Jewish Learning Experiences for Children (JLE)

JEWISH LEARNING EXPERIENCES (JLE; pronounced “jelly”) at Tikkun v’Or provides creative, interactive, and progressive Reform Jewish education for children in kindergarten through 7th grade.  We welcome all Jewish students, regardless of the family’s religious backgrounds, ethnic identities, race, family configuration, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. We have many interfaith and LGBTQ+ families, people who are newly discovering Jewish connections, as well as those with a wide range of Jewish experiences.

Our curriculum includes the study of history, holidays, ethics, Torah, Israel, and Hebrew. We use Shalom Hebrew and the Hineini: The New Hebrew for Prayer series along with other resource texts for Hebrew. On most weeks, we gather as a community for tefillah (prayer) and ruach (spirited singing!). We often have special guests join us for ha-asharah (enrichment).  We work with many different kinds of learners, including students with special challenges. We will do our best to accommodate and nurture all students “al pi darko” (“according to their ways”).  Classes meet on Sunday mornings. Sixth and seventh grade students also meet on Wednesdays for additional Hebrew studies and preparation for becoming b-mitzvah.

We also offer a once-a-month Family JLE program for students in kindergarten and first grade, with at least one parent or caregiver staying for the program.  Activities include music, movement, stories, crafts, and learning opportunities for children and adults.

Meeting Times by Grade (Kitah)

  • Gan /Alef (kindergarten and grade 1) – Saturday, 10-11:30 am (once a month)
  • Bet / Gimel (grades 2 and 3) – Sunday 9 am – 11 am
  • Dalet / Vav (grades 4 and 5) – Sunday 9 am – 12 noon
  • Vav and Zayin (grades 6 and 7) – Sunday 9 am – 12 noon  and Wednesdays 4:30-6 pm

All our teachers, who are TvO members or college students from nearby Ithaca College and Cornell University, work closely with Our Education Director, Naomi Wilensky. Middle and high school students help out as madrichol. Parent volunteers are always welcome, especially to help with our chugim (electives) during which students can choose activities such as Jewish music, cooking, art, dance, and more. Photos of many of our recent activities can be found on the TVO Facebook page.

Highlights

Highlights during the year include:

  • Making our own shofarot for the High Holidays
  • Celebrating Sigd with students from the Cornell Ethiopian/Eritean Club
  • Percussion workshop with Marne Oshae
  • Setting prayer intentions through Qigong with Will Fuderman
  • A Day in the Woods and Chanukah Bonfire with Kitah vav/zayin
  • Creating a Tikkun v’Orchestra with klezmer musician Jennie Lavine
  • Purim theater with Sarah Plotkin

Registration

Fees and registration for the 2024-2025 year can be found here. Contact naomi.wilensky@tikkuvor.org for more information.

First year JLE Membership. Families with a student in their first year of JLE (grade K-5) can either become members of TVO and pay regular tuition OR Pay higher tuition and become members with dues waived for one year.

This option is not available for students in kitah vav/zayin (6th and 7th grade).

Please consider each option and decide how you would like to proceed for this year.

Tuition assistance is provided by Ithaca Area United Jewish Community. Please fill out this tuition assistance request form (link to tuition assistance request form ) before August 15  and the co-presidents will consider your request.