Learning For Life

Ann Arbor's Chabad school attracts children from all streams of Judaism.

- 41.0,04

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

T

to

THE
JEWISH NEWS

354-6620

PRESENTS

JICA% VASS, IAA

GARFIELD & MARKS

zane ll a JOANTAVID

HANDBAGS & BELTS

Cyd & Samm

& More

INSIDE
ORCHARD MALL

West Bloomfield

Orchard Lake Rd.
North of Maple

5/15
1998

20

248-626-0886

eacher Esther Goldstein
does not use computers or
other high-tech tools. Her
classrooms are small and
sparsely decorated, filled only with
basic art supplies, a chalkboard, sid-
durim and chumashim.
Yet somehow, with her soothing
voice and cheerful but firm demeanor,
the Ann Arbor rebbetzin captures the
attention and respect of even the most
jaded Sunday school students.
Goldstein's school, the Torah
Enrichment Program (TEP) at the
Ann Arbor Chabad House, has grown
from the three children it started with
last year to 29 children, most of
whom are not Orthodox. Tuition is
below market level (Goldstein did not
want the actual cost listed), and no
synagogue affiliation is required.
"There is a tremendous need
among the unaffiliated to have a place
where you don't have to be a mem-
ber," said Goldstein. Her students,
who range in age from pre-school to
bar mitzvah, hail not just from unaffil-
iated homes, but from the local
Conservative synagogue, Beth Israel
Congregation. For several children,
the 3 1/2 hours each week at TEP
supplements the Hebrew Day School,
Ann Arbor's Solomon Schechter-affili-
ated community Jewish day school.
Goldstein — known to her stu-
dents as Morah Esther (Teacher
Esther) — and her daughter, Shternie
Zweibel — teach the twice-weekly
classes (scheduled in shifts), which
focus on prayer skills and Torah study.
"I try to bring the Torah portion to
life," said Goldstein. "I take deep con-
cepts and bring it to their level."
A typical class begins with discus-
sion of the Jewish date and upcoming
holidays, then moves on to tzedakah
donations, prayers and the Torah por-
tion. Goldstein motivates the children
with pats of support, modest treats
like cups of lemonade and strategic
distribution of little tickets redeemable
for small prizes. Students do not have
tests or receive grades because
Goldstein's goal is that they "learn for
life, not for marks."

Twelve-year-old Colten Baitch
switched to TEP from Beth Israel two
years ago.
"We do more davening (praying)
here, we learn to pray more fluently
and do more spiritual tunes," he said.
"Morah Esther is the best Hebrew
teacher you can get in Ann Arbor,
maybe Michigan. She makes me learn
much faster than I used to."
Rachel Schulman, 11, just started
this year, but already feels like she has
„learned a lot. "Before, I went to
Temple Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor's

Reform temple) and was learning
Hebrew, but it never stuck," she said.
"Here I've actually learned to read and
it's staying. I like the ticket system —
you can buy cool things with them
like pocket-sized siddurs."
Parents also are pleased with the
results.
"It didn't take long for my kids to
catch on," said Daniela Wittman, who
last year moved her two children to
TEP from a synagogue school. "They
still complain sometimes, but what I
found is that after a year, both my

Esther Goldstein gives Rachel Schulman, 11, a pat of encouragement.