Mission statement

Congregation Or Ami holds that Jewish learning and participation in Jewish religious and cultural life are essential to the formation of a solid Jewish identity.

Therefore, the Or Ami Religious School is dedicated to educating Jewish youth who will:

• See Judaism as a positive and meaningful framework for their lives;
• Express their Judaism through ethical behavior, ritual participation, and social action;

• View their Jewish education as a life-long process; and
• Involve themselves with their Jewish community both locally and globally.

Statement of intent

It is our intent that our Religious School, in partnership with families and the entire synagogue community, will significantly contribute to the learning, growth and maturation of Jews who:

• Express pride in their Jewish heritage, understand and practice Jewish traditions, and are able to transmit knowledge of and enthusiasm for Judaism.
• Can articulate different ways Jews have conceptualized God throughout history, and affirm and act upon a personal perspective of God and spirituality.
• Can describe the mitzvot which guide Jewish behavior, knowledgeably evaluate them for contemporary life, and commit themselves to live by these values both in their daily lives and on significant occasions.
• Understand the reasons for the rituals and customs associated with Shabbat, the Jewish holy days and life-cycle events and observe these occasions appropriately in the synagogue and at home.
• Enthusiastically participate in and support the life of the synagogue, the Jewish community, and the community at large.
• Appreciate the nature of Tefilah[1] (what it is and why we pray), know the structure and contents of the prayer book, and comfortably participate in Tefilah with kavanah[2].
• Understand the significance of Hebrew as the sacred language of Jewish tradition and the Jewish people, and use it appropriately during synagogue worship and home celebrations.
• Understand the basis of Reform Judaism and appreciate all forms of Jewish religious expression.
• See themselves as important links in the chain of Am Yisrael[3] for whom the history and the current condition of the Jewish people is familiar, meaningful and central.
• Affirm their historic bond to Eretz Yisrael, visit Israel, and work for its well-being.

[1] Tefillah = prayer or worship

[2] Kavannah = intention or devotion

[3] Am Yisrael = People of Israel, historically

Omdim (7th-9th grade religious school program)

with ongoing input from students, parents, faculty and congregational leadership, or ami has developed a middle/high school program that is flexible, engaging, interactive, and social for our students: omdim!

Because students have so many outside commitments, from homework to sports practice, we are sensitive to the many demands on their time.  Within the Omdim program, students attend two to three courses, each of which will be held over 5 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm.  The students will have a chance to elect courses of greatest interest to them.  Other components of these years includes engaging in deeds of service to the community (g’milut chasadim) and worship and other ritual activities.  Please contact Rabbi Tornberg if you are interested in learning more about this innovative program.  We hope your teen will join us as she or he explores whom they are becoming.

Eighth and ninth graders will also have the option to attend a trip to New York City with a two-year, rotating itinerary.  While on the trip, students will have the opportunity to socialize, learn together, play together, and pray together.

For more information, check out this link: http://youtu.be/gtu7ej8y55u