Shalom from TBD Religious School

Shabbat newsletter compiled by
Gal Kessler Rohs, Education Director
Dear Temple Beth David Religious School Families, 

Judaic identity and  menschlichkeit  are perpetuated through learning engagement provided by our Religious School. We are a progressive school that caters to all Jews and those who seek a meaningful Jewish life, and yes, more so amidst a pandemic. In fact, at times of uncertainty, one of the things that we can count on is our unwavering commitment to each other and the immeasurable returns gained through being a part of our  Jewishly Warm and Relevant  synagogue community. 

As a religious school team, we want to assure our families that our school will continue in the fall with a high-quality program that ensures primarily the safety and health of our learners and staff. We are planning learning opportunities that can be modified for in-person, distance learning, or hybrid models to meet those demands. Learners will experience a tailored curriculum that balances Jewish values including mitzvot, culture, Hebrew, including art, music, special events, and more. We will continue to emphasize community and relationship building, and our faculty are working together, thinking creatively about how to do so. We also recognize that not all learners thrive in an online learning environment. Therefore, next year, distance learning will include smaller groups, consistent routines, and individual attention to learners. 

Our complete plans for TBD religious school need to follow the state and local public health guidelines and will be announced more definitively as those guidelines emerge. The public health situation is having an unprecedented effect on our economy, including our temple. No family will be turned away, and no child will be left behind, due to financial hardship. Please request scholarship/financial assistance from Rabbi Lachtman or our finance committee. With gratitude to the generosity of some of our families, we will support you financially and emotionally as a valued member of our family. 

Our team and I look forward to seeing our children benefiting from continuing to develop their Jewish identities, growing their Jewish roots, and becoming familiar with the wisdom of our tradition and community engagement now more than ever. 

חֲזַ֤ק חֲזַ֤ק וְנִתְחַזַּק֙
May we go from strength to strength,
- Gal Kessler Rohs , Education Director

in partnership with our dedicated TBD Religious School faculty:
Rabbi Alan Lachtman (since 1976), Cantor Orly Campbell (since 2019), Cantor Mike Sirota (since 2020), Doris Robin (since 1976), Janice Robertson (since 1982), Dr. Jacquelyn Green (since 1988), Lindy Bornstein (since 2017), Lauren Bailey (since 2017), Steven Bermann (since 2017), Susan Grodsky (since 2017), Miriam Beltran (since 2019) and all those valuable community members who step up to educate our children!
Matzah Balling this afternoon! (free pick up for participants)
Welcoming Cantor Mike Sirota to our school faculty!
Hello everyone….

I’m excited to join with the Clergy and Staff at Temple Beth David to bring light and learning to its families and students.

I have participated in Friday night services and other TBD events, before…but, for those who don’t know me, I started my working career as an LAUSD teacher, first at the Area D Alternative School, in West Los Angeles, and then at the inner-city Holmes Ave School.  In between those two teaching jobs, I worked as Junior Program Director and Day Camp Director at Valley Cities Jewish Community Center in Sherman Oaks.

After teaching for eight years, I had my own T-shirt business, providing merchandise for all kinds of organizations and events like the Jewish Federation and their Israel Walk Festival…and even the Playboy Jazz Festival, for a few years.

At some point in the mid 90’s, the captain of the softball team I played on recruited me to be the Fundraiser for his non-profit organization: Jewish Big Brothers of Los Angeles.  We worked together to help build JBB for about six years, and then I moved on to other non-profit fundraising work, finishing up at Sinai Temple for five years.

After that, I started doing consulting work in the Sign and Contracting business (specializing in permitting and project management), and most importantly, started training students for Bar/Bat Mitzvah and officiating at their private ceremonies.
 
Since March of 2010, I have been leading services and special events at Temple Ami Shalom in West Covina…singing as Cantor.

I look forward to engaging closely with the 5 th  and 6 th  graders at TBD, to help teach them to read Hebrew, to help them learn a lot about Israel and about Jewish History and Customs, and to help prepare them for their B’nai Mitzvot…and their Jewish lives ahead.

B’shalom…. Cantor Mike
Social distance hugs coming your way! (RSVP required)
Dear students,

Look who is missing you so- These lovely members pictured below are just some who have collaborated to bring a story, song, craft and love for you.

I will be visiting all students in the upcoming days while remaining socially distant.. Students younger than 3rd grade will be receiving a delivery of a small gift bag with supplies for our July 17th zoom fun, older students' bags will include a fine Shabbat kit compiled by our previous sisterhood president Robin Evans of 10 years!! If your address has changed since religious school 2019 registration, if you are out of town, or if you wish to pick up your gift bags from TBD, please let us know.

I can't wait to see you and your families! I miss you all so very much!
-Gal
Resources, reading material and commnity upcoming events
Spiritual services this weekend
From TBD Sisterhood
JFSGPV and PJ Library and PJ OurWay
What mitzvah will you be doing today?