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6 | Innovating Inside the Box
- Brandeis University Press
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chapter 6 Innovating Inside the Box An Ongoing Process to Improve a Congregational School Susan L. Shevitz with Marion Gribetz An Overview of Temple Reyim and Its School One of the first things that catches the eye in the foyer between the sanctuary and school wing when you enter Temple Reyim is a large portrait of its emeritus rabbi with three young children at his side. It is a warm and peaceful picture and quite possibly unusual. How many rabbis choose to include children in the formal portrait by which they will be remembered? How should we understand this choice? To what extent do young people feel as comfortable in the congregation and with its staff as the portrait suggests? And, if they do, what does it mean in terms of the Jewish education that is provided by the congregation? These questions, it turns out, provide a window through which Temple Reyim can be understood. Temple Reyim is a Reform congregation of just over 1,000 member units situated in a wealthy suburb of a large city. Founded after the Second World War, it has expanded beyond its original building several times and another addition is being constructed. Originally classically Reform, under the leadership its current rabbi, Peter Hirsh, Temple Reyim has embraced more traditional practices. Hebrew is visible throughout the building and incorporated into services; Israel is important; kippot and tallitot are worn by clergy and others. Had we not known the denominational affiliation we would not have been able to tell easily whether Reyim is a member of the Conservative, Reconstructionist, or Reform movement. As one person quipped, “We’re the Reform congregation anyone can eat in.” The services also have a more traditional feel. One very active member who grew up in a classical Reform temple put it this way: “I’m uncomfort176 ❖ Job Name: 560670 PDF Page: txt_560670.p194.pdf denisek able with some stuff. I won’t turn to the door for “Lecha Dodi”1 . . . There’s lots of bowing, shaking, and going on and on . . .” She shares that she uses that “on and on” time to meditate. Deeply devoted to the congregation , she served as its first female president. She values the staff and appreciates the stability that comes with staff members who are committed to the congregation and its congregants. The executive director, Ellen Rosenberg, estimates that 10 percent of the 1,030 member units are either interfaith families or those where one of the parents converted to Judaism. The explanation given for this surprisingly low number is that local congregations with less Hebrew and fewer traditional customs suit them better. If this estimate is accurate, the school has less religious diversity than many. Temple Reyim recently merged with a smaller nearby Reform congregation , Temple Torah, that brought its well-regarded nursery school to Reyim. Several people from Temple Torah mention the friendliness they encounter at their new congregation and specifically mention Rabbi Hirsch’s approachability. “Friendliness,” “warmth,” “caring,” inclusiveness” are the words most often used to characterize Temple Reyim and its school by many of its new and long-term members and staff. We arrived at Temple Reyim on a snowy Sunday morning. The path to the school door had not yet been shoveled following the Saturday night nor’easter that dumped many inches of snow (and slowed our arrival); parents and children were entering in the front and going through very narrow corridors to the school wing. On a typical Sunday there are morning classes for kindergarten through seventh grade, adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class, and other activities. Stopped almost immediately by a smiling woman, we are asked in a friendly way if we will support her son’s confirmation class by buying a ticket for the raffle to be held that evening at the annual dinner for the class and their families. As we walked with the mother and son to the school wing, we noted that the walls of the narrow corridors were artfully covered with children’s work, posters, and photographs. Each room was in full use, and students and others were in the hall, yet there was a calm, purposeful feeling. Lilly Cohen Jones, the middle-aged director of education, was greeting students, parents, teachers by name as they went by, frequently adding a personal comment: “You were great at ma’ariv last week”; “I’ll see you after class to go over that assignment”; “How are the Bat Mitzvah preparations going?”; “glad you’re feeling better...