Welcome to Temple Beth-El Religious School!

Temple Beth-El takes great pride in providing the Jewish community of southern New Mexico with a professionally taught congregational school. Our students acquire a solid foundation in Torah, Hebrew, and Judaics, preparing them not just for bar/bat mitzvah but also for making informed Jewish choices throughout their lives. Together, we strive to create a new generation of Jews who feel good about being Jewish, are strongly connected to our Jewish community, and are prepared to take part in both the spiritual and cultural life of our congregation. Our school year for 2009/2010 begins on Sunday, August 16, 2009.  We love to warmly welcome new families — come connect with us!  For further information you may contact our Principal, Bill Stein, at starman@tbelc.org .
Temple Beth-El Religious School offers the following classes.

Training Wheels (under age 4)
Training Wheels is supported by Temple Beth El parents, Las Cruces Hadassah, and TBE Sisterhood. The program has two central goals. The first goal is to give young children a fun-filled first experience with Jewish Education. The second goal is to create a supportive environment for families to discuss Jewish and secular parenting issues. We welcome parents, grandparents, and other family members to join our group. If you have a child under four years of age in your life and would like to participate in Training Wheels, please contact Christi Rubin at christirubin@gmail.com .



Gan (ages 4 & 5)
Our youngest students begin their formal studies at this level. Within the theme of Holidays and Heroes, children are introduced to Torah (study), avodah (worship), and g’milut chasidim (acts of loving kindness) through activities and lessons rich in content and fun!
Teacher: Judy
Times: Sundays 9-11:30

Alef (ages 6 & 7) & Bet (ages 8 & 9) (Combined with Alef this year)
Alef and Bet students can expect an action-packed year strewn with story-telling, creative writing, arts/crafts, games, cooking, special activities, and music. Topics include: the synagogue, holidays (with a focus on weekly Shabbat observance) and an introduction to Israel. Alef and Bet students are introduced to Midweek Hebrew, where they will learn to recognize all the Hebrew letters and vowels, and pronunciation of many words.
Teacher: Erich
Times: Sundays 9-12, Midweek Hebrew Wednesdays 4:45-6
Texts: texts to be determined.



Gimmel (ages 10 & 11) (combined with Dalet this year)
This class will journey through Jewish history using The Mystery of the Coins as a guide. In Hebrew, this level will study key prayers, including the Sh'ma and its blessings, as well as some conversational Hebrew. We also hope to continue corresponding with our Israeli penpals in Beit She'an, Israel.
Teacher: Leora
Times: Sundays 9-12, Midweek Hebrew Wednesdays 4:45-6
Texts: Mystery of the Coins, Barvaz prayer modules, other texts to be determined.



Dalet (ages 12 & 13, pre bar/bar mitzvah) (combined this year with Gimmel)
Teacher: Leora on Sundays, Rabbi Paul on Wednesdays
Times: Sundays 9-12, Midweek Hebrew Wednesdays 4:45-6
Texts: Mishkan Tefillah prayerbook, Barvaz prayer modules, other texts to be determined.

Machon (Confirmation)
Machon (post b'nei mitzvah, pre-college teens) is now designed as a three-year course. This year focuses on “Being Jewish from the Inside.” Rabbi Paul will lead discussion on a range of relevant social issues. We hope to end the year with a rabbi-led trip to explore Jewish New Mexico.
Teacher: Rabbi Paul
Times: Sundays 10:45-12
Texts: To be determined.



Introducing our faculty:

Rabbi Paul Citrin
Rabbi Paul J. Citrin, a Los Angeles native and a third generation Californian, graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1968. He attended rabbinic school at the Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and in Cincinnati, where he received his Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters, and was ordained in 1973. Rabbi Paul's published writings include the children's novel, Joseph’s Wardrobe, and the children’s High Holy Day prayerbook, Gates of Repentance for Young People (together with Judith Abrams). Prior to assuming the pulpit here, Rabbi Paul served congregations in Albuquerque; San Diego; Palm Desert; Wynnewood, Pennsylvania; and Boston.

Judy Hilbert
Judy received her BA in sociology/psychology and her MA and PhD in Social Work. She is a retired mental health practitioner and college professor. Her love of Judaism and of children coincides perfectly in the classroom. Sometimes loud but always spirited, Judy's class is focused upon learning by the children as well as by their teacher.

Erich Zameret
Erich is a native-born Israeli with decades of teaching experience. He received his MA in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College in Massachusetts. He has taught Hebrew reading in all the various states where he’s lived.

Leora Zeitlin
Leora Zeitlin has been actively involved with Temple Beth-El since moving to Las Cruces in 1991, and has taught almost all age groups, from the pre-schoolers to Religious School students, to teens, to adults. She was a member of Boston's Havurat Shalom for many years, where she learned to engage creatively and passionately with Jewish tradition, history and liturgy, and is still a member of B'not Esh, a Jewish feminist collective that meets once a year.

Stefani Singer
Stefani, a veteran Jewish educator, has lived and studied in Israel, served as the director of many Jewish day and resident camps in Southern California, as well as in Lincoln, Nebraska, and has a college education in Therapeutic Recreation.  Stefani supports our school with her rich music background.

Bill Stein, Principal
Bill has been involved with religious school education for many years.  At Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Bill taught religious school and Hebrew and was principal of the school.  He presently is on the Temple Beth-El Board and serves as secretary.  Bill is excited to begin his first year as principal of Temple Beth-El Religious School.


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