CONGREGATION TIKKUN v’OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL HISTORY


Ithaca Reform Temple Religious School began in 1992. Doug Stayman and Mike Belzer were the first co-chairs of the Religious Education Committee and Will Fudeman was the first Sunday School Director. All Sunday classes were taught by parents. Mike Weinstein led the b'nai mitzvah program. Classes met at CSMA in the Whinton House. Forty-five students were enrolled the first year.

In 1993, the Religious Education Committee included Doug Stayman, Mike Belzer, Gerry Friedman, Gail Zussman, and Melanie Walker. We signed our first lease with the Ithaca Community Childcare Center (IC3) for Religious School. We stayed there for the next seven years. "Circle time" began each Sunday with Will Fudeman leading the group in songs with his guitar.

Rabbi Barbara Borts directed the school from 1994-1995. She initiated the development of formal curricula for the programs and taught the b’nai mitzvah classes. School enrollment expanded to about 65 students.

In 1995, Rabbi David Regenspan became the part-time rabbi and school director for the temple.

The Religious School Religious School Education Committee at various times included the leadership of: Tamar Bloomfield, Gail Zussman, Lynn Schweber, Rosemarie Parker, Jeff Weitz, and Steve Hoffman.

Lynn Schweber was the School Director from 1997 to 1998. She and the Religious Education Committee (Tamar Bloomfield, Gail Zussman, Steve Hoffman, Judy Singer, Anne Neirynk) worked to formalize school policies and programs. They created a B’nai Mitzvah Handbook and comprehensive Religious School curriculum, and assessed the Hebrew curriculum. Midweek classes began for sixth grade students. The youth group held regular meetings. Former Religious School students were hired as teachers’ aides. The temple Purim carnival became an annual event.

For the winter of 1999, Yoni Thorne acted as the interim director of Religious School. The Religious Education Committee (including Gail Zussman, Jeff Weitz, Rosemarie Parker) worked to insure a smooth transition for the school year, along with developing a job description for the role of Director of the Religious School.

A search committee was formed to hire a school director. The b'nai mitzvah class began working with elderly as part of a year-long mitzvah project.

In the spring of 1999, Naomi Wilensky, former vav and zayin teacher, was hired as Director. With support and assistance from the RE Committee (Gail Zussman, Rosemarie Parker, Heidi Oros, Jim Rothenberg, Steve Hoffman, Jeff Weitz, Jennifer Halpern), she redesigned the school curriculum, putting more focus on Hebrew and mitzvot.

Rabbi Lisa Freitag-Keshet led Tefillah on Sunday morning, and taught the b’nai mitzvah and confirmation classes.

We moved to our new school space at GIAC (Greater Ithaca Activities Center) in 2001, with eighty children are enrolled in nitansim (pre-K) through 7th grade. Family Education Days are highlights of each school year. Students sing and present their work at Knesset (Assembly) every week.
The b’nai mitzvah classes have been working at the Friendship Center for their mitzvah project. Older students work as madrichim (classroom aides) and join youth group, Machon, and Confirmation classes. Morim (teachers) include adult community members, college students, and high school students working alongside more experienced staff members.

The 2001-2002 RE Committee included Jim Rothenberg (chair), Sarah Stark, Joe Yavitt, Myra Shulman, Steve Hoffman, Dan Sverdilik, and Terri Hubbell.

Throughout this all, the Religious Education Committee has been the guide and the people working tirelessly behind and in front of the scenes to ensure inspiring Jewish education for our children.

Past RE chairpersons include Mike Belzer, Doug Stayman(co-chairs), Melanie Walker, Lynn Schweber, Tamar Bloomfield, Gail Zussman, Rosemarie Parker, Jennifer Halpern and Jim Rothenberg (co-chairs). At least 12 other temple members have served on this committee in the last eight years, with never fewer than five members at any time, ensuring a consistent yet evolving force of creative efforts.

----Thanks to Gail Zussman and Doug Stayman for their historical memories and correct timelines!

----Written by Naomi Wilensky, Religious School Director, Congregation Tikkun v’Or, April 2002

Updates:

Since this history was written, the Religious Education Committee changed its name to the Jewish Education Committee, to reflect the growing mission of our congregation. Committee chairs have included Sarah Stark, Kathy Berggren, and Lisa Machlin. The JE Committee is now responsible for offering classes for adults throughout the year, as well as continuing to oversee our Religious School.

In September 2008, the Religious School moved from our rented space at GIAC to the synagogue at 2550 N. Triphammer Road. Combined classes, exciting chugim (elective clubs - Jewish cooking, art, music, mitzvah projects, alef-bet yoga, and more!), and the URJ CHAI curriculum are now highlights of our program.