Please click here to download and/or view this year’s Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies (SJS) Calendar.  Alternatively, you can always access our calendar under the Education tab on our Am Yisrael website, or simply bookmark this link: https://amyisrael.org/sites/default/files/images/pdf/2015-16-sjs-calendar.pdf.

Please note that the Shabbat Morning Family Programming (SMFP) dates are not only in bold, but are also underlined.  We cannot emphasize strongly enough the importance of attending these family programs once a month.  Throughout the Jewish educational world we are trying to find the most meaningful ways of educating the 21st Century learner.  When/what should we be studying together in person….What learning can be enhanced by online Jewish/Hebrew programs/applications….Ultimately, every study comes back to the fact that there is no replacement for creating meaningful community experiences blended into the equation.  Shabbat Morning Family Programming is a quintessential opportunity to be together, sing, study, learn, teach, inspire, eat, schmooze and enjoy each others company as a Jewish community — adults and children together.

We can’t wait to outline our vision for this school year at Parent Orientation, which is taking place on Wednesday, September 2nd from 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
If you know of anyone who is not affiliated with a synagogue and is looking for a spiritual home, please let them know that we are around and would love to speak with them.

We have three services coming up that will be especially family oriented: (1) Friday, Aug. 7th: 6:30 p.m.-7:10 p.m. in the courtyard (weather permitting, otherwise in the Sanctuary); (2) Friday, Aug. 14th: 6:00 p.m. at Gillson Park in Wilmette (bring your own dairy/vegetarian dinner and a dessert to share) and (3) Sat. Aug. 22nd: 9:30 a.m. Intergenerational Torah Reading, followed by kiddush and swimming at the Rabbi and Dan’s home.

The first two days of Am Yisrael SJS classes for Gimel through Zayin are Wed., Sept. 9th and Wed., Sept. 16th.  We have no SJS on Sun., Sept. 13th (Erev Rosh Hashanah).  The first day of SJS for Junior Gan through 12th Grade is Sunday, Sept. 20th.  If you miss one of my emails, you can always look to find my messages to the Am Yisrael SJS families on my blog.  I will also continue to use Social Media to share my write-ups.

#AmYisraelSJS    #MrShermansBlog

If you have not yet turned in your synagogue membership form and/or registered for SJS’ 2015-2016 school year, please be sure to fill out these forms as soon as possible.  This summer my top goal has been making sure that our curriculum and technology for our youngest children through our High Schoolers are at best practice levels and I am incredibly excited about how it is shaping up for this year!  Looking forward to seeing some of you at services tonight, at the beach service the following week, at the Rabbi and Dan’s pool (in conjunction with the Shabbat of Intergenerational Torah Reading) the following week and/or at the beginning of the school year.

Warm regards and Shabbat Shalom,
Charlie