December 2016

The values we learn from Torah and our tradition provide us with beautiful guidance for living our lives.  A Jewish value that resonates very strongly with me, and one that I find very important to teach our children, is that all people are created B’tezelem Elohim, created in the image of God.  Each person has something unique and incredibly valuable to share with the world.  Together as a community, we are so much stronger as we bring each of these qualities together.  Being created B’tzelem Elohim has important implications on both how we should treat one another and how we should treat ourselves.  It demands that we respect each other and value what each person can offer to a community.  It also inspires the individual to bring his or her talents forward.

One of the key underpinnings of Limmud, Temple Beth El’s new Youth Education Program, is understanding that it is our obligation to make sure that each of our children receives a Jewish education that meets his or her needs.  Not only have we redesigned some of our learning spaces to make them more comfortable and exciting for children, we have redesigned our staff structure to make sure that we are able to provide them with the right kind of support.  We have talented educators who design engaging educational experiences.  In areas that can be challenging for children to acquire a skill, such as Hebrew reading, we have additional educators so children can get more individualized assistance.  We have Madricihm, our group leaders, who build community amongst the groups of children; many of our groups have multiple Madrichim in order to provide the additional support for some of our children with special needs.

Among the many important goals of Limmud, the program aspires to live the value that each person is created B’tzelem Elohim.  This value is central to the community that is fostered among the children in the different grade-based groups.  It is central to the design of the educational experiences.  Through both example and practice, we strive to partner with families to help instill this value in the children of our congregation.

If you would like more information about our new Limmud program, please contact me in the Education Office at ssofian@tberochester.org or (585) 473-1190.

Samara Sofian