OUR SCHOOL’S MISSION

It is our goal to reach every child’s heart through Judaism.  Every child has their own special gifts, which we embrace thanks to Judaism’s laws, rules and traditions (Halachot).  It is a great pleasure, and a privilege to share our different cultures, and traditions that come from each child’s home.  Each custom is enhanced with fun and creative Jewish studies.  All children experience Judaism in the kitchen, holiday arts and crafts, songs, storytelling and being a part of our Jewish country-ISRAEL.  It is an amazing feeling for the Hebrew School staff as a whole, when each child reaches their goal of becoming a part of our Congregation’s community on their Bar/Bat-Mitzvah day.  It is with great pride to watch them on the stage (Bima) reciting all the traditional prayers and their own Torah & Haftarah portions.  This is the special time where we can witness tradition being passed on from generation to generation.  This is what makes our Hebrew School gratifying and proud.

2016-2017, 5777 Hebrew School’s Classes and Schedule

Beginner Class-Meets every Tuesday from 5:30-6:45 PM

Here all children are introduced to the Hebrew letters as they are incorporated into Jewish culture, holidays and traditions.  The Hebrew Aleph-Bet letters are taught through introduction of special words that make an amazing connection between the children and the Hebrew language.  It is amazing how fast they can read Hebrew.

The children also experience all the Jewish holidays through stories, arts and crafts, baking and eating (Their favorite part!).

The children are also introduced to beginner prayers (Brachot), and demonstrate them at the Sanctuary’s Bima at our special Family Friday night service.

Being a part of the Jewish community begins at this level, where each child understands their Hebrew name and its connection to the Torah.  The sense of being a part of the Jewish community is essential to every child’s success in our Congregation.

Intermediate Class-Meets every Tuesday from 4:15-5:30 PM

Here all children continue and finalize their journey in the Hebrew letters as they are incorporated into Jewish culture, holidays and traditions.  The children also get to learn more advanced prayers and take pride as they demonstrate them at the Sanctuary’s Bima at our special Family Friday night service.

All the children enjoy the Jewish calendar, as each Hebrew month brings with it a holy holiday or a commemoration of our Jewish history and rituals.  The holidays are always highlighted with arts and crafts, baking, stories and music.

The Hebrew language is introduced more in depth at this level, where the children begin to understand a variety of composite words which they find throughout most of the prayers.

The Chumash (Five books of the Torah), stories are also integrated into their curriculum as the school year progresses.  Each child always finds a connection with the Torah messages and themselves.  They all realize how our Torah was created to help us understand our daily lives in a positive and successful way.  This embraces Judaism in every child.

Bar/Bat-Mitzvah Class-Meets every Wednesday from 4:30-5:45 PM

Here all the kids are getting ready for their special day.  Our amazing and dedicated teacher, Mr. Richie Chiger leads the children with prayers, the Chumash in its depth and each child’s Torah and Haftarah portions.  It is an impressive accomplishment where every child is capable to participate and read from the Reform Siddur ‘Mishkan Tefilah’ at services.  The children are able to participate at any Reform Temple.  Our children continue all the holiday traditions as well; they enjoy the special food that comes with each ritual and custom.  They take a great part in leading the Family Friday night service at the Sanctuary’s Bima.  It is a great honor to watch each child’s growth and accomplishments as they reach this stage in their lives.  We all enjoy each child’s individuality and the wisdom and uniqueness that come with them.  They are our Future and continuation of our traditions. 

B’Shalom,

Congregation Agudas Achim

Dimona Galli, Director of Education

Sunday Songfest at The Arnold House Barn

August 28, 2016 3 – 7 PM

The Arnold House – 839 Shandelee Rd, Livingston Manor

Congregation Agudas Achim of Livingston Manor is sponsoring a unique musical and dining experience as a fundraiser.  Tickets for the musical program will be $20 per person for up to 4 continuous hours of outstanding entertainment. An all you can chicken barbeque at $20/pp (may not be available on the 28th for purchase) will be available the entire time. A combo ticket for $36/pp can be purchased in advance. Tickets are available from by calling 439-3600 or by emailing: agudasachim @hvc.rr.com. Our goal is to raise money to help enable us to preserve and maintain our historic 90 year old synagogue. The Agudas Achim synagogue is on the state and national register of historic places. It is also recognized as a significant building and community by Synagogues around the world.

On Sunday August 28th from 3-7 pm music will fill the barn pavilion behind the Inn on Shandelee Road between Livingston Manor and Youngsville. The Arnold is well known by locals and visitors alike and highly rated for its food and hospitality.

The Levins will be playing music from various folk and Jewish traditions. They perform at numerous folk festivals, secular venues and synagogues throughout the country and have just returned from a successful tour of the Midwest. They are winners of  numerous awards for the quality of their music. Go to www.thelevins.com to learn more and listen to their music.

David Rosenberg is well known around Sullivan County for encouraging the audience to sing along while he plays music everyone will know. Joining him will be Debbie Fisher and Joanna Gass to complete a trio reminiscent of old Catskill hotels where the musicians interacted with the audience to create a fun atmosphere questions call Bob while playing great music. Sherree KaneGraber of Washingtonville will also be performing.

Sunday Songfest will be one of the best events of the summer season. Everyone will have a great time.  Where else could you get 4 hours of outstanding music and unlimited dinner cooked by gourmet chefs for $36? Contact Lynne Freedman at 439-5708

Agudas Achim Article by Joy Stern on Scribd

Throughout history, Jews have remained firmly rooted in Jewish tradition, even as we learned much from our encounters with other cultures. Nevertheless, since its earliest days, Reform Judaism has asserted that a Judaism frozen in time is an heirloom, not a living fountain. The great contribution of Reform Judaism is that it has enabled the Jewish people to introduce innovation while preserving tradition, to embrace diversity while asserting commonality, to affirm beliefs without rejecting those who doubt and to bring faith to sacred texts without sacrificing critical scholarship.

Reform Judaism affirms the central tenets of Judaism – God, Torah and Israel – even as it acknowledges the diversity of Reform Jewish beliefs and practices. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God, and that we are God’s partners in improving the world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark of Reform Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people.

Reform Jews accept the Torah as the foundation of Jewish life containing God’s ongoing revelation to our people and the record of our people’s ongoing relationship with God. We see the Torah as God inspired, a living document that enables us to confront the timeless and timely challenges of our everyday lives.

In addition to our belief that Judaism must change and adapt to the needs of the day to survive and our firm commitment to Tikkun Olam, the following principles distinguish Reform Jews from other streams of Judaism in North America.

Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion. Since 1978 the Reform Movement has been reaching out to Jews-by-choice and interfaith families, encouraging them to embrace Judaism. Reform Jews consider children to be Jewish if they are the child of a Jewish father or mother, so long as the child is raised as a Jew.

Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life. We were the first movement to ordain women rabbis, invest women cantors and elect women presidents of our synagogues.

Reform Jews are also committed to the full participation of gays and lesbians in synagogue life as well as society at large.

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