Current - Temple Emanu-El

Religious School
B’Nai Mitzvah
‘Whenever you learn something new, the whole world becomes
that much richer.’
by Josh Mason-Barkin, Director of Congregational Learning
The first thing you might want to know about me is that my
favorite book is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
(1961). I like it because it’s clever, and I like it because it’s
about growing up, and I like it because it’s very funny. But I
mostly like it because it’s all about the spark of wonder and
amazement that happens when learning is exciting, and
when it touches you deep inside.
Toward the end of the book, Milo — the story’s protagonist —
completes his quest to rescue the Princesses of Sweet Rhyme
and Pure Reason, a quest that is really about the adolescent
boy’s need to understand how adult life works. Rhyme tells
him, “It’s not just learning things that’s important. It’s
learning what to do with what you learn and learning why
you learn things at all that matters.”
Once in awhile, I re-read a paper I wrote my first year of
graduate school. In it, I explained that, “I want to be an
educator who keeps Rhyme’s advice in mind by imparting on
my students more then just facts and feelings, but a sense of
deep meaning and understanding.”
What I didn’t understand at the time was that Rhyme was
missing a crucial ingredient, an ingredient I should have
known was missing. As an undergraduate, I studied
journalism, and the first things you learn as a journalist are
the six questions you always have to answer: Who? What?
Where? When? Why? and How? That sixth question — the
one that begins with an H — is the zinger.
How can an educator help students to engage deeply with
Jewish tradition and with their Jewish community? How can
we teach students to find their own personal meaning in the
learning they do in religious school? How can we encourage
entire families to learn together and to build vibrant Jewish
homes? How can we help teachers to do their best work in
creating exciting classrooms?
For the last several years, I’ve been working on the How. In
my roles as a developer of curriculum, as a consultant to
religious schools around the country, as a school
administrator, and as a synagogue educator, I’ve worked with
other educators, principals, teachers, and students to help
empower them to create and engage themselves in excellent
Jewish educational experiences. Along the way, those
educators, teachers, and students have taught me lots about
how to create and implement excellent Jewish education. It’s
been a fulfilling and eye-opening learning journey for me.
As the Princess of Pure Reason puts it, “Whenever you learn
something new, the whole world becomes that much richer.”
I’d add that the richness continues to grow when you have
the opportunity to put learning to really good use. That’s one
reason I’m excited to have been appointed to this new
position. Working in concert with our dynamic and expert
staff, I’m looking forward to building on the foundation of
educational excellence that already exists at Temple Emanu-
El. In addition to that excitement, I’m also extremely
humbled, both by the talent and warmth of the leadership
team at Temple Emanu-El of which I now find myself a part.
The second thing you might want to know about me is that I
can’t wait to meet you. Thank you for inviting me into your
community and for entrusting me with the sacred task of
learning with you and your children. My door, my phone line,
and my email inbox are always open for you, no matter the
“Rhyme” or “Reason.”
6
Brooke Antonia Moorhead, daughter of Lori
Riggio, will be called to the Torah as a Bat
Mitzvah on August 17, 2013. Brooke is
entering the 8th grade at Union Middle
School this Fall, where she will be a Student
Body Officer. She enjoys dance and is
especially excited to be a member of the
Performing Company at Dance Attack this
year. Her sister, Lola Moorhead,
grandparents, Marcia and Joe Riggio, and
extended family are excited to celebrate this important
milestone with her.
Justin Blumstein, son of Kristi and Ron
Blumstein, will be called to the Torah as a
Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, August 24th.
Justin will be entering the 8th grade at
Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose,
where he plays Bass Clarinet in the school
symphonic Band. Justin also enjoys playing
soccer, swimming, acting, and Boy Scouts.
For his Bar Mitzvah project, Justin has
collected new stuffed animals for the Pediatric
Units at Good Samaritan Hospital, so that newly admitted
children can be comforted during their stay. Justin had two
extended stays at Good Samaritan during his childhood.
Justin is excited to celebrate this occasion with his family,
friends, and the Temple Emanu-El community.
eScrip
Hot eScrip News
Attention all eScrip supporters!
Safeway’s 10% Back to School
promotion is Aug. 14 - Sept. 10.
Instead of a yellow school bus tag on
hundreds of participating products,
look for the new logo, a red apple with
a green 10% banner atop a stack of
books. Cruise up and down the aisles.
If you have children take them along;
they will have fun hunting for food you usually buy. Use
your registered Safeway Club Card and Temple will receive a
very generous 10% of your purchases.
Reminder! Safeway asks all eScrip groups to renew their
Club Cards every August. As coordinator I will be doing the
renewals for you.
If you are not yet an eScrip supporter, now is the time to
register your Safeway card and a credit/debit card so you
can shop at merchants who do not have a club card. I use
my registered Chase card when shopping at Lunardi’s. Visit
www.escrip.com and follow the prompts. Our ID# is
136985180.
Have a super summer supporting Temple, along with our
296 shoppers and eaters who last year earned almost $2,500
for us. Call me if you have any questions or want help with
registering.
Lorie Kaplan, eScrip coordinator 408.267.4563