Packing For College
by Keren Packman Alpert, Director of Education
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As parents, we live for and also dread the day when our beloved children leave the nest and set off to find their way in the world. We do our best to help them pack for college. We give advice on clothing, furniture, phone plans and meal plans; we select the right computer, the right college, the right dorm, the appropriate classes and the appropriate comforter and pillow.

Even in our Monday Night School, we are cognizant of the need to help pack “our kids” for college. We want to make sure that, at the end of 12th grade, the students who are products of our program will be able to:

- Understand that Judaism can give them guidance in making difficult decisions.
- Perceive that the Temple and other Jewish institutions are places where they should feel comfortable.
- Recognize the differences between Reform Judaism and other streams of Judaism and be knowledgeable about the faith practices of Conservative and Orthodox Jews, rather than be mystified by them or feel that Reform Judaism is in some way inferior.
- Speak knowledgeably about Israeli history and be able to defend the need for a Jewish homeland, even when faced with anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic forces on college campuses.
- Stay connected to Temple Beth El, its clergy, staff and members and understand that we still want to serve them, even if they are not in their parents’ homes.
- Take on the Jewish home practices that were previously their parents’ domain, but which are now theirs (Shabbat and holiday celebrations, particularly).
- Plan and make a decision, upon arriving at school, as to where to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and feel confident in their participation in any service on campus or in a nearby congregation.

We hope that our students and their parents will see this transition as not just a moment in the life of their family, but also a Jewish moment, a moment for which we hope and pray. Indeed, there is even a blessing for letting a child go, one that has been reworked for modern parents:
Baruch shep’tarani mei-an’sho shelazeh.
Blessed are You, who has freed us as parents of some responsibilities and
conferred new ones upon our child.

Click on any of the following links to read some of Keren's interesting articles on education.
Baruch ata Adonai, WOW
696
OUR HOUSE
ANOTHER MEETING
CHECKING THE PULSE
LIVING TORAH
BIG STORY ON THE LITTLE TOWN
THE BAGEL MAN
NOBODY'S PERFECT
LESSONS ON FILM
BOXES OF SHABBAT
HEBREW HAPPENINGS

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Sunday School