Temple Sholom Religious School Open House

On Sunday, April 25, from 10:30 a.m. until noon, Temple Sholom of Fanwood/Scotch Plains will hold an open house for its religious school. Participants will have the opportunity to meet Director of Education Michelle Shapiro Abraham, Rabbi Joel Abraham and members of the congregation and to learn about the school and Temple Sholom community, as well as take a tour of the classrooms.

Temple Sholom is already known for its innovative approach to teaching Hebrew language and prayer through an "open classroom" system that allows teachers to tailor their approach to each student's individual learning style. This fall, Temple Sholom is excited to introduce a new family track option for religious education, which will include whole-family learning sessions and congregational programming intended to instill a deeper sense of meaning and community.

"This new model is about living Judaism, not just learning about it," says Abraham. "It not only works for families with busy schedules by enabling them to not attend on Sunday mornings for a trimester, but it also provides a wonderful family and community experience. We have had a lot of success with our congregational education days and have learned how much families enjoy learning and experiencing Judaism together. This model takes that to the next level."

The open house will include presentations about the new family track, the Sunday morning religious school program and the Hebrew school, as well as an opportunity to tour the school and meet members of the congregation. Children in Kindergarten through fourth grade are welcome to attend and may opt to tour with their parents or sit in on a class. To sign up or for more information, please call 908-889-4900 or e-mail office@sholomnj.org.

Below are captions for the attached photos:

Candles: Sophie Prittchett paints the Shabbat candlesticks that she made at a Temple Sholom family learning program.

Michelle: Director of Education Michelle Shapiro Abraham.

Founded in 1913, Temple Sholom is a Reform Jewish Congregation led by Rabbi Joel N. Abraham. The Temple and its religious school are home to about 250 families from the greater Scotch Plains-Fanwood area. Currently residing within the Fanwood Presbyterian Church, the Temple has purchased five acres of land in Scotch Plains for its future home. Temple Sholom is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. For more information about the Temple or joining the congregation, please call 908-889-4900, e-mail sholom@sholomnj.org, or visit www.sholomnj.org.