Students at Temple Emanuel are a vital and valued part of our synagogue and the larger Jewish community. We strive to create a kehillah (community) of young people who feel confident as Jews in the world at large, and who contribute to the vitality of the Jewish people. Guided by the principles of the Reform movement, we seek to model and inspire a commitment to Jewish living and to the discovery of the joy, meaning, and relevance of Judaism in our everyday lives. Through creative, stimulating, and interactive curricula, we seek to impart the necessary skills to observe mitzvot (commandments), engage in meaningful tefillah (prayer), and participate in Jewish life through knowledge of rituals, traditions, and values.
MISSION STATEMENT: The goal of Jewish education in the Religious School at Temple Emanuel is to deepen the Jewish experience and knowledge of our students in order to strengthen their faith in God, love of Torah, and identification with the Jewish people. The Religious School at Temple Emanuel strives to inspire and educate students to lead lives as committed Jews and ethical human beings by incorporating the lessons of Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Hasadim (study, prayer/ritual and acts of loving kindness).
 
Students and teachers make hamentaschen Students making centerpieces
for Purim in Temple Emanuel's kitchen. for Tu B'Shevat.
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The religious school starts off the month of February, as we often do, with a class service. This time it is Kitah Hey (grade 5) that is working feverishly to prepare, as are the teachers, Mrs. Baruch, Nick Burka, Mrs. Gordon-Shulik, and Mrs. Zakin. All of these teachers take such pride in their work, and in their students, that I know they would love to have you join us for the service on Friday, February 3rd.
Holiday Happenings will celebrate Tu B’Shevat on Sunday, February 5th. Mrs. Jablonki and Nick do such a great job of making the holidays in our Jewish calendar come alive for our youngest students and their families. You are always welcome to take a peek - they meet in the Multi-Purpose Room across from the school office. Mrs. Finegold will be taking her class to the Cor Unum Food Pantry that day, and Mrs. Gerber will be meeting with her Confirmation I class.
The following Sunday, February 12th, Kitah Hey will make their family ed Judaica project, tzedakah boxes, for the collection of money for charity. Later that afternoon, the post-confirmation class will meet with Cantor Idan.
It’s a short month, truncated by school vacation, but as always, action-packed!
L’hitraot…………………………………...…Emily
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You are encouraged to read our Family Handbook for information on our curriculum, philosophy, policies and procedures, and guidelines for contacting teachers and Religious School Committee members. Click here to view or download our 2011-2012 Religious School Family Handbook.
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Our Religious School Calendar outlines the school schedule, including dates for family education programs, grade-level services, and class trips. Click here to view or download our 2011-2012 Religious School Calendar.
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Our youngest students are taught at an early age that they are part of a rich heritage and community. Our Holiday Happenings program for 3 and 4 year olds offers age-appropriate activities that introduce preschoolers to the basics of Judaism through hands-on activities including stories, crafts, and songs. Current members and those seeking a connection to a Jewish community are invited to share and explore these Jewish experiences together. Click here to view or download our Holiday Happenings Brochure.
Holiday Happenings participants actively
engaged in our "Matzoh Factory" program.
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 Emily Andreano (Religious School Director) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was educated at the Hebrew College Prozdor (high school), Vassar College, the Sorbonne, and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
Mrs. Andreano began her career in Jewish education as a high school senior, when she taught 7th and 8th grade at Temple Beth Shalom in West Peabody, Massachusetts. Her career in this field resumed approximately 15 years later, when she revealed her secret past to a Hebrew school principal desperate for a substitute teacher, and since then she has had the opportunity to teach grades pre-K through 9 at numerous synagogue schools.
The recipient of several teaching and writing awards, Mrs. Andreano’s goal as an educator is to help cultivate a future generation of Jewish people who are both knowledgeable and passionate enough to ensure the robust continuation of the Reform Jewish tradition. She comes to Temple Emanuel from positions at Adath Shalom, Morris Plains, NJ, and Temple Sholom of West Essex, Cedar Grove, NJ. Mrs. Andreano lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
Judy Matulsky (Religious School Administrative Director) was born in Methuen and grew up in Andover, Massachusetts where she attended Andover High School and was a member of Temple Emanuel. After graduation from High School, Judy attended Mount Ida College graduating with a degree in Business. Just prior to coming “home” to Temple Emanuel Judy worked at the Andover Historical Society as the office manager/bookkeeper.
Judy has lived in Andover with her husband Larry and their children, Eric and Joshua since 1990. She has been very active at Temple Emanuel, including serving as Religious School Committee Co-Chairperson, the Youth Commissioner and as part of the Leadership Training Committee. Judy has been working full-time at the Temple since June, 2005.
 Nick Burka (Youth Advisor / Educator) hails from Gaithersburg, Maryland, a town forty-five minutes from the nation’s capital of Washington D.C., and grew up attending services and participating in the youth programs at Temple Beth Ami in neighboring Rockville. He was an active member of BATY, his synagogue’s youth group, holding leadership roles on the youth group board as well as serving as a Madrich during religious school classes on Sunday mornings. Nick has also been song leading since high school, founding Beth Ami’s first monthly Teen Shabbat service, as well as working as a regional song leader for NFTY-MAR (Mid-Atlantic Region), spending three summers at the URJ Crane Lake Camp in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and two summers leading NFTY in Israel trips.
Nick studied Spanish Language and Literature at the University of Maryland in College Park, during which time he spent six months living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After graduation in May of 2008, he spent ten months living in Ciudad Real, Spain, teaching English at two primary schools, and exploring Europe.
Nick currently lives in Brighton, Massachusetts and is ecstatic to be living and working in such a welcoming and diverse community.
 Whitney L. Jablonki (Family Educator) was born and raised in East Williston, NY. After graduating from Kents Hill School (High School) in Maine, she moved to Boston to attend Wheelock College, graduating in 1991 with a teaching degree in Regular and Special Education. Whitney taught in the Boston Public School system and then in New Hampshire as a Special Education teacher. In 1995, Whitney entered the Lowell Public School system where she has been teaching Fifth Grade ever since. While teaching, raising her daughter (Hannah), having a newborn (Seth) and enjoying her marriage (to Ariel), Whitney was able complete her Masters in Education.
Moving to Andover in 2004, Whitney and her family found Temple Emanuel a place to call their “second home”. Soon after joining the temple, Whitney became involved in the religious school and began teaching Second Grade. Over time, the entire family got more involved with Temple activities, both social and religious. Her husband, Ariel, became a member of the Board of Governors in 2007 and Hannah is a member of the Junior Choir and TEMTY K’Tanim.
Janice Strong (Secretary for the Religious School and the Nursery School) grew up in Somerville, attending schools in North Cambridge and Boston. She moved to Andover with her husband, Rick, over 30 years ago. Prior to working at Temple Emanuel, Janice worked at The Gillette Company in Boston for many years, then became a stay-at-home mom for the next ten years, raising her two children, Stephen and Samantha. She started working at Temple Emanuel 15 years ago as the secretary to the Religious School. Shortly thereafter, 13 years ago, she also became the secretary to the Nursery School.
Our programs are structured to make each child's learning experience vital, inspirational and meaningful – to strengthen, continue, and foster Judaism and its practices for future generations. The Goals for the Religious School are to provide programs that are enable children to:
· Have a positive attitude about their total involvement in Religious School.
· Enjoy learning about Judaism & Hebrew, while gaining a stronger sense of Jewish identity.
· Embrace Torah learning and apply its teaching to their lives.
· Understand and promote the needs for justice, freedom, and peace to create a society of righteousness, justice, and acts of
loving-kindness.
· Celebrate with joy ceremonies, holidays and festivals throughout the Jewish year.
· Respect and cherish themselves and others for who and what they are.
· Nurture a genuine kinship with Jews everywhere. Affirm an historical bond to Israel, our homeland.
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Our Sunday morning worship service, which is open to the entire congregation, is an integral part of our religious school's curriculum where students have the opportunity to learn, practice teffilot (prayers) and become more confortable on the Bimah through participation in the service.
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