Educational Programs for Schools

We invite parents, teachers and students to commemorate diverse lifecycle celebrations of students through egalitarian and pluralistic ceremonies. Beit Samueli’s education team offers a variety of appropriate activities consistent with each school’s policies and vision. Our team coordinates with the school in the preparation of workshops and activities, which focus on the values and themes they want to emphasize.

For Elementary Schools:

a. Activities for holidays and festivals: Kaballat Shabbat, Tu B'Shevat, Hanukah, Shavuot, Israel Independence Day, Purim, the High Holidays, etc.

b. Unique services: all ceremonies will be accompanied by appropriate study at school or our synagogue as requested by the school.

1. “Receiving the Torah” ceremony – second grade. “Receiving the Torah” is celebrated in various ways in the elementary schools. We offer to celebrate “receiving the Torah” by learning and conducting a special ceremony in the synagogue. In this framework, a study day will be held in the synagogue appropriate to the school’s perspective and policies, investigating such subjects as: the exodus from Egypt, receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai, preparing to cover the Torah that the students will receive, and more. We ensure that this program is conducted as a joint venture between the schools and the synagogue to familiarize the students with the wealth of Jewish literature and the role of the synagogue as a place for meeting and gathering as a community. The nature of the main ceremony will be determined in partnership with each school.
2. Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony: in recent years, thousands of boys and girls observe their bar/bat mitzvah by transforming the traditional ritual into a significant fitting and exciting event celebrating their maturation process. Some schools mark the transition from childhood to adulthood in the sixth grade in a ritual Bnei Mitzvah class ceremony. They choose to have a festive and exciting Bnei Mitzvah "ceremony" taking place in the evening. The nature and character of the ceremony is determined by the teachers, consistent with the school’s policies and values. Attendees include students, their parents, and family members.

c. Study for "Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual": the school, along with Kehillat Ra’anan’s educational staff, builds the structure, content and timeframe devoted to learning before the ceremony. For example, you can have a full day of preparation at the synagogue, including learning community values about "transitions," introducing the synagogue, familiarization with the wealth of Jewish literature and the synagogue as a place for meeting and gathering as a community.

d. An encounter between mothers and daughters: conducting several meetings of mothers and daughters to discuss various issues regarding maturation. This program is offered when there is sufficient demand to warrant it.

e. Lectures for teachers and parents: on diverse subjects such as: the Hebrew calendar, Israeli ceremonies and holidays, Jewish and democratic identity in Israel in today’s world, equality between the sexes, the circle of life ceremonies, blessings and prayers.