The Temple Israel Religious School offers religious instruction to children of our members. Currently we have approximately 100 children, ages 5 - 18, enrolled in classes which meet at Temple Israel. Questions concerning the school should be addressed to the Temple Israel Office.

Our Pre-School Experience is open to children of members and non-members. Questions concerning pre-school programs should be addressed to Ailene Wittstein.

PRE-SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Sunday, November 20, 11 :00 am - noon
Sunday, December 11 , 11 :00 am

Ailene Wittstein will lead children ages 2 - 4, accompanied by an adult, in an introduction to Judaism through arts and crafts, food, music and more.

Open to members and non-member families, too!
Please RSVP to the Temple Office <office@templeisraellondon.ca>, (519)858-4400

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NOTES

Religious School Updates

Religious School is now in full swing and going well. The new children learned Torali and the Shema with Margie, and sang with their new Torahs as they were welcomed to the Religious School on October 19 at the Simchat Torah/Consecration service. The B'nei Mitzvah class was also honoured. The entire congregation and especially the Religious School families were invited to attend this special service.

Students have been learning about all the High Holidays. Chevrot Alef and Bet watched The Sticky Shofar and Monsters in the Sukkah. All the classes have spent some time making beautiful Sukkot decorations for the Sukkah and Chevra Bet added their pictures to the bulletin board downstairs.

Chevra Dalet/Hey is learning about Jewish Values, especially as they pertain to consumerism and the environment.

Chevrah Gimel has been learning about Keva: How We Pray, customs and traditions of Rosh Hashanah, as well as the words and meaning of Hatikvah. The children are discussing Magen David Adom and Naomi Sheinbaum will visit us on the 23rd to tell us more about this wonderful organization.

All the children will bring home a sheet each week entitled: "What we did Today," to inform parents what was learned in each session. A weekly parent email will be sent out as well.

Religious School

Sundays, 9:30 am - noon
Sundays: November 6, 13, 20, 27
December 4, 11, 18 (Family Hannukah Program)
Wednesdays: November 2, 9, 1 6, 23, 30
December 7, 1 4, 21

Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Wednesdays: November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
December 7, 14, 21

The Pre-School Experience (PSE)

Sunday, November 20, 11:00 am - noon
Sunday, December 11 , 11:00 am - noon

For children aged 2 - 4 accompanied by an adult; open to both members and nonmembers.
Please RSVP (519-858-4400 / office@templeisraellondon.ca)

Contact the Temple Office ASAP to enroll your children.

Religious School Food Bank Donations

As many of you know, each week during the school year Religious School students bring donations of food for the Food Bank. Heartfelt thanks to Jeremy and Nevia Frank who delivered those donations (which amounted to 140 pounds of food! ) to the Food Bank after the last day of Religious School.

Youth Group Update

The youth group is off to a great start with our involvement during Yom Kippur. I was so proud of those who read Torah and our "creative teen service" was for me a highlight of the day. The teens and I enjoyed involving the younger kids in our havdalah service featuring Rachel Okazaki and Gabrielle Nestor on the ukulele.

The teens and I have met and come up with ideas for what I believe will be some great programming. Upcoming events will include Jewish cooking, another lesson in krav magah, participation in the community Hebrew High program, as well as regular classes for a couple ofmembers who will have confirmation.

In addition, we have a few youth interested in attending the NFTYNEL weekends here and in the U.S.

As usual, if you have a teen who is interested in joining us for any of our events, please email Alisha Marks (alisha@templeisraellondon.ca) or phone the Temple Office (519-858-4400).

Camp George Registration and Subsidies

A summer camping experience with the Reform Jewish Movement can be one of the most meaningful - and fun - Jewish educational experiences you can give your child. This is also an opportunity to honour the memory of Rabbi Joel Wittstein, who was passionately supportive of Camp George.

Check the Camp George website (http://george.urjcamps.org/ ) for forms and information. Subsidies are available! Please contactl Leeat Cribbs (Vice President Finance) to express your interest in a subsidy.

The Temple Israel Youth Group is a member of NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth. Membership is open to anyone aged 13 or older whose family belongs to Temple Israel. A Youth Advisor is hired to lead the Youth Group. The group's activities include social outings, education programs, fund-raising events, social action commitments and intercity weekends in cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toronto, Buffalo and Rochester. The opportunity to meet with Reform movement teens in other cities is particularly important to teens living in a relativly small centre such as London. It serves as a vivid reminder that they are, as Jews, and Reform Jews in particular, part of a much larger community. For further information, please call the Temple Office at (519) 858-4400.