"In a natural way." This is the key phrase.

    If we reflect upon what has really maintained our cultural and religious identity as Jews growing up in a non-Jewsish world, what first comes to mind is the hug of a grandfather, the taste of a kugel, the words of a song, the special memories of friendships from Jewish organizations and classes, the sense of being somewhat "different" and appreciating that special difference, of belonging to something special by being Jewish. Our Jewish identity came to us in a natural way.

    And that is also the key phrase governing the objectives and goals of the Jennifer Sossin School for Jewish Education. Let Judaism enter our lives naturally. The majority of young people in our school enter classes at three or four years of age. The first few years of classes are dedicated to learning about holidays, prayers, Torah, values, and Hebrew concepts. By first grade our students begin to read and write in Hebrew. While an afternnon program cannot guarantee that the students become fluent in the Hebrew language, they do acquire Siddur literacy.

    By the age of eleven or twelve, our students enter the Mitzvah class, where they begin their final preparation for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah at the age of thirteen. It is in this group that our young people, girls and boys together, develop projects, research, talk and act upon their values. Book sales, recycling, Shabbat dinners, creative writing, social service projects, all allow the students to experiment and begin to develop his and her own concept of being Jewish in today's world. This is the time when all previously gained knowledge and information is assimilated and turned into a way of life.

    Almost without the student being aware of the metamorphosis, after years of study, a young Jewish adult emerges. Naturally. And just as naturally, he will continue to study, grow, and develop as a Jewish adult throughout his lifetime.

   

   

History of the Jennifer Sossin School

    The first class of what is today the Jennifer Sossin School for Jewish Education, was taught by Evelyn Sabaj in 1984, on the back porch of the home of Israeli Ambassador, David Turgeman. Our children's religious education brought us together to found B'nei Israel.

    The first years, classes were held in many places: the Kaufman's Conversa, the Bonilla's Instituto Montessori, the Country Day School building, and the homes of Marvin Sossin and the Goldberg family. We moved into our current home in August, 1992, thanks to the generous help of Marvin Sossin, in remembrance of his daughter, Jennifer. To help sustain her memory, we decided to oficially name our school after her in a special ceremony on October 1, 1992.

    Since we began, many wonderful men and women have been teachers for our children. They have contributed a richness of varied traditions and cultures. We thank every one of them: Jenny Roberge, Laura Weisleder, Evelyn Sabaj, Rabbi Falk and his wife Edna, Julie Poyo, Deborah Blatt, Shira Hantman, Rabbi Steve Rosman, Rabbi Harry Roth, David Losk, Miriam Hirsch, Irith Liebembuk, Marvin Sossin, Eti Mines, Pilar Elkin, Elena Dybner, Derryl Molina, Ellá Aviram, Janina Grunhaus, Susan Oppenheim, Susan Goldberg, Jody Bonilla, Becky Benzaquén, Moshe Benzaquén, Tamara Tarnopolski, and Rabbi Marcus Burstein all through 1998.

    Over the years, the school has become more professional to meet the needs of our 50 students between the ages of 3 and 13. Guided by a curriculum from the World Union for Progressive Judaism, adapted to our needs by some of our teachers. The school is run by an Education Committee, which holds meetings every semester, to plan and prepare the coming classes. We also have yearly teacher training sessions, to keep the staff on their toes. The following members are part of our present Education Committee:

   

Chair-person:			Jody Bonilla
Members:			Pilar Elkin
			Hilda ten Brink
			Luis Koss

   

    Teaching our children is our joy! For by our work we are keeping with the commandments of our guiding prayer, the Sh'me:

   

"Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children."