Not Your Average Back-to-School Article (archived from 2006 school year)

Okay, so how lucky was I to have been randomly chosen, late last year, to write the board article for this particular month? I mean, there are just so many things to be said right here, right now. First and foremost, I’d like to congratulate the entire membership of Congregation Ohr Tzafon on the purchase of our own building. What an exciting, challenging, glorious, giant step we have taken for our children, ourselves, and our community. My father states that "it is the duty of Jews everywhere to replace the houses of worship destroyed by anti-Semites everywhere, whether by contributing to Temple building funds or erecting new Temples anywhere." I was amazed and encouraged by the way the C.O.T. community stepped up to this challenge, and I am honored to be a part of such a pivotal event in our evolution.

One of the many things that will be affected by this new development is, of course, religious school. If you recall, students’ cramped quarters was one of the biggest motivators in our desire to relocate, and the Education Committee is overjoyed with the opportunities offered by the new building. This year, Torah and Hebrew school will begin in September at our existing location in Paso Robles. Our plan is to make the move to our new location in Atascadero with minimal upheaval sometime after High Holy Days. Please bear with us as we plan this difficult move – your understanding, attention, and flexibility will be key in making the students and teachers feel comfortable and able to seamlessly continue the learning process.

We’re also excited that Congregation Ohr Tzafon students will be undertaking a new religious curriculum this year. The Chai: Learning for Jewish Life curriculum comes from the URJ Press, and is a flexible Jewish learning system that offers materials in the curriculum core areas of Torah, Avodah, and G’milut Chasadim, as well as Family Education, Early Childhood Education, and Teacher Training. The entire program includes ready-to-teach lesson plans, student workbooks and journals, and suggestions for further learning. You will be amazed at the things our synagogue’s children will be learning, and at their excitement about it as well!

Several more new additions to religious school promise to make this year extra special. One, we have incorporated a half-hour "group time" every Sunday. This is a time for all students to be together and participate in something of value to everyone, be it a guest speaker, a holiday-themed presentation, one class sharing a particularly important lesson, an abbreviated religious service, Israeli dancing, music, food – almost anything goes! If you have something you’d like to share with the students, this is the perfect opportunity to get involved with our temple youth.

Another way to get involved is to participate in the school’s new Mitzvah Project: four times this year, students in groups of six to eight children will visit the residents of Creston Village Retirement Home with pets (thank you Judy and Marc Front!) and youthful vitality. These visits will take place during regular Torah School time, so drivers and chaperones are needed. Please contact Gail Gresham if this is something you would like to help out with.

Lastly, while we are always happy and excited to welcome new students to our religious school, we are also pleased and honored to have some new teachers joining us. C.O.T. children are so lucky to receive the attention, expertise, and care of these fine volunteers. Welcome to new teachers Ellie and Joan Lachowsky, Sandy Kawano, Janine Dingler, and Tali Freed. And welcome back to teachers Barbara Kurtzman, Julie Mundee, Rick and Leslie Moss, Theresa Hirsch, Pam Glen, and Lori Gersh (okay, and me too!).

I look forward to another great year of religious school for our kids, and I thank you one and all for your resounding wellspring of support for the Jewish children of our community, manifested in your overwhelming support of our new building purchase!

B’shalom,