Out-of-the-box program aims to keep kids growing “Jewishly”
By Cindy Mindell

The economic downturn has changed many aspects of modern American life. In the Jewish community – perhaps one of the most telling indicators of financial stress is the declining number of children enrolled in day schools. Now, one West Hartford synagogue has come up with a plan to help financially strapped families give their children a Jewish education and Jewish identity.
Traditionally, all school-age children of congregants at Beth David Synagogue in West Hartford have attended Solomon Schechter Day School or the Hebrew Academy. But in the coming academic year, the number will wane, says Rabbi Yitzchok Adler, due primarily to two factors.
“For families with two or three children, tuition can exceed $30,000 a year,” he says, “and especially in today’s economy, that factor can threaten the stability of family finances. As a congregation, we have a responsibility to our families to offer an alternative option.”
In addition, day schools do not always have the remedial and special-education resources that are more readily available to children in public schools, Adler says. “For many of these children, even a traditional afternoon Hebrew school or Sunday school would not be a feasible option,” Adler says.
This fall, Beth David Synagogue will launch The Hebrew School Alternative – a pilot program that trains parents to be Jewish-education mentors to their own children.
The school’s once-a-week curriculum will be created by Adler and professional educators from within the congregation, using proven components from similar existing models. Parents will learn core Jewish subjects including Hebrew reading, the weekly Torah portion, Siddur skills, Jewish history and culture, Israel, and Jewish holidays. Each parent will receive a custom-designed packet of texts and study guides to share at home with their children.
“From the synagogue’s perspective, our primary concerns will be knowing that the system is working and that the children are growing in Jewish awareness and Jewish knowledge,” Adler says.
In addition to the weekly classes, the synagogue will host monthly events – Shabbat dinner, a holiday project, Havdallah, music and art projects – for all participating families.
Enrollment is open to all interested families in the greater Hartford community, Beth David members and non-members alike. An informational meeting will be held in early August. For more information: (860) 236-1241 / beth.david.syn@snet.net.

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