Hebrew Immersion

This is really a great concept. The work that we are doing at Neveh Shalom should be revolutionizing Jewish Education. We are creating afternoon synagogue based educational experiences that actually work. They work as well as day schools. Mira know Hebrew now. She can read and speak. Watching her is as magical as watching her learn to read and speak English.

My class is remarkable. Has anyone ever had a Hebrew School class like this one? One where the kids actually show up? To each and every class period? They and their parents are 100% committed to the concept of Hebrew School as worthwhile. We speak Hebrew in class. Only Hebrew. I run the class like I did my day school classes. We act out plays, play games, read stories, learn songs, write sentences. The kids enjoy themselves although they act out more than my day school kids ever did. We are working against the time of day here. It is also the synagogue which is different from the school. The synagogue should be a happy place for children. It should absolutely not be a place of fear or intimidation. I allow a great deal more chaos in my room than I am actually comfortable with. Mira complains too of the wild children in her class. still, there is real learning taking place.

The class is an interesting mix of language levels and abilities. We have the kids who attended PJA and the ones who came from Kochavim. What's really interesting is that we also have the kids who came from Hebrew School but who are exceptionally bright especially when it comes to learning new languages. Then we have the kids whose parents are on the board. They spend a lot of time at the synagogue. They understand all too well that the old system was broken and are committed to finding a better direction. The energy and intelligence in this room is palpable. We are a microcosm of the best and brightest of Neveh Shalom. Its an elitist model and it works.

I teach with the same philosophy I always have. Learning should be fun but it should be learning. Every activity is designed for both maximum enjoyment within the confines of educational validity. Sometimes this means learning a song or playing a game. Sometimes it means acting in skits. Sometimes it means sitting and reading a story and answering questions. The students work in groups or partners and by themselves. Always we include an element of tefillah. Some activities are hands on and some are teacher directed. Not everything works. The kids enjoy coming but not as much as they might enjoy soccer, or art or other activities we are competing with. It's okay. It is called Hebrew "School" for a reason. It's a little bit like school. So far no one has come up with a better system than school to get kids to learn. They are learning and enjoying themselves and coming so what more could you want?

The synagogue is a good place to come to learn. Why do we even have to say that? Because although it seems like an obvious thought it's almost never the case. Every Jewish educator and every rabbi and every teacher needs to know this. Synagogues that waste their time teaching kids to hate being Jewish should be shut down. It's time to admit that these programs that we've created in the past don't work. Most Jewish kids at some point will come across some type of Jewish educational program that takes place in a synagogue. Certainly more than who will find themselves in a day school or in a Jewish camp. We need new models of synagogue education. We have created something great at Neveh Shalom but it's not the only answer.