Congregation Emanu El

About

Helfman Religious School offers an innovative, experiential, and compelling religious educational program for our children to learn about Judaism and develop their sense of Jewish identity.

Story

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

School Grade Level Schedule

Lower School

“Hunger Walk”
Religious School is in session Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The program for 4th-6th grade includes both Judaic and Hebrew language studies.

Grades: Pre‑K – 7th
Sundays: 9am-12pm
Chapel Service: 9:00am- 9:30am,
PK – 3rd Grade meet in the chapel for service on Sundays only.

Grades: 4th-6th, Kulam

Mitzvah day- 7th graders at Richmond State School dancing for the residents
Wednesdays: 4:30pm – 6:30 pm
Chapel Service: 4:30pm – 5:00pm,
4 – 6th, Kulam meet in chapel for service on Wednesdays Only.


Gesher
Grade: 7th grade Hebrew Class
Tuesdays: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
(Until students begin Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation)

Upperschool
Grades: 8th-12th

SPCA comes to Emanu El. Kindergarten children learned about different types of animals and had the opportunity to pet some up close.
Wednesdays: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:45 p.m (optional - cost: $6.50)

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation
Tuesdays: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.


In the Fall of 1944, our Religious School (conducted at MacGregor Elementary School) opened with 125 students. Hebrew classes were organized by Mrs. M. M. Slotnick. PTA was organized as a committee of the congregation under the chairmanship of Herman Krakower.

In 1945, Marvin Rich celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, the first at Emanu El. The first Confirmation class in May, 1945, had 6 young men and 6 young women and took place at the Warwick Hotel.

In September, 1945, Julia Kaplan was named supervisor of the Religious School.

In 1947, Theba Jean Gold (Feldman) celebrated her Bat Mitzvah (a first at Emanu El) and the Steinberg Confirmation Award, given by Mr. & Mrs. Ben Steinberg, was presented for the first time.

By September 1949, the Religious School had 384 students and the congregation was growing.

By May 1954, 20 youngsters had celebrated their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. By 1957, the 13th Annual Meeting of Emanu El records reflected 834 Religious School students, 59 faculty members, 102 Hebrew School students and 31 youngsters to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah. To relieve a somewhat overcrowded school, storerooms were turned into classrooms.

In April, 1958, the first Teacher Appreciation Awards were given to 5 teachers for 10 years of service. That same year, 66 students were confirmed. In 1962, Harold Reingold was named full-time director of Religious Education and served in this position until he was named Educator Emeritus in 1991.

In the late 1950's, a youth lounge and four classrooms were added to our facility, and in the mid-1960's, two temporary buildings were purchased, each having two classrooms.

In the fall of 1990, the Al & Ethel Hertzstein Education Center was dedicated. This facility includes the Nathan J. Klein Religious School Wing and houses our Becker Early Childhood Center and Helfman Religious School.

Mission

Our Mission is to educate and inspire Jewish children to have a lifelong love of Judaism, in a warm, welcoming community, and to thereby strengthen each student’s connection to their family, Israel and the larger world.