Dear Fellow Educators (Parents are, after all, their children's first and most important teachers),
As a proud graduate of a Conservative Congregation's afternoon religious school, I know the outstanding educational experience such an institution can provide. Little Neck Jewish Center's religious school is a critical and cherished aspect of our Congregation's shared religious life. I look forward to playing an active personal role in the educational experience of our students, as well as the educational growth of our program. Principal Marc Ackerman and I will work closely to guide our faculty in providing a challenging curriculum and a nurturing, welcoming school atmosphere.
Religious School is but one area of our children's Jewish education. The Congregation will enhance its Religious School's efforts by providing Family Education opportunities, through which parents and their children can explore Jewish life together. I urge you to be full participants in these special events.
I invite you - as always - to participate in our Congregation's religious services on a regular basis. The Religious School can effectively teach synagogue "skills". As PARENTS, however, we can much more effectively demonstrate the value of Jewish worship through our personal examples. As our students acquire new prayer skills, they will be given opportunities to demonstrate their achievements by leading the community in prayer during Congregational services. Please encourage your children in this spiritual enterprise.
No area of our children's education is more important than their JEWISH education. While parents do well to verbalize this principle, they demonstrate its import by themselves pursuing Jewish educational opportunities. A variety of such Adult Education courses, programs, and workshops are offered through Little Neck Jewish Center providing for the Jewish study needs of the advanced student as well as the relative novice.
Finally, we help our children discover a home in their Congregation by treating our homes like Temples the sacred precincts they are intended by our tradition to become - centers of Jewish observance and celebration.
By working together toward our shared, sacred goals, we can do much more than send our children to Religious School. We can provide them with a Jewish education. The Faculty, Principal, Rabbi, and Congregation of Little Neck Jewish Center are honored to join you in this endeavor. We are all in this together!
Most Sincerely,
Rabbi
Joseph H. Prouser