Admissions:
IVRIAH: Children are able to enter Ivriah providing that they are 6 years old on 1st September of that academic year. They remain at Ivriah until after their Kabbalat Torah, when they are 15 years old.
GAN: Children may attend Gan from the age of 4. Gan meets at the same time as Ivriah on Sunday mornings.
Curriculum: At Ivriah our objectives are to instill in our children a love and respect of Jewish life and values with the emphasis on enjoyment and participation. With these objectives always in mind, Ivriah’s curriculum covers The Bible and Jewish literature, customs and traditions, festivals, Shabbat, life cycle, history and Hebrew.
Consecration: To mark their entrance into Ivriah, children are presented with a miniature Sefer Torah at the start of their first year. This presentation takes place during a consecration Service usually on the Shabbat morning service in Sukkot.
Religious Services: In addition to Ivriah on Sunday mornings, children are encouraged to attend synagogue services. There is a family service held on the first Friday of each month and various Ivriah services during the year in which the children participate. At High Holy days there are special services for children.
Fees: There is no charge for the education of the children of members of the synagogue, but a nominal fee is requested to offset the cost of resources. There is a tuition fee required for children of non-members.
Management: Ivriah is under the direct supervision of our Director of Education, Stephanie Schissler and Rabbi Neil Janes. Stepahanie is always pleased to hear from parents who wish to discuss any aspects of their child’s Jewish education. The Rabbi and Director of Education are part of the Synagogue’s Education Committee (a sub-committee of the Synagogue Council) and this has overall responsibility for the policy and running of Ivriah.
Chaverim: This is the parent teacher association for which there is a small subscription. Chaverim works closely with the Director of Education and helps to run festival activities, outings and other events. All parents of Ivriah children are invited to become active members.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah: For a Bar/Bat Mitzvah for a son or daughter, the Rabbi should be contacted at the very latest before the child’s 12th birthday, unless it will OK for the celebration to take place later than around the normal age of 13. The Ivriah curriculum does not provide special tuition for this occasion but private individual instruction can be made available outside Ivriah. Candidates must reach a level of Hebrew to show that they fully comprehend everything they are required to read at the ceremony. Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are required to attend regular synagogue services for at least a year prior to the ceremony and have attended Ivriah for the previous 2 years. Bar/Bat Mitzvah candidates must commit themselves to continue studies up to Kabbalat Torah.
Kabbalat Torah: The major emphasis of our religious instruction is centred on Kabbalat Torah, which is the culmination of the children’s formal education. After completing 8 years at Ivriah, the student attends Kabbalat Torah classes, which are led by the Rabbi. Kabbalat Torah is a firmly established religious observance in the Liberal Jewish movement. It was instituted because the founders of Liberal Judaism felt that at the age of 13 students were too young to declare a commitment to the community and to end their formal education. At the age of 15 it is felt that they are able to have a more mature comprehension of Jewish values.
Assistants: Following their Kabbalat Torah, the graduates are encouraged to assist within Ivriah, Gan or communal work in the synagogue.
Library: The children are encouraged to use the library and the Rabbi and Director of Education are always willing to offer advice and assistance with the choice of books.
Centre for Jewish Education (LBC): The Director of Education liaises with the LBC to be aware of new resources and courses. Teachers are encouraged to enrol in courses and to use the library and other LBC resources so that the education of the children at Ivriah is up to date.
Teacher’s Training: The Director of Education provides in service training and support to all teaching staff. LBC also provides the opportunity for the training of teachers with a number of courses. All teachers are invited to attend LBC conference in February.
ULPSNYC-Netzer: This is the youth movement associated with Liberal Judaism (LJ - formerly ULPS, The Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues). The children at Ivriah are kept informed of ULPSNYC – NETZER events and encouraged to take part in them and so become involved with the wider Jewish world.