The Chabad of Bellmore-Merrick-Wantagh is offering opportunities for community members of different ages to connect with their Jewish heritage through hands-on Hebrew school lessons, adult education and a Pink Challah Bake in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The programs are designed to make Jewish learning accessible and engaging, while creating opportunities for participants to strengthen their connections to their faith and community.
For children, the Chabad Hebrew School is taking an interactive approach to Jewish education, incorporating creative activities, storytelling and experiments into lessons about Jewish history and values. The organization is also introducing a Jewish Learning Institute course for adults exploring Jewish mysticism, along with community programming focused on supporting people facing illness.
The Hebrew school serves students from prekindergarten through seventh grade, welcoming Jewish children regardless of their level of observance or affiliation. More than 150 students are enrolled, according to Raizel Seliger, special project coordinator at the Chabad of Bellmore-Merrick-Wantagh.
Rather than relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, lessons incorporate hands-on activities intended to help children connect the stories to their own lives.
Students can create projects, participate in experiments or play educational games while learning about figures such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Activities also explore values such as kindness, hospitality, helping others and taking responsibility.
“One of our goals is that the students should really love coming and be proud of their Jewish heritage,” Seliger said, explaining that the school strives to create a friendly environment where students can learn about their roots.
Rabbi Mendel Kramer, son of Chabad directors Rabbi Shimon Kramer and Chanie Kramer, leads programming for older students. He said the lessons emphasize how Jewish teachings remain relevant in everyday life.
“It's a very big focus of the Hebrew school,” Kramer said of applying lessons from the Torah to improving one's life and helping others.
Older students also participate in a program preparing them for their bar and bat mitzvahs. Through approximately 20 lessons, students explore prayer, charity, relationships, their connection to Israel and the responsibilities that come with growing up.
Hebrew reading instruction also incorporates a level-based system designed to motivate students as they develop their language skills.
Exploring Jewish mysticism through adult education
The Chabad is also expanding its educational offerings for adults with a six-week course through the Jewish Learning Institute, known as JLI.
Led by Rabbi Mendel Kramer, the course focuses on Kabbalah, a tradition of Jewish mysticism that explores the spiritual dimensions of life and the soul.
Participants will discuss topics including the meaning of Hebrew names, what happens to the soul during sleep, reincarnation and the concept of soulmates. The course aims to connect these broader spiritual ideas to participants' everyday experiences.
Kramer said the program is designed to make complex concepts approachable, and no previous background in Jewish studies is necessary.
The course is open to adults at different stages of their Jewish learning, providing an opportunity for both newcomers and those with prior experience to explore the subject.
Pink Challah Bake supports community awareness
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Chabad also organized a Pink Challah Bake, on Thursday, Oct. 15, bringing women in the community together for an event centered on awareness and connection.
The event is connected to the Cindy Knoll Circle of Hope, an organization associated with the Chabad that supports people dealing with various illnesses. The initiative reflects the organization's broader efforts to provide support to individuals and families navigating health challenges.
The Chabad also holds Cooking for Hope program in which local teenagers will help cook a variety of Kosher dishes for people who are ill, creating another opportunity for younger community members to participate in service.
Together, the educational and community initiatives reflect the Chabad's efforts to serve families across Bellmore, Merrick and Wantagh, offering ways for children, adults and teens to learn, participate and support others.
For more information about the Chabad's programs, visit ChabadJewishLife.org.
