We are thrilled to launch Reshef (Sparks), our strategic planning and visioning process for the religious school and youth education at Beth El.
For generations, the Religious School has been a cornerstone of our community. Families choose to educate their children with us because of the quality of our program, sense of community, and commitment to helping our children live joyful, meaningful Jewish lives.
At the same time, strong schools regularly step back and evaluate their educational direction to ensure that their programs continue to reflect the needs of the community they serve. We know that our families bring a wide range of hopes, expectations, and experiences to Jewish education. As we look ahead, we want to ensure that our religious school program includes your voice, amplifies our core strengths, and reflects the educational vision of our professional team. To guide this work, we are launching a process we are calling Reshef (Sparks).
Reshef (Sparks) is our intentional, collaborative journey to listen deeply, dream boldly, and chart exciting new pathways forward. From April through July 2026, we will gather insights through:
This visioning work will also include an in-person school observation and working sessions where our consultant, Carrie Bornstein, will help us dream big.
Rabbi Sitkin, Director of Education Alyssa Berman, and our Core Visioning Team of Lay Leaders (with consultant facilitation) will guide the process to make sure every interested family can participate meaningfully, whether through feedback or deeper conversations.
We are committed to keeping everyone informed along the way with clear updates on timelines, what each phase involves, and how your input shapes the outcomes.
We want to hear your thoughts on what makes our youth education special, what families are seeking today, or your ideas for the future! Opportunities to share via our survey will roll out shortly (watch for the link in upcoming communications).
In the meantime, we invite you to join the Reshef Newsletter for milestone updates, insights, and ways to get involved.