Bring-a-Buddy Sunday

Here's a slice of conversation I hear all the time about our Religious School: "You know, Harvey, the kids at our shul know so much more and do so much more at their B'nai Mitzvahs. They do a Torah and Haftorah reading, and sometimes even the entire Mussaf service. Even the Friday night service. I just went to an out-of-town service and the Bar Mitzvah read more English than Hebrew!"

Hearing this statement gives me a wonderful opportunity to brag about the high quality of teaching and learning at Congregation B'nai Israel and share in the feeling of accomplishment that accompanies a job well done. The children enjoy the process of learning and participate in the building of the future Jewish community.

There's no reason to think we cannot continue to prepare tomorrow's young adults to continue our tradition. No reason but one: we need more kids in our Religious School than we now have. We have too many empty spaces in our pre-Bar Mitzvah Hay class. We have too many empty spaces in our Kindergarten, first and second grades, as well. And so the question arises of what we can do about a shrinking religious school enrollment.

There is a solution to the problem of empty chairs; each of you can help to solve the problem. I'm asking everyone to call a family with children who are currently not enrolled at our school, and invite them to our Open House on November 6, 2005, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm so that they can see our program in action.

Our teachers are preparing special activities for the "new" kids that will give them a taste of our individualized classes and our challenging curriculum. It's called "Bring-a-Buddy Sunday." Parents and their children are invited!

You'll find additional information and a reservation form in the Shofar and the website. One of the the best mitzvahs anyone can perform is helping a Jewish child get a good Jewish education. Here's your chance to help.