c. 2007 Religion News Service

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio _ The half-dozen young parents sitting in a local coffee shop grew animated as they recounted their experiences as children in Jewish education.

Most of their own parents had little interest in going to synagogue but considered it their duty to send their children for religious education. So they were dropped off at Hebrew school, which they attended until their bar or bat mitzvah around age 12 or 13.

And then it was like “you’re done,” and for 20 years or more they paid minimal attention to their religion, the parents said.

When their own kids began to reach school age, a couple of things happened: The parents realized they wanted to share their Judaism with their children, and they discovered Jewish Family Connection, an independent program founded by an Orthodox rabbi and his wife where kids and their parents learn about their faith together.

No one drops anyone off for Sunday-morning classes held at a local girls’ school. Once inside, the children split off into classes for their age groups, while the parents stay for adult workshops. The families also go on retreats together.

Best of all, at the end of the day, the parents can talk to their children about what they all learned.

“If we’re going to do it, I want it to be meaningful,” Ellen Bergman said of her family’s decision to learn about Judaism together. “I just want the whole experience to be meaningful for my children.”

As Jews observe the High Holy Days, a 10-day period of penitence and reflection that began Wednesday (Sept. 12) with Rosh Hashana, more congregations are reaching out to a young-adult generation seeking spiritual meaning outside large, traditional services.

Some synagogues attract both parents and their children with programs such as family-friendly contemporary services and small groups known as havurot that can be made up of young parents with shared interests and experiences.

B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike offers family services Saturday morning in addition to the main Shabbat service. A half-dozen times during the school year, it has study days, when parents spend Saturday morning in adult Jewish study while their children are in their regular program.

“There is no replacement for the example parents set with their personal involvement in synagogue, in religious life,” Rabbi Stephen Weiss said. “That makes all the difference in the world.”

Rabbi Sruly Koval and his wife, Ruchi, began the Jewish Family Connection two years ago as a way to attract entire families for Jewish study. Parents with any type of Jewish background or affiliation attend classes, workshops and discussions led by the Kovals while other teachers instruct their children. About 25 families participate in the program.

A half-dozen parents interviewed about the program said they appreciate the way the Kovals make Judaism interesting and relevant to their lives and encourage discussion on topics such as whether there is an afterlife.

From a starting point where some would view a holy day such as Rosh Hashana as little more than a day off from work, these parents said they now not only observe the holidays, but also introduce Jewish rituals into their family life.

Chanan Bergman said he appreciates being able to talk to his children about what they learned in their Jewish studies. And with the start of the Jewish New Year, he is looking forward to growing more in his faith.

“You don’t get to a pinnacle. … It’s a journey all the way,” he said. “I think this journey will last a lifetime.”

(David Briggs writes for the Plain-Dealer in Cleveland.)

KRE/LFEND BRIGGS

A photo of a family that participated in Jewish Family Connection is available via https://religionnews.com.