Mission Statement for the Rabbi Joseph and Rosalie Gitin

Religious School of Temple Emanu-El

The Rabbi Joseph and Rosalie Gitin Religious School of Temple Emanu-El exists to provide a positive Reform Judaism setting that promotes, teaches, and instills a sense of Jewish culture, values, knowledge, and identity among its students.

Goals

The Religious School provides:

1. A student-centered environment designed to develop Jewish identity, Jewish values, and kinship with other Jews.
2. Experiential activities as a process of creating a knowledge base in Judaism and Jewish identity including helping the individual determine what being a Jew means.
3. A balance of academic and experiential learning of Jewish tradition, rituals, and holidays.
4. Knowledge and experience of Tefillah (prayer), as it relates to each unique individual.
5. Knowledge and exposure to the Hebrew language, primarily as it is used in prayer.
6. Knowledge and exposure to Israel's customs and current issues as well as affirmation of historic bond to the land of Israel.
7. Activities that promote critical thinking to facilitate making educated and moral choices.
8. Opportunities to further the causes of justice, peace, freedom by pursuing mishpat (justice), tzedek (righteousness) and chesed (loving deeds).
9. Opportunities for all family members and students to work, study, and play together as a team.
10. Support and participate in the life of the synagogue including celebrating Shabbat and the festivals and Jewish ceremonies which mark significant occasions in our lives.