Beth+El+Cong.+(Baltimore,+MD)

Chavurah Chadasha began as a pilot program in experiential family education. Ten families came together to enrich their lives through Jewish education in a three-tiered approach. The first tier involved all of the children in weekly classes in the family's homes, which takes Judaism out of the classroom and transforms into something learnable AND livable. The second tier involved all the parents in monthly classes led by the Rabbis of Beth El. The third tier involved the families together. Through monthly Shabbat dinners and Shabbat morning learning services, retreats and group trips, and a Tikkun Olam project, the families grew together, both socially and Jewishly. The project was designed to promote Jewish learning on a family level, rather than just on an individual level, as well give the families more for the membership at Beth El. We significantly increased parental engagement while providing flexibility and home-based learning in small groups.
 * Beth El****, Baltimore, MD (Conservative, 1750 household units)**
 * “Chavurah Chadasha”**

The families now understant the importance of living and practicing Judaism as a family to develop a strong Jewish identity within their children. The families make the chavurah a priority in their lives and value the friendships they have made. These families have formed a strong community through our Chavurah model and life cycle experiences. They think of Beth El Congregation as their second home and will fight for their children to continue with this type of education.

We recommend this model to make "an institution" warm, friendly and engaging place. In fact used aspects of this model in other areas of our congregation: Adult education to form study groups within businesses at lunch Infant/Toddler playground groups M&M Shabbat and Oneg at 5pm for the families with children ages 2-5 Preschool play groups Simchat Shabbat, morning service for families with children ages k - 2nd grade Satellite Schools in various areas of Baltimore By engaging families where they are at and by introducing them to families with similiar to themselves, we have created groups within Beth El that love to learn, play and pray together and best of all love being a part of Beth El Congregation thus bringing the silos together.

8101 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21208 Conservative

[|**1st letter to parents March 2007.doc**] [|**Calendar.doc**] [|Chavurah_Chadasha_in_New_York.jpg]
 * Publicity/Marketing Materials**

Lesson Plans [|Toothpick Tower of Babel.doc] [|Challah Covers.doc] [|Class Structures.doc] [|HebrewLessons.doc] (2008)
 * Educational Materials**

New York Trip Itinerary Sukkot Retreat [|**Chavurah Chadasha Shabbat Dinner.doc**] 2008 Chavurah A 2008 Chavurah B
 * Agendas for Projects**


 * Satellite Schools**

Satellite Schools are based on the home school approach during Chavurah. On weekdays the Chavurah learned in their homes. We took this idea futher. There are areas of Baltimore that the traffic is so bad during rush hours, that families can not feasibly make to weekday Hebrew School. So we developed a program to teach students in their neighborhoods: Downtown Baltimore, Howard County, White Marsh and Timonium. The first two area began in the Fall of 2009. They have grown through word of mouth and open houses. We used Jewish holidays as the themes of the open houses: Hanukkah, Purim and Passover. We invited the parents so that they could observe their children learning and then the parents learned with one of our clergy. It makes the school warm, friendly and part of Beth El. The downtown Baltimore school is the only one that does not have two days. Most of the families are interfaith and do not want to travel out of the city for Sunday classes. However it is this writer's opinion, Jill Eisen, that these families will change their minds when their children near Bnai Mitzvah. Currently, the age range is 5 - 8. Next year the age range will be 4-9. The Howard County school is more like the Chavurah model. They have Shabbat dinners, parent education, book club and play dates for the families with preschool children. The older children come to Beth El on Sunday mornings.




 * Curriculum for Chavurah and Satellite Schools - please keep in mind this is always a work in progress.**


 * Conference Call Power Point Presentation**


 * Power Point to the Board and Staff about the Satellite Schools**

[|Adult Lunch and Learn]
 * Adult Education**

M&M Shabbats are held on the first Friday of each month. They are led by Rabbi Dana Saroken for families with children ages 2 - 5. The service is in our small chapel where the children can sing, dance and move around. As a result the children are comfortable in the chapel. We have extended this idea to our High Holiday Services where they will be family friendly and there will be room for the children to run around.
 * Early Childhood Chavurah Programs**

We used the Reconstructionist Siddur, The Voice of the Children, for its beautiful pictures, lovely poems and stories, and especially the interest for the children. We also had instruments for the children to play during Mi Chamocha, Oseh Shalom and Adon Olam.
 * Simchat Shabbat - Kindergarten - 2nd Grade**


 * Family Friendly High Holiday Services**

Questions to ask your participants
 * Evaluation Results**

Contact: Jill Eisen jill@bethelbalto.com

Rabbi Steven Schwartz steven@bethelbalto.com