beginning of a whole world that
wasn't even touched on in ele-
mentary school."
Tobye Bello, Shaarey Zedek's
school administrator, is counter-
acting the problem. "We offer
short-term goals of the 10th-grade
confirmation, the 12th-grade
graduation. But also, there are
different trips every year for the
kids to look forward to. The
eighth-graders go to Washington,
D.C., and the ninth-graders go to
Chicago."
This is part of an attempt to in-
tegrate the formal and the infor-
mal which binds community and
relationships with other kids to
make the experience more per-
sonal and thus more integral to
Jewish identity.
"The 10th-graders go to New
York City," Ms. Bello said, be-
cause "this is the confirmation
year, so they visit the Jewish The-
ological Seminary, Ellis Island ...
Jewish American-type things."
Other area schools are also "re-
lating" to their students.
"We have a course for eighth-
graders called 'My Jewish Com-
munity and Me,' " says Fran
Pearlman. "[The students] have
to feel needed, to see that they are
the giver and receiver. We seek
teachers who are really in touch
with adolescents: with the music
they listen to, the changes they
are experiencing — teachers who
will listen."
As Shir Shalom's Mindy
Nathan explains it, "We weren't
meeting the kids' needs ... [now]
we have two retreats [in addition
to] five full-day Saturdays [that
meet] once a month ... there are
actually more class hours, and
we're meeting the needs of the
kids during this social time in
their lives."
Plus the clergy is becoming
much more involved in the edu-
cational programs.
Alexandra Simon celebrated
her bat mitzvah in June and is
continuing her education by
taking part in Shir Shalom's
Madrachim Program for seventh-
and eighth-graders.
"I like to go to the temple be-
cause there's always something
going on; we're always doing pro-
jects, and I like to help," she said.
"We made a bowl out of clay
that can hold ice cream, and auc-
tioned it off at a party, and the
money goes to homeless people."
"The quality of programming
is getting better," says Howard
Gelberd, executive director of the
Agency for Jewish Education. He
cites a 23 percent increase in re-
tention over the last two years.
Most religious schools have been
jumping on the "quality reforms"
bandwagon, and their success is
evident not only statistically, but
just by talking with the kid next
door.
Scott Kass celebrated his bar
mitzvah at Congregation Beth
Achim last November. He says
a factor affecting his decision
was that "according to the Torah,
you should continue your He-
brew education." However, he
says, "It's not because I'm re-
quired to go." He feels he is gen-
uinely benefiting, "depending on
who my teacher is."
open hOuse
Monday, August 26, 1996 7-9 p.m.
Bring your family to meet our family. Rabbis, officers and
members will be available to answer all your questions. Meet
and sample refreshments by our caterer, Excellence II.
Activities for children will also be offered.
TEMPLE KOL AMI
A Reform Congregation
5085 Walnut Lake Road • West Bloomfield
RABBI NORMAN T. ROMAN
FOUNDING RABBI EMERITUS, ERNST J. CONRAD
ELISSA BERG, RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DIRECTOR
JOE TARIKA, ADMINISTRATOR
For information and membership call 810-661-0040
1g3-42kfe 4aig:bViE.*SAW*(-6--(C&a.
et)
Adorable Kids.
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.
Exciting
Fall Fashions.
It's All
Fitting At...
Congregational High School
Enrollment: Grades 8-12
(Statistics according t o Agentyfor Jewish Education)
SCHOOL
Shaarey Zedek
Temple Israel
Temple Beth El
Shir Tikvah
Adat Shalom
Beth Shalom
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Kol Arm
Temple Shir Shalom
B'nai Moshe
Birmingham Temple
BAHM
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108
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100
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95
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56
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346
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7
17
IN ORCHARD MALL
ORCHARD LAKE RD. AT MAPLE
(810) 855-8818
4141
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