The Family Education Program at B'nai Israel strives to ensure that Jewish family learning is constantly occurring because we know, as Jews, that this is essential to the maintenance of Jewish values, identity and continuity. Our goal is to create a community where people can share in experiences of Jewish family learning and become energized by it. The programs we provide are meant as opportunities for individuals to develop a spiritual, educational and social connection to Jewish life and to the Congregation, as well as to integrate Judaism into people's daily lives.

Family Education at B'nai Israel enables parents to teach their children about Judaism so that they can create meaningful Jewish rituals, observances and traditions in their own homes. It encourages parents to assume the role of being their children's primary educator, while encouraging parents to engage in Jewish learning and observance for themselves as well.

Family Education programming at B'nai Israel connects adults and directly engages children of all ages and asks them to consider what it is to be a Jew in ways that are meaningful and enriching for everyone. Our Family Education program recognizes that learning is and should be lifelong, so regardless of the definition of your "family", whether someone's children have long departed from the nest or one is just starting a family, opportunities for Jewish growth and connection are designed to make Judaism relevant to all. Cognizant of our rich and full Jewish calendar, Family Education provides activities for congregants to come together as a large and unified community as well as offering more intimate settings for specific groups throughout the year.

At B'nai Israel, many Family Education programs are integrated into the Religious School and Nursery School. These programs directly correlate to the material and curricula of the specific classes. For example, the Kitah Alef (first grade) curriculum in the Religious School concentrates on Genesis. Each year we offer a Torah workshop corresponding to the particular Torah portions being studied. Kitah Bet (second grade) focuses on Israel, so Family Education always plans an Israeli picnic at the time of Yom Haatzmaut, which includes Israeli foods, songs, dancing art activities and discussion.

As the gimel (third grade) class is the year for students to receive their Hebrew names, a whole workshop on the significance of naming and names is made a part of the studies. Likewise, the Nursery School does a complete unit on tzedakah, and what accompanies that is a program that focuses on the word mitzvah and the broad definition that comes with it.

Family Education seeks to foster connections outside of the classroom as well. Monthly Tot Shabbat and library Story Hours bring together Preschool families to make further connections to the synagogue and other young families.

The Thirteen Mitzvot project engages parents and their B'nai Mitzvah age children in fulfilling mitzvot as a means to underscoring the significance of mitzvah in Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Monthly Shabbat celebrations at the Temple called Mishpacha Shabbat bring families with preschoolers and elementary school age children together for dinner and a Shabbat service geared specifically toward young children.

The monthly Coffee and Conversation group is made up of many retired adults who come together to socialize and continue their lifelong pursuit of Jewish knowledge. The weekly Nosh and Drash, a thought provoking discussion, debate and exploration of our sacred texts is made up of an intergenerational group of men and women who love the informal exchange of ideas.

Our Family Education programming even ventures beyond our Synagogue with a Family Kallah (retreat) in the Berkshires. The weekend seeks to provide fun, spiritual growth, fellowship and family camaraderie.

Family Education also endeavors to weave the Jewish calendar into our daily lives. To that end, for every major Jewish festival, there exists a family event that capitalizes on bringing together the community in joy and celebration. An evening of Sukkah decorating and a Sukkot picnic is one example. The Shavuot picnic and flower planting is another. Family services are a part of both of these programs that offer congregants a chance to socialize, share a seudah (a ritual meal) and be spiritually enlivened.

Family Education at B'nai Israel is often a collaborative effort. The Mitzvah Connection, our annual Social Action Fair, draws on the efforts of the Family Education Committee, the Social Action Committee and the Brotherhood to achieve its success. The fun and folly of the Purim Carnival is a joint Brotherhood and Family Education function.

The Habitat for Humanity projects, in which the Congregation has participated for the past six years, call upon every Temple committee and auxiliary to make a commitment: the Nursery School children preparing lunches for the volunteers, the Religious School students collecting tzedakah in Habitat House banks, BIFTY organizing youth group build days and every Synagogue committee signing up for a volunteer Sunday.

In this large institution where there are so many people with so many diverse interests and needs, Family Education aims to provide a source for intimate and focused possibilities. Family Education at B'nai Israel maintains a philosophy and outlook open to new ideas and opportunities that reflect the character and interests of our Congregation and we hope you will consider joining us at several of our programs throughout the year.