Twenty-five students and their families celebrated a milestone in Canberra, the capital city of Australia: They concluded the first term of a new after-school Jewish educational program there.
As part of the final class, the children had a quiz in front of their parents on the materials they learned, recited prayers by heart, received certificates of achievement and prizes, and even enjoyed time on a moon bounce as a reward.
Canberra does not have a full-time Jewish day school, so Chabad ACT (Australian Capital Territory) recently established the after-school program for children ages 5 to 12, with a simultaneous group for 2- to 5-year-olds. The school operates out of the Chabad ACT center in Giralang, a suburb that is part of Canberra, about three hours southwest of Sydney.
“Our program allows children to encounter a positive, enjoyable and meaningful exposure to their Jewish faith,” explains head educator Chasia Feldman, co-director of Chabad ACT with her husband, Rabbi Shmuel Feldman. “It offers a first taste of the fundamental concepts of Judaism in a creative, joyful, interactive and interesting way. We aim to instill within the children a strong sense of tradition by using lots of love, songs, games and innovative teaching techniques to enhance the learning experience.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the class discussions with the children," she continues, “and am extremely proud of how much they advanced in their studies this term.”
Consistent with Chabad policy, the school welcomes every Jew, regardless of religious background or level of observance. It does not require membership as a pre-condition for enrollment, and children are not refused on financial grounds. The ACT Jewish after-school program has a committee of five local parents who share the volunteer work for some of the tasks necessary in running the program.
Arava Klein, one of the founding parents of the program could not be happier with its impact so far. “Coming from Israel, it was very important that there be an organized, pleasant environment where our children could come to regularly to learn about their heritage, mingle with other Jewish children and develop strong Jewish identities,” says Klein.
“We feel very lucky to now have access to such education in Canberra.”
Rabbi Feldman notes that “Jewish education, particularly when supported by parents, is a proven factor in ensuring Jewish involvement and continuity. By establishing an after-school Jewish learning program in Canberra, we are guaranteeing that there will be Jewish continuity in this region. And we hope the number of students taking part in the program will grow in 2014.”
In related news, he says the community is looking forward to the start of Canberra's first Jewish preschool and day-care center in February.
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