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Community Corner

Hebrew School Like You've Never Seen Before: Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies

Hebrew School Like You've Never Seen Before:  Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies by Jan Loew   Charlie Sherman, School Director at Am Yisrael Congregation’s School of Jewish Studies (SJS), reflects on the success of the past year and looks forward to next year’s journey.  Sherman was recently named the Midwest Regional President of Jewish Educators Assembly.  He is also a board member of the National Jewish Educators Assembly.
  Now entering his fourth year as School of Jewish Studies (SJS) Director, Sherman has been instrumental in creating innovative, meaningful and fun experiences for 134 students.  He remarked with pride that over 50 students learned to read and chant from the Torah.  In a year-end review video that Sherman produced on the Am Yisrael website, students share their enthusiasm for the school’s programs as “vibrant”, “awesome” and “amazing”, and are seen with ‘Torah Reading Rocks!!!’ t-shirts.
The Shabbat Morning Family Programming (SMFP) that is held one Saturday each month brings together all SJS and day school children and their parents within the congregational family for services, prayer and kiddush lunch.  “In order to accommodate all 50 students, the School literally knocked down a wall”, said Sherman. 
“We continue to add technology to the curriculum, and now have 8 SMARTBoards to enhance learning in our building, all donated anonymously”, said Sherman.  He added that “SJS students have skyped with several families and schools in Israel.  We also Skyped with one of our students who is living abroad in Germany for two years.  As one of her Mitzvah projects, she taught us about Jewish life there today.  Our students had an opportunity to ask her questions.  It was a fascinating experience.”
Sherman added that the Chugim Program (electives) has been very successful. Chugim include Musical Drama, Art, Band, Israeli Culture, Jewish Family Feud, and Multimedia Production where the students can create video and make games.  Building on their education at Am Yisrael, over 20 teenagers serve as madrichim (teaching assistants).  They are enthusiastic mentors who connect with the SJS students; their energy, dedication and motivation help the students understand the Hebrew language and gain a positive Jewish identity. 
Sherman is proud of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) efforts by SJS students, who “provide a significant service to the community by producing over 3,000 lunches for A Just Harvest shelter.  Heh (5th grade) through Confirmation Classes (10th grade) have done grocery shopping for an ARK client in West Rogers Park.  They have visited her and will continue to do so next year.
Sherman elaborated on several highlights of the coming year, including a Family Retreat with 16 families at Beber Camp in the fall led by Rabbi Newman Kamin and Charlie Sherman.  The SJS will have a Bar Mitzvah celebration in February with Shabbat morning intergenerational Torah reading and a party with a DJ on Sunday.  Rabbi Newman Kamin will conduct Family Education for all classes at SJS, Gan through Confirmation, and Shabbat dinners will be organized for most of the classes.
  If you would like to learn more about Am Yisrael’s School of Jewish Studies, please contact Charlie Sherman at 847-446-7215 ext. 12 or visit the Am Yisrael website at www.amyisrael.org.
 

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