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CANTOR GEDALIAH GERTZ EDUCATION CENTER

As an integral and lively component of Temple Israel Akron, the Cantor Gedaliah Gertz Education Center provides a warm and inclusive community of teachers, students, and families. In the religious school, students find a place to expand their minds and their understanding of the world around them within the context of an open, progressive Jewish environment.

The religious school’s curriculum focuses on promoting a Jewish experience, as opposed to just providing Jewish content.

We ask the question: What does it mean to live a Jewish life? It means coming together as a community to celebrate holidays, and taking part in important customs and traditions — but it also means cultivating an inquisitive mind and becoming responsible, ethical citizens of the world. Our goal is to shape energetic and curious children into inquisitive, active Jewish adults.

Religious School

Religious school classes meet once a week at the Education Center. Our program is open for students from pre-school (starting at age 3) to 8th graders.

Our class day begins with bagels and schmoozing. Then we gather in the sanctuary for t’filah (prayer), in which parents, family, and friends are welcome to join. T’filah is led by our cantor, Kathy Fromson, and Rabbi Josh Brown with the students participating throughout the service. By focusing on t’filah our students gain comfort with the language, order, and command of the prayers while forming a connection to their meaning. We bookend the day by honoring a “Family of the Week” and observing Havdallah together as a community.

Hebrew School

Hebrew School meets weekly during the school year separately from the Religious School classes. Students start Hebrew School in 3rd grade and continue until 7th grade (at the time of Bar/Bat Mitzvah).

Hebrew is taught with the primary objective of reading fluency. We teach the students the skills they need to prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Registration

We love to welcome new families and new students to the Cantor Gedaliah Gertz Education Center. If you are interested in having your child in religious school classes, you can register after July 1st. Contact our Director of Education, Lauren Trexler with any questions.

Family Education

At the Cantor Gedaliah Gertz Education Center, we view parents as our strongest partners. We believe learning with your children builds stronger connections to our traditions. Each grade has a Family Education session focusing on that grade’s particular curriculum. These are special sessions to deepen relationships with the rabbi, teachers, and other parents. The rabbi studies with the parents for the first half while the students are with the educator. Everyone comes together to synthesize what they learned and to bring something that they can take home to enhance their home rituals.

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784