Youth Education

As you may or may not know, I started my career in Jewish education as the Assistant Director of a Jewish camp. It was in that capacity that I began to fully appreciate the benefits of a Jewish camp experience in children's lives, especially children living in smaller Jewish communities (hint, hint!).

I strongly believe that, in order for our kids to understand what it means to be part of the Jewish people they need to experience being part of a Jewish community. As important as family and temple are, I'm talking bigger--and more diverse. I'm talking about being with 500+ other Jewish kids and discovering that, though your hometowns are different sizes and in different states, you have much, much in common. I'm talking about being part of a world in which your Jewish role models expand beyond your family and Religious School teachers to include dedicated college students as well as Jewish clergy and other adults. I'm talking about learning about Israel by interacting with Israeli staff on a daily basis. I'm talking about learning Hebrew words, songs and cheers and prayers because it's cool and everyone else is doing it. Most of all, I'm talking about living in a "Jewish bubble" for a few weeks out of the year in a world that becomes your second Jewish home.

Sure, camp is also about doing arts & crafts, boating, Ultimate Frisbee, swimming, doing the ropes course and making life-long friends. But its ability to expand your child's Jewish world and solidify his/her Jewish identity is unsurpassed.

Come this Sunday to hear about how Camp Coleman can rock your child's world. Your kid deserves it.

Sue

Family Service Tonight

Join us tonight at 6:00 p.m. for the temple's monthly Family Service which will be led by our Gimmel Hebrew (5th Grade) class. Birthday blessings, too, for all November babies! Wine & Cheese preceding at 5:15 p.m.

Camp Coleman: Expand Your Child's Jewish World

This Sunday, November 9th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary is the opportunity for our students in Grades K-6 and all parents to learn about how a session spent at URJ Camp Coleman can enrich your child's life. You will hear from current campers, see the camp DVD, have a chance to ask questions and receive current printed materials.

Keep in mind that the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, in conjunction with several national foundations, is offering incentive camper scholarships to new and veteran campers. First- or second-year campers are eligible for $1000 and veteran campers can receive $500.

Last summer we had the largest contingent of Sinai campers and staff ever. Come find out what all the excitement is about!

Hebrew School Tefillah has begun!

Starting this week, Grades 3-6 students have Tefillah ("worship") with the Rabbi and Hazzan in the Sanctuary on Wednesdays from 5:40 - 6:00. This is a great opportunity to build community and provide opportunities for our students to put into practice what they learn in class. It also give the students a chance to interact with our clergy in a more intimate setting while teaching appropriate Sanctuary behavior. A special siddur ("prayerbook") has been developed for use during this service.

Last Chance to Register for Mitzvah Day

Mitzvah Day is fun and meaningful temple-wide event that offers opportunities for our entire community to participate in making our world a better place. All Religious School students are expected to particpate with their families and, for attendance purposes, it is considered a regular day of class.

Last chance to register! Contact Nita Ettinger, Social Action Chair, at 921-5783 or nitaett@verizon.net.

Positive Discipline Course at Sinai

Let's Stop Saying "No" and Start Saying "Yes!"

Bethany Leinweiber, MS Ed, will be teaching a STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) class on Positive Discipline over 6 Tuesday evenings starting on November 11th from 7:00 -8:30 p.m It is designed for parents of children up to 6th grade.

Positive Discipline promotes discipline that focuses on solutions. It challenges the idea that children need to feel bad to do better by emphasizing kind and firm discipline without being permissive.

Bethany's graduate work is in Special Education and she is the Director of Early Childhood Education at The Gan. She has extensive experience working with children of all ages, including those with emotional and behavioral issues as well as reading and learning disabilities.

Come and bring a friend! The cost is $35 for Temple members and $45 for guests. To enroll contact Bethany at 926-9462 or pick up a flyer in the school lobby.