AUGUST 18 • 2022 | 33 school hours. “Children have to come away from their religious learning with some kind of a knowledge base, and that is very difficult to accomplish with the model of supplemen- tary education that exists now because of the busy schedule of families that have reduced the days and hours of religious instruction,” said Berg. “But families still need after- school care. So, in communi- ties that have high concentra- tions of Jewish populations, creating an after-school care program centered on Jewish learning in a safe, enriching and nurturing environment can be a potentially powerful approach to Jewish education in contemporary times.” MAKING FAMILY CENTRAL TO JEWISH EDUCATION For Berg, the family rests at the center of all educational efforts. At Beth Shalom, with her late husband, Richard, and Harlene Appelman, she pioneered Jewish family edu- cation beginning in the 1980s. Since then, hundreds of Jewish families in Metro Detroit have experienced family camp. “Bringing the family into an immersive experience like a Shabbat away at Tamarack Camps made a very big differ- ence,” Berg said. “At camp, educators can introduce lots of Jewish con- tent but do it in a fun, subtle way. We would leave learning materials and other activities in different rooms, and next thing you knew, families felt comfortable having a mean- ingful discussion at a Shabbat dinner table. They felt capable of participating in a discus- sion; and experiences like this, early in a child’s education, with the family, made their learning very successful.” During her time at Temple Kol Ami from 1988 to 1997, Berg recalled a most meaning- ful family education program focused on ethical wills that she did with Rabbi Norman Roman. She remembers how family members sat with teenage students and ate food from recipes that have passed down through generations and spent time discussing and writing down what were the most important elements of Judaism to pass along to the next generations. All was doc- umented on video. “Families really spent time thinking and talking about what they want to leave for their children,” Berg said. “We also asked the children what they would like to learn from their parents. This helped the students think about the most important things that Judaism can teach them and guide them throughout their life.” TEACHING KINDNESS In addition to her convic- tions of the importance of teaching Judaism on a family level, above all, Berg said that Jewish educators today should focus on Jewish values such as chesed, kindness. This includes being kind and compassionate with those in one’s family or showing patience and respect in public places from the class- room to grocery stores and restaurants. And cultivating that kindness can be culled from the stories found in Jewish texts, Berg said. Berg advised that to have success in supplementary Jewish education settings, chil- dren must have formal Jewish schooling through the high school years. This includes exposure to Hebrew, the hol- iday cycle, Jewish literature, ethics and Jewish history, and synagogue involvement. “It’s essential that they enjoy Jewish experiences with fam- ilies and friends, participate in Jewish organizations and youth groups and travel to Israel,” Berg said. “And all of this must be tailored to the students and the families that join with us. The more that we can provide, the more vibrant future Jewish communities will be in the future.” Congregation Beth Ahm will honor the longtime service of Elissa Berg and Nancy Kaplan at Shabbat morning services on Aug. 20. A celebratory lun- cheon will follow. The commu- nity is invited to attend. RSVPs would be appreciated for the luncheon by calling Beth Ahm at (248) 851-6880. Nancy Kaplan served many years in many roles at Beth Ahm as an assistant to Rabbi Rubenstein. Look for a future JN story about her career accomplishments. At Beth Ahm, Elissa Berg works with Noa and Elli BenEzra. CAMP TAMARACK Elissa Berg was a pioneer of Family Camp at Tamarack. This is a photo from a previous Bubbie Zaydie Camp.