I am pleased to announce that our Religious School has been accredited by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism as a “Framework for Excellence” Religious School. We are only one of 13 schools nationwide that have been chosen for this distinction. A year ago, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Education Committee re-evaluated what the excellent Conservative Religious School should accomplish. There are many reasons why our school was chosen from over 190 applications. We support a Religious School that requires attendance from our K- 2nd graders for 2 hours a week and for our 3rd-7th graders for 6 hours each week. In addition, we have strong synagogue and school attendance requirements. This year, over 18 students will win our Shul-Goers club award for attending more that 25 Shabbat and Festival morning services. Our curriculum has a strong Hebrew reading and prayer component that is fortified by our Sunday morning davening where our Hei students lay tefillin and our students lead a weekday shachrit service. Our teachers are evaluated often and attend more than 6 hours of professional development courses. I, as Hazzan and Education Director, am a member of many principal and education committees. The Rabbi and Hazzan have a strong relationship with the school. Our family education programming is strong and varied and provides families with a strong experiential component to the curriculum. Our Hei Hands On students have been involved in a program during the last 2 years that has won 2 major awards and has provided the students with an incredible experience in good deeds and community service. Finally, our youth groups, Kadima and USY, have been wonderful and inspirational with the help of Bethany Fishbein and Jaclyn Steinbach and with the strong student leaders of USY.
One of the main reasons for receiving this accolade, the highest from the Conservative movement, is the hard work and support from our Board of Education. They helped set the foundation for this strong Religious School and gave great advice to the Education Director. They organized dinners, workshops, and fund raisers. They helped to evaluate our teachers and to help recruit new leaders. They supported a strengthening of our attendance requirements and donated their precious time to do whatever was needed. When you are present in the synagogue building and involved in synagogue functions, please let the following people know that they are appreciated for the hard work and dedication that they have contributed to the strength of our school and of our congregation: Irwin Figman, Bernice Bedrick, Roz Reiss, Amy Weinstock, Laurie Steinbach, Rhondi Solomon, Phyllis Kandl, Stephen Solomon, Janet Ballen, Fred Kessler, and Marsha Autilio.
Finally, it has been such a pleasure to have Patty Werschulz as synagogue president for the last three years. She has demonstrated tremendous support for me as Hazzan and Education Director. Her strong commitment to prayer and adult education has been an inspiration to others in our community. It is through her leadership that Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim has remained a strong and vibrant community. I would like to wish her a mazel tov on all of her accomplishments.