While the coronavirus pandemic has curtailed in-person learning at schools and religious institutions across the country, the Hebrew school run by Temple Beth El, in Cedarhurst, and Temple Hillel, in North Woodmere, has made a smooth transition to virtual learning.
Yachad, which means together in Hebrew, is the joint school formed by the temples two years ago because of a decline in enrollment in their individual schools, according to Temple Hillel Rabbi Steven Graber. Since March, learning has taken place on Zoom every Thursday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30, in subjects including Hebrew readings and Jewish history, philosophy and holidays.
“We first took the name because it was the two synagogues coming together,” Graber said. “Now, in a time of separation, the word together means so much more.” He added that there are currently 110 students, ranging in age from 10 to 13, attending Yachad.
The feedback Graber has received from students and parents has been positive. “We try to balance things out and not have the kids just sit in front of the computer screen,” he said. “We’ll play Simon Says in Hebrew to get the kids moving. Zoom is a positive teaching tool that definitely has some advantages, and we’ve learned to make it work.”
Temple Hillel congregant Renee Paskal, who lives in North Woodmere, said that her 12-year-old daughter has enjoyed the virtual learning. “I think the synagogue so far has performed as well as could be in doing the virtual learning,” Paskal said. “They do great interactive learning with the kids that keeps them engaged.”
The teachers, she said, create a stimulating learning environment for the students. “During Covid, it was nice for my daughter to still have the experience of Hebrew school,” Paskal said. “What I think sets this Hebrew school apart from others is that educators are truly tremendous, and they come every week with new ideas. They give each kid individual learning attention, since they meet in small groups.”
Temple Beth El Executive Director Edward Edelstein, one of Yachad’s teachers, noted that virtual learning has created other educational options for the students. “Although we miss in-person learning, Zoom provides us with other opportunities for us to do interactive learning,” he said. “We can learn through video clips on YouTube that are so easy to put up on the screen. Whether we’re learning about holidays or Jewish history, everything is at our fingertips to bring up.”
Virtual learning, Edelstein said, creates spontaneous learning. “If somebody asks a question, it’s easy to grab information from the internet,” he said. “Back when it was Passover, we had everyone do home videos to show off their homes, families and show a Passover ritual.”
Rabbi Claudio Kupchik, of Temple Beth El, said that Yachad has been a great example of a positive adjustment to extraordinary circumstances. “With this pandemic, we needed to adjust to the fact that, unfortunately, this is not over, and we are not turning the corner anytime soon,” he said. “We need to continue to adapt to this new reality and the changing conditions of the virus spread in our area, and we need to strive for the most normal level of activity that we can safely achieve, be it in-person or virtual. That’s what Yachad has been doing since March.”
Graber said that admission is free for members of either synagogue. “We do not charge tuition. Both synagogues strive to meet everyone’s economic needs,” he said. “No one will be turned away.”
More information on Yachad can be found at https://bit.ly/3l8hp7V.
