Kol Halev: Proposed Family Programming 5/22/11
The Education Committee has been working hard to synthesize both the values and needs of our community into a developmentally appropriate program that will foster a culture of celebration and community within Kol Halev. We are dedicated to providing a progressive Jewish educational experience for all Kol Halev families. Because we are a diverse community with a variety of needs, it is important to note that the proposed programming has something for everyone and includes four components: Family Shabbat Services, Family Havdallah Services; a beautiful ritual that brings Shabbat to an end, a Sunday education program for both children and adults, and Adult Education. The Education Committee has designed a calendar of seasonally appropriate themes that will be carried throughout each of the components of our educational programming. The following is a breakdown of the programming that we are proposing for the Kol Halev
Community.
● Family Shabbat Services will be offered once a month. These Friday evening services will bring families together to celebrate the beginning of Shabbat. Families will be invited to participate in a brief service followed by either a potluck dinner or dessert, age appropriate learning and crafts for children, as well as an opportunity for adults to
participate in learning and conversation with Rabbi Geoff. The goal of our Family Shabbat service is to bring families together and provide time for reflection and celebration of the week. At times, these Services may be organized as a smaller potluck dinner at congregant homes allowing us to gather in more intimate, smaller groups.
● Saturday evening Havdallah Service’s will be offered once a month as another means to bring the Kol Halev Community together and celebrate the end of Shabbat. The format will be similar to the Family Shabbat on Friday evenings. At times, these Havdallah Services may also be organized as a smaller potluck dinner at congregant homes allowing us to gather in more intimate, smaller groups.
● Kol Halev Sunday Beit Lev, Heart School will be offered two Sunday’s a month at Kol Halev. The format of this program is designed to be a new formulation of our current ‘unschool program’ with the emphasis on developmentally appropriate curriculum, experiential learning, mentoring and community building. Children to be separated into
appropriate age groupings to learn about the holidays, traditions, Hebrew, and Jewish values, but will also include the opportunity for the entire school to gather as a community for singing and basic prayer rituals. This new program will utilize the resources of a professional Jewish educator, parents, members of the Kol Halev community and Rabbi
Geoff. The Beit Lev program will include opportunities for our children to be separated into appropriate age groupings to learn about the holidays, traditions, Hebrew, and Jewish values, but will also include the opportunity for the entire school to gather as a community for singing and basic prayer rituals.
● Adult Education and Conversation will be an integral part of each of the above programs. Rabbi Geoff and the Education Committee are committed to providing programs for the whole family. Friday Shabbat and Saturday Havdallah services will include an opportunity for adults to gather with Rabbi Geoff to learn about and discuss adult and family related issues connected to the same themes that the children are learning. TheSunday morning “un‐school” will also be a time for adults in the community to participate and learn. Adult volunteers will be needed to run mitzvah projects with older children as well as lead our B’Nai Mitzvah students in engaging moral and ethical conversations.
Adults will also be given the opportunity to learn about our Siddur (prayerbook), our services and prayers and themes also connected to the children’s’ programming.
● The Kesher School of Congregation Beit Tikvah, the only other Reconstructionist congregation in Baltimore, has opened their doors to Kol Halev families. We pursued this option with the knowledge that there were some Kol Halev families who are committed to the Kol Halev community, yet were interested in a more comprehensive, structured Sunday School Program for their older children. Kesher provides classes for children in grades K-2nd, 3rd–5th, and 6th‐8th every Sunday from 9:30am‐12:30pm at the Waldorf School of Baltimore. Kol Halev invites families to participate in both the Kesher School program as well as Kol Halev Shabbat programs.
If you are interested in Kesher as an option for your family, please contact Liz Baker at Kol Halev by June 1st. Liz is the Kol Halev representative helping to coordinate with Kesher.
The Kol Halev Education Committee is truly excited at the opportunity to propose these programs to the Kol Halev community. Please contact Liz Baker, Kol Halev Education Committee Chair if you would like to volunteer with any of the programs.
Liz Baker
410‐243‐9066
lizb1125@mac.com
Respectfully Submitted,
Liz Baker and the Kol Halev Education and Family Programming Committee
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