Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

Family Gesher 6th Grade Program

The Shabbat Morning Gesher 6th Grade program is a brand new program for sixth grade students, being launched in Fall 2009. Unlike the traditional 6th grade religious school program, which takes place on Tuesday afternoons and is for kids only, the Shabbat Morning 6th Grade Gesher Program meets on Saturday mornings and includes parents. (Separate Saturday morning programming may be offered for siblings.) More details coming soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Irene Resnikoff at 479.3447 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Family Gesher 7th Grade Program

The Shabbat Morning Family Gesher 7th Grade program is a brand new program for seventh grade students and their families. Unlike the traditional Gesher program which takes place on Tuesday afternoons and is for kids only, this one meets on Saturday mornings and includes parents and siblings. There are 29 seventh graders registered in this program, out of a total of 55 seventh graders.

"We wanted to take all the things that are traditionally taught in Gesher, which is the pre-b'nai mitzvah year, and make them as meaningful as possible," according to Rabbi Noa Kushner, who teaches in the program along with Joanne Greene. "There is a lot they need to learn to participate in the service, but we also wanted to make the process as much about Jewish growth as possible."

Parents appreciate the opportunity to learn alongside their children. "We liked the opportunity to learn something together," says Susan Bell-Warner, whose daughter Shayna was in the program. "I wanted my son to see that I'm committed to learning, says Stephanie Weitzman, mother of Tyler. "Also, I felt that if there were other adults participating in the discussions, they would be higher level and much more interesting to him."

"So few of us attend Saturday services and many of us haven't really understood the complexity of services," according to Amy Bellin. "This is a lovely way to go as a group and learn 'real time'.  As much as parents are given handbooks or told what to expect, none of it compares to really living it on these Shabbat mornings.  To be able to participate in Shabbat services, study Torah, work on blessings and drashot, helps to de-mystify the B'nai Mitzvah process and helps bond the families participating. Learning together as a group helps lifts the community."

Families with special needs children have found the synagogue's family-style programs to be especially appealing. For example, Judi Sheppard and John Hamel, who have twins, say this about the Shabbat Gesher program: "Our son Jacob, who has severe development delays (autism and more) participates as best he can. He himself, with his disability and differences, can be a great teacher to all of us."

Another plus is getting to know other families. Some Saturdays there have been as many as sixty people in the room. "We wanted to create a retreat culture," explains Rabbi Noa.  "It's been a community-bonding experience to get to know the other families involved in the same life time ritual for their children. We're coming together and learning as a community.  It's what I've always wanted," according to Judi Sheppard.

Parents appreciate having options for their children's religious education.  As one parent explained, "If we had to choose between Select Soccer and religious school on Saturday mornings, I'm not sure religious school would win. Luckily we don't have to choose: we can do both."

It's important for Rodef Sholom to continue to innovate with these new types of programs. "We need to offer various options in order to reach the largest number of young people," according to Ann Peckenpaugh Becker, President of the Religious School Board.   "Some families want to learn together on Shabbat morning and for them, this program may be perfect.  But other families can't spend Saturday mornings at the synagogue.  For them, we offer other programs, like the Tuesday evening Gesher program and other Kol Hamishpacha programs."

For more information about the Gesher program, contact Irene Resnikoff at 479.3447 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .