Jewish Educator of the Year
February 6th, 2010
The Ohav Shalom Board of Education is delighted to announce that Danny Sanders has been selected as Congregation Ohav Shalom's Jewish Educator of the Year and will be honored at a Havdallah Dessert and Cocktail Reception on Saturday evening, February 6, 2010.
A longtime leader of Ohav Shalom's Junior Congregation Shabbat Service, Danny has helped countless children and adults understand and revere this most sacred weekly observance. His knowledge of Judaism, his warm, gentle personality and his extraordinary patience will long be remembered by those who have been fortunate enough to call him teacher.
Beyond Junior Congregation, Danny has been an active member of the shul for many years. His tireless work as architect of our beautifully renovated building has been extraordinary. On any given evening or Sunday during this lengthy undertaking, one could find Danny in the building taking care of this detail or that, ensuring that, once completed, our synagogue would be a source of pride to all of us.
Preparations are in the works for the Jewish Educator of the Year event and invitations will be sent at a later date. For questions about the event, please contact Debbie Cohen or Ilyse Weinstein.
We hope to see you on Saturday evening, February 6 as we pay tribute to Danny Sanders, our Jewish Educator of the Year, and help support the educational program at Congregation Ohav Shalom, so dear to his heart.
Congregation Ohav Shalom Nursery School Receives Solomon Schechter Award
Congregation Ohav Shalom Nursery School recently received the Solomon Schechter Gold Award in recognition of its inclusive early childhood education program. Three years ago, the Ohav Shalom Nursery School began partnering with Capital District Beginnings to create a school that allows children with special needs to be educated within a typical preschool program. Through this partnership, Ohav Shalom Nursery School has been able to provide a Jewish early childhood experience for many Jewish children who otherwise would have had to leave the school to attend a special education preschool program. "The guiding principal behind Ohav Shalom Nursery School and Capital District Beginnings is that children should be educated in their typical environments," said Amie Bloom, Ohav Shalom Nursery School Director. "By creating integrated classrooms within the school, children with special needs are educated alongside typically developing peers and are able to receive the special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy they require. Many of our students with special needs are unable to communicate even the most basic wants or needs when they first come to the program. The structure that the integrated classrooms provide, along with the intensive programs, allows them to grow developmentally, to develop friendships, to play with their peers and to truly become involved in the classroom environment." The Solomon Schecter Gold Award recognizes inclusive early childhood programs that meet a number of criteria including the integration of Judaic curriculum, the celebration of Jewish Holidays, involvement of its clergy in the early childhood program and families of the participants, observance of mitzvot, and maintenance of religious observance required by the Conservative Movement. "Ohav Shalom has always been actively committed to the full inclusion of all people with special needs," said Rabbi Daniel Ornstein. "Receiving United Synagogue's Solomon Schechter Award for our preschool's integrated classroom program is a source of tremendous pride to all of us in the Ohav family. Mazal tov to Amie Bloom, our preschool director, and her dedicated staff for this great achievement."
Ohav Shalom Talmud Torah Program
Receives USCJ Award
The Talmud Torah program at Congregation Ohav Shalom received a Framework for Excellence Award by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism at the USCJ Biennial Convention in December. Ohav Shalom is one of only 22 Conservative Hebrew Schools in New York State to have received this award for 2009.
The criteria for the Framework for Excellence for the Conservative synagogue school include:
- A sufficient number of hours and days to attain the goals set forth for Conservative synagogue schools
- Educators who are leaders, not just administrators
- Rabbinic interest, support and presence on matters of synagogue schooling
- Congregational investment in teacher training, retention and development
- Collaboration with and support of lay leaders, including good committees and a mission of the synagogue that places education front and center
- Commitment to and investment in teenagers, including high school classes, youth activities, summer camp and Israel experiences
- Family education that helps parents fulfill their roles as the primary Jewish educators of their children
Congregation Ohav Shalom has fulfilled all these criteria and is being recognized for "emphasizing a comparatively high level of intensive child or parent commitment expressed in ongoing participation in an aspect of Jewish learning or worship."
"We are extremely grateful to USCJ for this honor," said Rabbi Dan Ornstein. "All of us associated with our Talmud Torah program believe it's enormously important to provide a learning atmosphere in which parents are welcome participants in the education of their children."
Upcoming Events
How about YOU in 2012?
Morning Minyan
Several of our regular morning minyan attendees are away this winter. Please help us ensure a minyan every day by attending - once a week, or even less often, if you are able. The minyan community is a warm, friendly group of people, some with great familiarity with the prayers, and others who are new to the experience. Minyan is a wonderful way to start the day. The service is followed by coffee and breakfast, either at Ohav or elsewhere. Fulfilling the mitzvah of enabling someone to say kaddish, of engaging in daily prayer and of strengthening our sacred community.