Livingston—Public school is sometimes a viable option for Orthodox children, and at Congregation Etz Chaim there are a number of public school families who are active synagogue members. In 2012, some parents voiced concern regarding their children’s lack of Jewish education while at Livingston High School. Of these children, one had some yeshiva day school experience, one had a great deal, and one had none at all. With such varied skill levels, it would have been a difficult prospect to educate them together. Along with Yoni Glatt, synagogue youth director, it was decided that starting a class with an “out of book” approach would be best. The students would be taught without the Hebrew texts that are the norm in yeshivot. Thus, Glatt’s evening class was born.
While it is difficult to teach without texts, Glatt often provides charts and graphs to aid in his teaching. The first classes, called “The Life and Lessons of King David,” focused on Jewish history through the eyes of Torah, beginning with Dovid hamelech. From there, Glatt continued on to the book of Kings with classes entitled “A Class of Kings,” with the class title taken from one of the popular Game of Thrones books, “A Clash of Kings.” After a siyyum celebrating the completion of Kings I and II, the class has moved on to Daniel, with a series of classes entitled “Exiled in Babylon.”
Glatt tries hard to integrate important elements of halacha and various mitzvot into the class. The laws of Kohanim, Pesach, Kashrut and, most recently, the rituals/history of Purim have been covered. In addition, Glatt makes sure to use pop culture as a tool as often as possible, which has proven extremely effective in keeping the students’ attention and interest.
The class that started with three students eventually had 10, which was the maximum the synagogue felt was appropriate for one class. Students sit around a large oval table and classes consist of discussions as much as Glatt’s lectures. More than 10 would make that type of class difficult to manage.
“I think this is part of the appeal as it has a different feel from a classroom setting,” said Glatt.
It was ultimately decided that it was time to add another class. However, as Glatt was already volunteering his time to teach this class, he simply was unable to fit another class into his schedule. Fortuitously, the OU decided it was time to bring an NCSY couple into Livingston. Gedalia and Jennifer Romanoff moved into the community, with Jen slated to be the new local head of NCSY. The synagogue felt she would be the ideal person to run this second class as she is a regular presence in the local public high schools. Her class also started with three students and now gets seven, again with the intention to cap it at 10. Her class is called “Talk it Out Torah” and each week covers an engaging topic in Judaism that is of particular interest to the teens in the class. Class titles have included “The Big Bang Theory and The Torah.”
There has been additional interest from parents in the community, and the synagogue is looking to add a third class for the fall. “We have met zero resistance from the local hebrew day schools,” commented Glatt. “With Livingston High having such a large Jewish percentage I think they agree that what we’re doing is in no way competition.”
To round out the students’ education with a touch of fitness, Etz Chaim has added a krav maga class for teens each week. It is taught by UJA Shliach Maor Tiri, a former Golani soldier and Judo and Krav Maga expert. This class was started two weeks ago with seven students. The target is 16 and with the success these classes have had to date, they feel sure they will meet it.
Glatt is hoping that these classes will bring the youth of the surrounding neighborhoods into the building, helping to develop their Jewish identities and basic knowledge of their faith. The teen minyan has seen a direct increase thanks to these classes, as the kids have gotten more involved with Etz Chaim. Additionally, some of these families came to Etz Chaim for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur this year for the very first time.
All classes are free, open to the public, and serve dinner and fresh pastries. Glatt’s class meets every Monday at 6 p.m., Romanoff’s is every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Krav Maga is every Wednesday at 7 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected].
By Jill Kirsch
