Shabbat Centered Model: Shabbat School Experience
Update (July 2017): Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore (RSNS) Plandome, NY
Model Description | Update 2017
Current Status:
Shabbat School Experience continues to engage learners and their families at RSNS and has undergone little change from the model as initially described. RSNS has added one additional component: a shared pot-luck lunch once a month that was organized by a parent. All the parents bring items for the pot-luck, and it has become a nice time for families to socialize and deepen bonds.
Reflections of the Educator:
The educator expressed that parental involvement has been key to the success of Shabbat School Experience. The parents' studying text as a group models that “you don’t drop a kid off.” This approach is supported by studies that point to the importance of modeling what you want your children to do. RSNS built their model to give parents the opportunity to be positive role models for their children through their involvement in ongoing learning and study. The challenge happens when the student gets into 7th grade (Shabbat School is for 2nd-6th graders and their families.) The learners start going to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in other communities and the family experience in shul falls by the wayside. RSNS has now opened the Shabbat morning B’Yahad text study to the community as large. Their goal is for the community to see itself as being a part of a study community. In its learning brochure, RSNS lists B’Yahad text study as both a part of the adult study as well as part of the school community. This cross-listing has legitimized this text study as a communal endeavor.
The educator shared a story of impact about a teen who had been a weak Hebrew reader and had other challenges. The teen’s father used to come to B’Yahad, was a phenomenal participant, and continued to come even when the teen was in 7th grade. When the teen asked to be a madrich in a classroom, the educator struggled with this knowing that this might put an additional layer of responsibility on the classroom teacher. In the end, RSNS made the decision to let this teen be a madrich. The teen is now thriving and learning alongside fellow learners in the classroom. The educator reflected that it is the ongoing relationship with the father, fostered by the Shabbat School Experience, that made this possible.
RSNS is very proud of the integration of learners from different grades, especially in the Friday night experience. It is not just going to school, but being a part of a community. The educator is also proud that learners have choices about how to study Torah: whether they want to study Torah through drama, nature, midrash, yoga, technology or other modalities.
The Shabbat School Experience allows learners to experience Shabbat in a variety of ways: a monthly Friday night experience; a monthly Shabbat morning with families; and two Shabbatot during which children learn Torah through different lenses such as art and nature.
RSNS is always innovating, experimenting, reflecting and evaluating to create a variety of impactful learning experiences. The educator expressed that everything leads to something else; you can see it as a continuum of innovation. The educator described several initiatives that RSNS has instituted, including:
- A Havurot Program that includes outreach to interfaith families
- Better Together, which pairs teens with RSNS seniors who live in a large apartment complex nearby
- It’s a Girl Thing (for teen girls) and Shevet Achim (for teen boys)
- Spiritual Mentoring (supported by a Micro-grant from The Jewish Education Project) which provides an optional opportunity for 8th-12th graders if they want a spiritual mentor.
She also spoke of one initiative, “Art in Public Places,” that didn’t work out in the long run but is continuing to bear fruit. Building community is central to each of these initiatives.
Along with these initiatives, the RSNS clergy cultivate personal relationships with their youth in several ways. For example, the clergy build one on one relationships with High School seniors, meeting with them for lunch or dinner, and holding “exit interviews” to hear what they think and what is on their minds as they move on to college.
For those starting a model like the Shabbat School Experience, the educator advises that one needs to be willing to start small, incorporate mixed grades, and provide some seed money to grow the new model. It is also important to always understand how families feel about the model. Every few years, RSNS conducts a survey, asking questions such as, “Would you rather Shabbat School be all Fridays or all Saturdays?” to evaluate how well the program's format is serving the needs of their community. This model is at least 12 years old. It is important to remember that things evolve, things don’t always take off, and to do things over time.