jewish Learning Experience
You Wish You'd Had"
A Sunday-only Religious School
--in residence at--
The Waldorf School of Baltimore
Accredited by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Affiliated with the Council of Jewish Education of Baltimore
"Bravo! This is a complex and sophisticated curriculum. In particular, it is one of the strongest I have seen for the number of hours you meet. The children are exposed to such a thoughtful and intricate plan...the teachers are clearly passionate and dedicated."
- Rabbi Erin Hirsh, Director of Education, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
You Wish You'd Had"
A Sunday-only Religious School
--in residence at--
The Waldorf School of Baltimore
Accredited by the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Affiliated with the Council of Jewish Education of Baltimore
"Bravo! This is a complex and sophisticated curriculum. In particular, it is one of the strongest I have seen for the number of hours you meet. The children are exposed to such a thoughtful and intricate plan...the teachers are clearly passionate and dedicated."
- Rabbi Erin Hirsh, Director of Education, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Click here to meet our teachers!
Kesher School Committee:
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Shapiro and Karen Linder-Staubs
Principal: Debbie Rosenberg kesherprincipal@beittikvah.org
Congregation Liaison: Jonathan Mattanah
Members-at-Large: Emily Marcovitz, Lisa Green-Cudek, Felice Shore, Michael Glasser
Rabbinical Advisor to Kesher School: Rabbi Ruth Smith
Kesher School Committee:
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Shapiro and Karen Linder-Staubs
Principal: Debbie Rosenberg kesherprincipal@beittikvah.org
Congregation Liaison: Jonathan Mattanah
Members-at-Large: Emily Marcovitz, Lisa Green-Cudek, Felice Shore, Michael Glasser
Rabbinical Advisor to Kesher School: Rabbi Ruth Smith
Jewish Families Live! – a class for preschoolers (ages 3 and 4) and their parents. A holiday-based, arts and crafts curriculum for the children, while parents engage in dynamic Jewish learning with Rabbi Ruth Smith, ending in a closing activity for parents and children to do together. A wonderful way to introduce your child to Jewish learning, while you deepen your own Jewish knowledge.
Alef Class – a twice per month class for Kindergartners and 1st graders. A play-based, interactive classroom engaging in introducing the stories of the Tanach, the customs and meaning of the holidays, introduction to the Alef-Bet, and Jewish values (with emphasis on Tikkun Olam (Social Action), Mitzvot (Repairing the World), Gemilut Chesed (helping the needy).
Bet Class – meets weekly on Sundays for 2nd and 3rd graders. A play-based, interactive classroom engaging in creating a Tanach of their own, deepening their understanding of the holidays, beginning instruction in prayer and Hebrew language, and Jewish values (with emphasis on Tikkun Olam, Mitzvot, and Gemilut Chesed).
Gimmel Class – meets weekly for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. A Montessori-style classroom engaged in-depth in study of Tanach, prayer, and Hebrew in preparation for the B’nei Mitzvah program. The class also actively engages in Jewish values learning, holiday celebrations, and Jewish history.
Shorashim Class – meets weekly for 7th and 8th graders. Shorashim class focuses on cultural and historical knowledge of the Jewish people for students in the midst of B’nei Mitzvah. This class emphasizes the active engagement in living a Jewish life. With constant field trips to exciting destinations in the Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York regions, the class challenges students to begin their development into adult Jews. How will they engage in Jewish learning once their Bar/Bat Mitzvah is completed? What will their Jewish identity look like?
Mission Statement
Kesher School is a cooperatively-run Jewish Sunday School founded by member families of Congregation Beit Tikvah and open to everyone. We reach out to all Jewish-identified families, whether they are traditionally nuclear, single parents, interfaith, GLBT, multi-heritage, or any other configuration seeking a warm and welcoming Jewish community. We especially encourage families just beginning their Jewish learning to join us.
As a Reconstructionist Jewish school, our educational philosophy teaches the core beliefs that unite Jews worldwide. However, within the Jewish core of thought and practice, we emphasize the diversity of the Jewish people, and value the many different expressions of belief that exist within our modern Jewish community. We focus on positive Jewish identity formation through creative and fun learning using interactive games, discussions, art projects, text study, prayer, music, dancing, and family field trips to exciting Jewish destinations in Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York City.
A key tenet of Reconstructionist Jewish philosophy is a commitment to community. Kesher School curriculum encourages families to model a connection to Jewish life for our children. We provide enjoyable and easy opportunities to do this. Kesher School partners with Congregation Beit Tikvah to offer many family-based Shabbat potluck dinners and services, holiday celebrations, and other special events throughout the year. Congregation Beit Tikvah also offers a family tickets and a wonderful children’s program for the High Holy Days at a substantial discount for Kesher families.
