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Education Opportunities Sunday School: Atidaynu Atidaynu, Our Future, is Har Shalom's religious school for children from ages 3 – 13 years. Parents and other volunteers lead the classes. Depending on the activity, children are divided into groups based on age and Hebrew ability. We provide a variety of learning, crafts, and recreational opportunities for our boys and girls, including an opening t’fillah (prayer) gathering in which we sing songs and chant prayers. Many parents join us for this, too. Younger kids spend a significant portion of their time with stories, arts and crafts, and games, all the while learning in a variety of ways— through studying bible stories, the Hebrew alphabet, and customs. As they grow older, there is increasing emphasis on learning about and acting upon Jewish values in the home and in the community. During the 2 to 4 years preceding a bar or bat mitzvah, students are exposed to Jewish history, ritual, and customs and learn to read Hebrew and lead service prayers. A B’nei Mitzvah handbook is being developed. The training of children for their bar or bat mitzvah is under the direction of our Spiritual Leader and Student Rabbi, Laurie Franklin. We are proud of the fine young congregants who have come through Atidaynu, and are confident that together we will continue to strengthen the moral character and ritual knowledge of the next generation of Jews living in Western Montana. |
B'nei Mitzvah Education We recommend beginning preparations for b’nei mitzvah at least one year before the anticipated date of the bar or bat mitzvah. Each student works with a tutor to build reading skills and meets monthly with Spiritual Leader and Student Rabbi Laurie Franklin to discuss ideas and meanings in Torah, Haftarah, and words of prayer. Engaging a tutor is the responsibility of the bar or bat mitzvah’s family.
Laurie will communicate regularly with tutors and family about each student’s progress. Students are expected to be enrolled in Atidaynu and to attend services regularly. Each student engages in a To make an appointment, contact Spiritual Leader and Student Rabbi Laurie Franklin at
Torah Study We meet every Saturday at 10 am to read and discuss the weekly Torah portion. We read the Torah portion in a number of different translations and do some translating ourselves. Our discussions are lively, and we welcome everyone. No expertise is required! |
Adult Education, Fall 2012 This fall we will be offering two Adult Education classes: Hebrew and The Dead Sea Scrolls. To inquire about the fall 2012 offerings, or for more information, contact Toba Winston at tobawinston@hotmail.com or 406.777-3100. Dead Sea Scrolls Mondays, 7 to 9 pm Toba Winston will be leading this class. We will be using a DVD that uses twenty-four, 1/2 hour lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Ph.D. He holds the Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish historyin the department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers Univeristy. Our last class Dec 17, will be a time celebrate the completion of the class and review what we learned. |
Adult Hebrew Wednesdays, 7 to 9 pm
Holly Kingsford will be teaching this class. She has selected the book, Teach Yourself Hebrew, by Ethelyn Simon. Purchase it from Amazon.com or your favorite book store. The 12-session class is based on the one-room schoolhouse model. Beginners will learn Hebrew reading and writing basics in a spiritual framework and learn about the mystical significance of the letters of the alphabet. We will use finger paints, charades, and other devices to practice alphabet skills. Returning students will get lots of reading practice in the siddur and from Torah and will work in chevruta (with study partners). In addition, returning students will help new students with their basic learning and, by doing so, will reinforce their own. The suggested donation for each class is $18 for Har Shalom members, $60 for non-members. To pay educational fees, send your check payable to Har Shalom, and "note" if the payment is for Atidaynu or Adult Ed. You may also use your bank's online "Bill Pay" feature – it's free. Send the payment to Har Shalom, PO Box 3715, Missoula, MT 59806. Or, make an online payment here: If you use your credit card, please consider adding 2% to cover our credit card fees. Thank you so very much.
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