Shimon the Righteous would say, "On three things the world stands: on Torah (Tradition) — on Avodah (Identity) — and on Gemilut Chasadim (Community)."
The three pillars that hold up the world are also the three pillars that build our Jewish lives. How do we understand the tradition that we have been given and our ancestors have sustained? What does it look like and mean to be a Jew? What is my obligation to my community — and what does it look like? And ultimately, how do I utilize my own strengths and skills to craft a unique Jewish identity? Our program focuses on three different areas of interest:
Tradition
Within the Tradition sessions, emphasis is placed on giving students access to and familiarity with the texts and ideas of their tradition according to their age and ability. What are the foundational stories of the Torah, and how did they shape the values and worldviews that Jews have held dearly for thousands of years? Within these sessions, we will be exploring rituals such as Shabbat, Kosher, Mezuzah and Tefillin, Jewish life cycle events and holidays, and more. Students will walk away from these sessions with an in depth understanding of the history, sources and meaning of each of these foundational aspects of Jewish tradition.
Community
Within the Community sessions, students will be given the opportunity to learn what it means to take part in Jewish life. The goal of these sessions will also be to give your children a sense of belonging and familiarity with Jewish spaces practices and values, and embody those values in service of their community. Sessions will involve in-depth studies of the ways Jewish tradition engages with issues of social justice and welfare, and will comprise of regular chesed activities.
Identity
Within the Identity sessions, emphasis will be placed on helping students form an understanding of what it means to be a Jew and to help them move towards developing a Jewish identity that is unique to them. This will involve the development of a broad understanding and grasp of Jewish history, an understanding of the very idea of identity and a life governed in collaboration with religious values, and an opportunity for exploration of the different ways Jewish people live. What is a Jew, who is a Jew, and where do you fit into that tapestry? The goal of these sessions will also be to give your children a sense of belonging and familiarity with Jewish spaces and practice. We will work with your children to ensure they gain the skills to navigate life as a Jew, and will feel comfortable and empowered in whatever Jewish setting they will find themselves in.
New Partnership with the Tikvah Millstone Scholars Program
The Millstone Scholars Program is a unique one-year opportunity for 7th and 8th-grade students to study the great ideas and leaders of Jewish and Western civilization, Zionism, and the heroic story of modern Israel. Millstone Scholars engage in a one-year sequence of an in-person core seminar and online electives, combined with special events and guest speakers who share their experiences as Jewish, Israeli, and American leaders. There is also a national Millstone Scholars debate. Students receive a certificate upon completion of the program.
Education Models
Individualized Learning
The new vision for JYC is a community-led project, in which individualized tutoring follows a bespoke model, giving parents and students the opportunity to create their own schedules and subjects of interest. Students are paired with a tutor who will conduct scheduled sessions over Zoom. Areas of interest can include Hebrew language, the weekly parsha, antisemitism and the Holocaust, Arts & Expression in Judaism, tikkun olam (repairing the world), Judaism and the environment, Judaism and mental health, and much more.
Experiential Learning
NYC is uniquely home to dozens of Jewish communities and landmarks that have played pivotal roles in world Jewry. JYC will include meetings with Jews of all kinds from across NYC, and occasional field trips to provide an experiential approach to your child's education.
Family
We would also like to invite you as a parent to the experience. On Shabbat mornings, parents are all invited to take part in Kehilath Jeshrun’s invitational morning service, as well as learning sessions throughout the year dedicated to giving parents additional tools and information to help their children build a Jewish life and identity outside of school.