Thursday, October 1, 2026
Congregation Beth Ohr is expanding its educational offerings this fall with OHRchard, a new Jewish after-school program designed to combine learning, enrichment and a camp-like atmosphere for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
The Bellmore-based synagogue, which serves the wider Bellmore-Merrick community, is one of seven North American synagogues selected for the fourth cohort of the Jewish After School Accelerator, a nationwide initiative that helps Jewish organizations create after-school programs for local families. Beth Ohr is the first synagogue on Long Island to launch a program through the initiative.
The program is designed to provide families with an alternative to traditional after-school care, offering children a place to learn, explore and build community after the school day ends.
“It’s really a wonderful balance that combines Jewish learning with things kids naturally love,” said Adina Frumer, OHRchard’s director.
OHRchard will operate Monday through Thursday after school until 6 p.m. and Fridays until 5 p.m.
The program will also offer “Schools Out Camp Days” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on select days when children are off from school, but parents may still be working.
Transportation will be available from nearby schools, with the program aiming to serve families in Bellmore, Merrick, Seaford, Massapequa and the surrounding South Shore communities.
The program will feature Jewish and Hebrew learning alongside activities including cooking, sports, filmmaking and drama. Children will spend time learning about Judaism and engage in enrichment activities that allow them to explore their individual interests.
For Ellen Agulnick, Beth Ohr’s director of congregational learning, creating an environment where children genuinely want to participate has been a central goal.
Agulnick, who has been with Beth Ohr for about five years, helped lead the synagogue through the application process for the Jewish After School Accelerator.
“I wanted to make sure that the kids were getting what they needed,” Agulnick said. “The giant goal was that kids would want to come to Hebrew school and that it could feel like a camp environment, feel fun for them.”
That camp-inspired approach also comes from Agulnick’s own experiences.
“They can go to Jewish camp in the summer and come to us after school for a similar kind of experience where they’ll learn Hebrew,” Agulnick said. “They’ll learn about Judaism but all in a fun, engaging way.”
Beth Ohr Synagogue President Nadine Lewis said the program fills a need in the community by offering more than traditional babysitting-style after-school care.
“We wanted to do a true enrichment program,” Lewis said. “We wanted to be really an all-inclusive type of program, and that children just are in a nurturing environment and a learning environment.”
Through the Jewish After School Accelerator, Beth Ohr is receiving coaching, curriculum and financial support over three years to help establish the program. Agulnick said the initiative provided a comprehensive blueprint, while also allowing Beth Ohr to develop a program tailored to its community.
The name OHRchard was chosen to reflect growth and community, while also capturing the program’s playful, camp-like feel.
As the first school year approaches, Frumer said she is most looking forward to seeing children make connections and thrive.
“It’s really for the children, and to see the smiles at the end of the day and see them learn something new,” she said.
For more information, visit OHRchard’s website, Ohrchard.org.
