By Faran Fagen
A new Jewish studies program encourages parents, grandparents or guardians to attend each week alongside their children, making Jewish learning a true family experience.
“It’s a chance for kids and parents and their families to learn together,” said Rabbi Joyce Siegel, program director and founder.
The program, Jewish Family Experience/Beit Mishpacha, begins Sept. 7 at Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County, 2475 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.
The program aims to meet families where they are on their Jewish journey — whether just beginning or continuing traditions. Beit Mishpacha features project-based and experiential learning through music, storytelling, art, cooking, games and more.
Important goals will also embrace the traditional concepts of loving your neighbor and repairing the world.
There are no temple membership fees — just one all-inclusive tuition fee per child. The fees are for tuition, supplies, teaching staff and the program itself. For families whose goal is a bar or bat mitzvah, the program will help prepare them for that path.
“Many families today don’t want to pay for membership and commit to one place,” Siegel said. “I wanted to reach out to families not part of the temple and give them the opportunity to participate.”
The program is open to families with children in grades K-7. All Jewish and interfaith families are welcome.
Beit Mishpacha’s curriculum will cover Jewish holidays, Jewish Lifecycle, Bible, Hebrew, prayers, Israel, tikkun olam and mitzvot. For the older students/families, the Holocaust and antisemitism will be included.
Small classes are offered with personalized attention.
Lynne Weinstein has been part of the leadership at Temple Sinai for more than 20 years and is past president of the congregation.
“Our senior rabbi, Steven Moss, Rabbi Joyce Siegel and our leadership are committed to fostering a robust Jewish community in a world with many challenges,” Weinstein said.
The new program at Temple Sinai is a creative approach to supplemental Jewish family education. Its primary goal is to offer traditional and contemporary families a shared learning opportunity to embrace many aspects of their Jewish heritage.
The Jewish Family Experience embraces families with a diverse Jewish heritage seeking balance in their parenting, professional and recreational lives.
“The experiential curriculum is designed for the students, parents and grandparents to learn together in classrooms and the community as well as continue the shared process in monthly home activities,” Weinstein said.
Families were invited to a free open house on July 27 where they met educators, toured the space, and enjoyed a hands-on taste of this approach to Jewish learning.
“Temple Sinai is so excited to welcome young families,” Siegel said. “Jewish learning should be joyful, welcoming and shared.”
Grades K-3 will meet twice a month on a Sunday morning for three hours, plus family shabbat dinner and service once a month.
Grades 4-7 will meet Sunday mornings three times a month, plus family shabbat dinner and service once a month.
In addition, grades 4-7 will meet on Zoom for 30 minutes a week for a Hebrew learning experience.
Siegel’s goal is for the children to lead the shabbat services. The idea behind the program is something that Siegel has wanted to bring to fruition for many years.
“We’re really building a community — that’s my vision,” she said.
Enrollment is open. Visit jewishfamilyexperiencedelray.org or email info@jewishfamilyexperiencedelray.org.
To learn more or schedule a visit, call Rabbi Siegel at 561-276-6161, ext. 119.
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