Kehilath Israel Synagogue’s Fred Devinki Religious School, headed by Director Shelley Rissien, recently wrapped up its fall 2022 semester.
In a newsletter from K.I., Rissien wrote of the school’s changes and its students’ achievements during the fall semester. Students are split by age groups and called “littles,” “middles” and “bigs” (the school teaches students from pre-kindergarten until their bar/bat mitzvah year).
“Littles” have been learning about the aleph-bet and Shabbat traditions, rules and customs. “Middles” have begun reading and learning new words in Hebrew, as well as Jewish rules and customs regarding ethics.
“The students are learning that Jewish rules and customs are our guidelines for learning how to be better people,” Rissien said. “Being Jewish means that the laws and customs that we observe have a purpose, and it is okay for each family to follow and create their own traditions.”
According to Rissien, “bigs” know their Hebrew letters and vowels and can read from all K.I. Religious School textbooks. They also analyze topics, including Jewish dilemmas and prayers, in class.
“[The ‘bigs’ are] a very vocal group, and the discussions are very lively and electric,” she said. “If you listen to the questions posed and the responses that they give each other, you would think you were witnessing a yeshiva in the meeting.”
Becky Toniazzo, Bridey Stangler and Rebecca Speier are the school’s teachers, and K.I.’s Rabbi Moshe Grussgott and Cantor Aron Hayoun teach students rabbinic insights and Jewish music, respectively.
Classes will continue on Sundays (and Wednesdays for those older than third grade) for the spring 2023 semester. More information about the K.I. Religious School is available at kisyn.org/religious-school.
