Tribeca Hebrew
The bright, primary colors painted on the walls may intrigue you, but the true color of Tribeca Hebrew lies in its powerful mission:
Tribeca Hebrew offers a welcoming environment in which children and their families can explore and express their connections with Judaism. Tribeca Hebrew’s programming strives to be fun, engaging and inspiring for children and their families. Our hope is that the Tribeca Hebrew experience will help build a foundation for Jewish identity and lifelong spiritual discovery. The Tribeca Hebrew community continues to grow organically and is not affiliated with any particular synagogue or Jewish movement. We come from varied backgrounds and believe this diversity makes Tribeca Hebrew a dynamic place to explore Jewish life.
In three years, our after-school program has grown to over 130 kids in 14 classes from pre-K to B’nai Mitzvah. The curriculum focuses on developing a life-long interest in learning and a positive Jewish identity in a fun, engaging, and inspiring environment. Leveraging singing, dancing, artwork, story-telling, and drama, Tribeca Hebrew classrooms are vibrant with Jewish activity. But the education doesn’t end in the classroom: Jewish culture from Chelm puppets, dreidel, latkes, making challah and challah covers, songs and stories are integrated into the lives of the students’ families.
Our adult community is also thriving. We serve a decidedly unaffiliated community and many of our adults and their families practice more than one faith. We offer an opportunity for adults to connect with Jewish thought, custom and ritual in a welcoming environment with no judgment about ability or authenticity. From our Kabbalat Shabbat services to our holiday celebrations, Tribeca Hebrew models ways to participate in Jewish life.
Our High Holiday services are an indication of our adult community’s growing desire for spirituality. Our first High Holidays, held at Tribeca Grill, sold out at 175 adults and kids within weeks. Last year, 350 of us celebrated the Days of Awe at 7 World Trade Center for the highest High Holidays. The thirst for spirituality is our next great challenge and we are expanding our staff to be able to keep up with the needs of our adult community.
We continue to grow but strive to maintain a balance between growth and the intimacy that has flowered among us. Today, we are the primary Jewish affiliation for more than 100 families. Tomorrow, with your help we can further support our diverse and community.
The original vision for the school centered around creating a “Jewish play group,” which drew so much interest from Tribeca families that the idea to create an afternoon Hebrew school emerged instead. With 130 students enrolled in 2006-2007, Tribeca Hebrew has more than doubled its size in the
last few years.
Tribeca Hebrew’s curriculum aims to inspire and engage students, from Pre-K through 8th grade. Students attend classes once a week in an intimate classroom setting, exploring Jewish rituals, values, and culture in addition
to Hebrew instruction. At Tribeca Hebrew, the young and energetic teaching staff brings Jewish ideas to life. The buzz of classroom learning stems from out-of-the-box lessons, art projects, and soulful song sessions. Our students truly feel part of a community, and all lessons, holiday programs,
and extracurricular activities are planned with their interests in mind.
The founding members of Tribeca Hebrew quickly learned that to only educate children would not be enough. Since most Tribeca Hebrew families are not affiliated with a synagogue, the school sought to fulfill the spiritual needs of both parents and children alike. As a result, Tribeca Hebrew began
to offer sophisticated adult education classes, family education programs, community-wide holiday celebrations, B’nei Mitzvah preparation and ceremonies, and monthly Shabbat dinners. In this manner, the entire family was exposed to multiple ways to seek spiritual fulfillment.
At Tribeca Hebrew, where pluralism and diversity are embraced, our classes and programs are constantly evolving to best fit the needs of our families. Since Tribeca Hebrew is not affiliated with any particular Jewish movement
or synagogue, our families reflect a wide spectrum of Jewish values and beliefs. Tribeca Hebrew embraces this diversity and teaches pluralistic values, acceptance, and openness to all Jewish backgrounds.
A bright future awaits Tribeca Hebrew, as it continues to grow and inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Download information about our Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program here.
What does a Bar or Bat Mitzvah mean at Tribeca Hebrew?
—We believe a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a young adult’s entry into Jewish tradition and community. Each young adult is an individual and will bring to this process his or her own sense of identity, ideas about Jewish life and questions about the larger world.
—We believe in supporting each young person and his or her family in creating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah that celebrates this important transition into adulthood.
—We believe becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a joyful experience that should give its participants a feeling of accomplishment and preparedness.
What makes our Bar/Bat Mitzvah program special?
Tribeca Hebrew celebrates the diversity of traditions which members of our community share with each other. Our program does not follow a script. Each Bar or Bat Mitzvah will be a unique experience created by our young people and their families, with guidance from our teachers and a personal mentor. In Jewish tradition, there are no set requirements for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. So too, there are no set requirements for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Tribeca Hebrew; however, each participant is asked to address social responsibility, interaction with Torah and meaningful ritual as part of their experience.
How does our program work?
—Social Responsibility—Links students to the world. Pre-Bar & Bat Mitzvah classes explore Jewish values and the meaning of becoming a member of a Jewish community.
—Interaction with Torah—Provides a link to tradition. Deep study of the Torah starts a student on a lifelong exploration of the deep questions of who we are and how we relate to others as reflected in the story of the Jewish people. Beginning in Fall 2008, we will be offering a joint curriculum in conjunction with Storahtelling’s original “Raising the Bar” program. This unique program uses the ancient art of dramatic interpretation of Torah to reclaim and reshape the B’nai Mitzvah experience for the wider community.
—Meaningful Ritual—Creates a transformative event. Bar and Bat Mitzvah does not pass as just another birthday, but as an event which marks a change in the young adults’ role in the community. The B’nai Mitzvah becomes a contributor to the community through ritual.
—As a child approaches Bar Mitzvah age, usually in the fifth or sixth grade, each family will meet with our Education Director, Rabbi Nadia Gold, to develop a Bar Mitzvah plan that addresses these areas. For many, Tribeca Hebrew’s collaboration with Storahtelling will be the path to B’nai Mitzvah. For others a specially tailored program of training and study coordinated with Rabbi Nadia Gold will be the appropriate path.
We look forward to working with you and your family on the challenges and rewards of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Please contact Rabbi Nadia (nadia@tribecahebrew.org) for additional details.
Contribute to Tribeca Hebrew's continued growth!
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