Morristown Jewish Center

Religious School

Jump to: About Our School | Schedule & Curriculum | Registration Form | Family Education | Youth & Family Services | Advanced Learning Program & Minyonaires | Religious School Faculty

Religious School students performing a Hanukah play at MJCBY

About Our School

At MJCBY’s Religious School we take great pride in creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment, in which students are valued, respected, and engaged in relevant, exciting and meaningful activities within a supportive community.

Our comprehensive curriculum ensures that each child is guided as an individual in their Jewish educational journey. We work with each student in preparation for their B'nai Mitzvah, and to help them gain the skills, understanding, and appreciation for active participation in religious services, practices and values.

Our warm, caring and experienced teachers and staff facilitate many experiential learning opportunities individually, in pairs, groups, and among families, aimed at creating positive experiences, memories and connections to our school, synagogue, and greater Jewish community.

We begin in our youngest grades with a very hands-on, multi-sensory introduction of Hebrew letters, Holiday art projects, as well as stories, songs and games that teach these subjects at an age-appropriate level. As our student’s progress, we introduce a variety of more advanced and developmentally appropriate learning modalities for Hebrew language and prayer, and expand and deepen our understanding of Jewish history, holidays and ethics. Our curriculum follows a spiral model, in which students are introduced to concepts (such as Jewish holidays throughout the year), with ever deepening layers of complexity as they move through Kindergarten — Grade 7 at our school.

MJCBY’s Religious school does not just begin with kindergarten and end with 7th grade — there are a plethora of ways to get involved from the youngest of ages, through our Advanced Learning Programs for Teens, and beyond.

MJCBY’s Religious school students and their families have many opportunities for social action, as well as an exciting array of extra curricular community programming. MJCBY’s Religious School students graduate as empowered Jewish Americans who are inspired to contribute to society with the gifts and responsibility of their Jewish identity.

For more information, please send an email to Miriam Loew, our Director of Education.

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Schedule & Curriculum

  • Our school year runs from September through mid-May
  • Kindergarten - Grade 2 / Sundays 9:30 - 11:45 AM
  • Grades 3 - 7 / Sundays 9:30 - 11:45 AM and Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:30 PM
  • Grades 8 - 12 / Mondays once per month 6:30 - 8:30 PM
  • Junior Congregation for grades 3 - 7 meets once a month on Shabbat (Saturday) morning
  • Minyonaires for grades 8 - 12 meets once a month on Shabbat (Saturday) morning

Over the course of their years at Religious School, our students are taught:

  • Jewish history broadly and in depth
  • Jewish values and ethics
  • Hebrew reading and writing
  • Weekday and Holiday Prayers
  • Jewish Holiday Practices and Traditions
  • Israel's history and culture as our ancestral homeland: then and now
  • Chanting of the Torah and more

Curriculum

  • Aleph Bet (Alphabet): First and foremost, students are to master the building blocks of the language of our ancestors that connect us with our fellow Jews across the world and across time.
  • Ivrit (Hebrew): Students have the opportunity to learn some basic conversational Hebrew, of which we encourage them to learn more in further education, and pragmatically we put our prime focus here on the fluid reading of the Hebrew of our Tefillot and Torah.
  • Tefillot (Prayers): Throughout their Religious School education, students are to learn their prayers, not just what to say and what to sing, but also origins, meanings, and purposes behind various prayers. Students learn prayers not just to lead and to participate with as they work towards becoming B'nai Mitzvah but to be able to be genuinely active members of the adult Jewish community as B'nai Mitzvah for the rest of their adult lives.
  • Torah (Bible): As the Torah is our guidebook to life, it is important for students to learn to read Torah, to analyze Torah, and to glean lessons from Torah. During their finite Religious School education, students may not learn every bit of Torah, but if they genuinely learn how to learn Torah then that will help them to be able to well continue learning and loving Torah throughout their adult Jewish lives.
  • Zechira (Remembrance): It has been said time and time again that we must never forget. We must remember – zachor. We learn our history for the sake of remembrance. Remembrance, Zechira, is why we learn history. “Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.”
  • Mitzvot (Commandments): As our guidebook to life, the Torah teaches us the do’s and don’ts of life. Learning Mitzvot, commandments, from the Torah is an important part of our Jewish education as our children work towards becoming Jewish adults. Focus is especially on the commandments that most apply to their lives – from daily life to life cycle events – from our relationship with each other to our relationship with G-d.
  • Chagim (Holidays): As we progress through the calendar of our Religious School year, students learn, progressing in more detail each year, about each of the Chagim, holidays and holy days. Summer Chagim are covered earlier in the year so as not to miss learning about them. Students learn what the holidays are, when the holidays are, why the holidays are, and how the holidays are celebrated. It is especially meaningful for students to learn the differences between Halachah (what is commanded) and Minchag (what is tradition).
  • Yisrael (Israel): Yisrael is our homeland. It is the land of our ancestors, and we believe strongly in the importance of its existence as a Jewish country today. We aim to instill in our students a love and commitment to Yisrael.

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Family Education

We believe strongly in the importance of communication and partnership with our parents throughout the school year. Our teachers, parents / caregivers, and director are a team working together for the optimal success of each of our students.

On select Sunday mornings throughout the school year, families are invited to special Family Education Programs where we enjoy coming together as a school community to explore ourJewish heritage together with the children.

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Advanced Learning Program (ALP)

Our ALP for Teens in Grades 8 - 12 is a wonderful monthly opportunity for our graduated Religious School students to continue their Jewish education, stay in touch with each other, and stay connected to their MJCBY community on a regular basis. ALP students meet once a month on a weekday evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm. Students enjoy dinner together and join in lively discussions on current events (with a Jewish twist!) as active and engaged participants.

Minyonaires

For students in grades 8 - 12, Minyonaires is a monthly opportunity to lead Shabbat Services for the entire congregation and to hone their skills as active participants and leaders in Jewish ritual life.

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Religious School Faculty

Photo of Morah Lauren Najarian

Morah Lauren Najarian
Morah Lauren has lived in the Morristown area for twelve years with her husband David and their three children. Before moving to the area, Morah Lauren lived in NYC and taught English at Rodeph Shalom Middle School. During her time there she also taught Hebrew, led the Kabbalat Shabbat Service, and led the 7th Grade B'nai Mitzvah Philanthropy project. Morah Lauren developed a love for Judaism and religious studies growing up in the Philadelphia area where she attended Solomon Schechter Day School for elementary school and Akiba Hebrew Academy for middle and high schools. Morah Lauren loves to share her enthusiasm for Jewish holidays and songs, mitzvot, Israel, and the Hebrew language with her Religious School students.

Photo of Morah Jess Kiedes Morah Jess Kiedes
Morah Jess comes to her role with a strong educational background, holding a Master's Degree in Social Work with a Concentration in Community and International Development from Monmouth University. Her lifelong passion for working with the Jewish community has brought her here, and she is excited to share her knowledge and experience with her Religious School students. Beyond her academic pursuits, Morah Jess has dedicated over 10 years to the nonprofit sector, where she has gained valuable insights and skills. In addition to her professional commitments, Morah Jess is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Phillipsburg, NJ, an organization dedicated to promoting service, leadership, and fellowship among adults and children alike. This experience has taught Morah Jess the importance of community involvement and the positive impact it can have on individuals and society as a whole. Our student's Religious School journey with Morah Jess promises growth, learning, and meaningful experiences within the MJCBY community!

Photo of Moreh Daniel Ackermans Moreh Daniel Ackermans
Moreh Daniel is a computer scientist at the Picatinny Arsenal, as well as a USY chapter advisor and volunteer convention staff member. Moreh Daniel is also a proud USY & Kadima alumni from the HaNegev region, where he served as Religious Education Vice President for his chapter. He is also a former Hillel President at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a former Madrich at his childhood Hebrew school in Georgia. In his free time, Morah Daniel enjoys playing oboe and clarinet in multiple community concert bands around northern New Jersey and riding his bike whenever able.Moreh Daniel is excited to teach his Religious School students and looks forward to helping them continue in their cultural and Hebrew language growth. Moreh Daniel invites you to say hello if you see him around at Religious School or Shabbat Services, where he will probably be found with the slide clicker!

Photo of Cantor Shana Onigman Cantor Shana Onigman
Cantor Shana has been teaching 6th and 7th grade students, and tutoring for B’nai Mitzvah at MJCBY for about 11 years. Cantor Shana Onigman loves teaching, learning, and singing in the MJCBY community. She can usually be found preparing students to become B’nai Mitzvah, teaching classes in the religious school, playing guitar for preschoolers, studying Jewish texts with adults, or baking hallah for our Shabbat evening community dinners in MJCBY’s kitchen. She received her training and ordination to become a Cantor from Hebrew College in Brookline, MA, and attended Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan. Cantor Shana lives in Morristown with her husband Matthew, a piano tuner and technician, who conducts the high holy day choir at MJCBY. Her eldest child is a student at Smith, studying music and neuroscience, and her son Ilan enjoys accompanying Shabbat evening services on drum, and entertaining the congregation with his slightly modified version of the weekly announcements. Cantor Shana loves sailing and riding her bike, and her favorite holidays are Purim and Sukkot. She is excited to welcome this year's upcoming class!

Photo of Rabbi Adam Gillman Rabbi Adam Gillman
Rabbi Gillman serves as the Rabbi of MJCBY and works closely with our Religious School students, both in the classroom and one-on-one. Rabbi Gillman is passionate about creating community through prayer, dialogue, and text study across diverse spectrums of identity and belief. Rabbi Gillman received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York and received the MA degree from The William Davidson School. During his studies, he served multiple congregations, including the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre and Congregation Sons of Israel in Nyack, NY. Rabbi Gillman earned a Certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Center for Pastoral Education at JTS. Before beginning rabbinical school, Rabbi Gillman studied at The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He also served as a Conflict Resolution Fellow, where he worked with Israeli and Palestinian youth through Kids4Peace, an international peacebuilding organization. Rabbi Gillman is a graduate of Western Washington University and a native of Seattle. In his free time, he loves spending time outdoors, cooking and playing basketball. Rabbi Gillman and his wife Leah live in Morristown with their growing collection of cookbooks and spices.

Photo of Rishona Agam Tarakai coming soon Rishona Agam Tarakai
Thanks to a generous partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest, the Rishonim program brings young Israeli emissaries who share their spirit and love of Israel through engaging, fun, and educational activities. We are thrilled to have our Rishona Agam Tarakai with us this year, to offer a unique perspective of Israel which strengthens the bond and love for the country and culture. In a post October 7 world, the Rishonim program is an especially vital element of the living bridges between our community and Israel.

Rishona Agam visits Religious School weekly to bring Israel education enrichment to our grade 3 - 7 students. Agam chose to do this year of service because she is passionate about teaching about Israel in all its beauty and complexities and to share her truth with others. She hopes to reach hearts and connect others to the Israel she loves.

Agam Tarakai is the second of four sisters, and grew up in the city of Ofakim. She loves singing, writing music, cooking for friends and family and enjoying their company with a good meal.

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