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Our Mission
Statement begins by saying Kol HaLev is a learning community
spanning and bridging generations.
We offer many opportunities for our
member families and our youth, ranging from
the education program to our retreats. They try to encourage learning, believing
and a sense of belonging.
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As a
community we want to help educate our youth about Jewish
life, and one of the ways of doing this is through our
Hagiga
education program for school age youth. Hagiga is for
both day school and non day school kids from
kindergarten through 12th grade. It takes place on the first and third Shabbats of
each month and focuses on experiential learning and
building a love of Judaism in the next generation.
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Also on
the first and third Shabbats of the month, for the youngest members of
our community, pre-kindergarten and younger, we
have babysitting and a fun activity called Tot Shabbat.
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We also have
Shabbat Kehillah — intergenerational
programming on the fourth
Shabbat of the month (and babysitting as needed).
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Children
participate in some Shabbat services, to give them an idea of what
the service is like.
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To welcome our first
graders into learning with our community, we hold a
Haggigat Limud (celebration of learning) each
year on Tu B’Shevat. This year we will hold our first
Senior Siyum in June to honor our graduating seniors.
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Outside of our
Shabbat programs we have many opportunities including
multi-generational retreats. We feel that it is very important that our youth
and our adult communities feel connected, and the retreats provide an ideal social and
educational setting.
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Bar or Bat Mitzvah
at Kol HaLev is a
series of experiences, many as part of a Cohort Group that meets
regularly with Rabbi Steve. It helps our children (and
often their parents too) prepare
spiritually and mentally for the upcoming passage. Members who have been through
the process are available for Bar/Bat Mitzvah event
advice, and each cohort works together to provide
volunteer support during the events.
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For children who need it, we offer a
Hebrew tutoring program under our Education Director's supervision. This
is paid for separately by the
parents. Group or individual tutoring can be arranged. Torah trope tutoring
is available on the same basis for b’nai mitzvah
students.
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Our celebrations
of holidays such as Purim, Sukkot and Simchat Torah
are multi-generational or include youth programming. Our
High
Holy Days include special programs for children and youth.
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Families of elementary youth also work together to
provide occasional school-age social programming
for kids and their families. Teens have youth group
activities: Shoreshim for grades 6-8 and
Nachal for grades 9-12.
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Children 6th grade and older are included in the
national Reconstructionist youth group No'ar Hadash. This includes going to
regional and
national Kallot (retreats) and camperships to Camp JRF. The
youth group and camp are ways to build a love of Judaism and
Reconstructionism, and at the same time forge friendships that can last a
lifetime.
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As Reconstructionists we
encourage the participation. of youth past Bar/Bat
Mitzvah as members of our community. They
help lead services and read from the Torah, help in Hagiga,
join in our holiday celebrations and our Tikkun Olam
work, and even serve on
our Youth and Family
Education Committee. Such experiences can help guide
their Jewish lives.
For more on our website, see our
Values/Mission statement and our
pages on Reconstructionism,
Hagiga,
Camping and Camperships,
Bar/Bat Mitzvah policy,
Dues and Fees, and pictures of
some past Community Events.
For more on other websites, visit
the
No'ar Hadash (youth group) and
Reconstructionist Camping websites.
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To learn
more about our Youth and Family Education programs please contact
Kirby Date, Chair of our Youth and Family Education
Committee, or Robyn Novick, our Youth and Family
Education Director, at the Kol HaLev office. |
