education

Our Sam Bloom Religious School offers intimacy, breadth, and depth in Jewish education for boys and girls, ages 5 to 15. With an updated curriculum (as of 2004-05), the backing of an involved Education Committee, dedicated and creative teachers, and our family-like student body, we will meet our children's academic, social and spiritual needs. We will concentrate on tefillah (prayers), Torah, holidays, Israel, history, customs and ceremonies.

Each session will include prayer services, and children will develop the skills to pray comfortably and in a meaningful way, with an ability to lead any part of every service. All of us-parents, teachers, staff and students-form a community of learners devoted to continuing to develop and expand our base of knowledge about Judaism. At Ner Tamid, we help families fulfill the mitzvah of teaching our Jewish children by offering the Bloom School's challenging educational program within a caring environment.

Purim 2005

The Sam S. Bloom Religious School is a wonderful, warm community of teachers and learners dedicated to the saying from Proverbs: "Teach a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The curriculum of the Religious School fosters a commitment to Judaism in an effort to develop positive Jewish identity among our students. Studies focus on Jewish ideas and values, Hebrew prayer, Mitzvot, holidays, history, Bible and Israel. Family involvement is high, with parents volunteering in a parent led craft enrichment program and participating in any number of activities in the school. Family Services are held monthly and allow students to lead and participate in services with an emphasis on developing a comfort zone on the bimah. Our goals reflect the tenets of Conservative Judaism and our students are encouraged to discuss and question our practices for a better understanding. Torah is taught as a vital force in our lives, both in our past, present and future. Forging a bond with Israel is another goal which our curriculum approaches with great vigor. Hebrew as a living language as well as the language of our prayers is taught and emphasized throughout all of our classes. Teachers are able to spend time on Hebrew instruction on both days of classes. Art, music and special programs round out the curriculum and add to it in many different ways. Students spend time together during hafsakah(recess) and interact with one another across age and grade lines. The school is family grouped, with two grades being taught in one classroom. Hebrew is instructed based on individual needs and Judaic courses are on a two year rotation. Students from Kindergarten through Grade Seven form our student body. Together they represent the future of our synagogue and our community. Please come and see us any time. We welcome you to be a part of our wonderful family.

B'Shalom,

Sandy Raben, Hebrew School Principal

Sandra Raben has been involved in Jewish education for the past 30 years. A graduate of Gratz College in Philadelphia, the University of Pittsburgh(Bachelor Degree) and Brandeis University(Masters Degree), Sandy has devoted her professional career to Jewish education, serving as a Director of Education in Toronto, Ann Arbor, Seattle, Cleveland and San Diego. She has headed Jewish preschools, Jewish youth groups and summer camp programs, working in both formal and informal Jewish settings. Sandy and her family, husband Harvey and children Amit, Zev and Shimmy, moved to San Diego three years ago from Akron, Ohio.