New Jersey Jewish News Story
Beth Ahm rabbi sees class for adults as celebration of a life-long journey
Shavuot is just a couple of months away, and as it approaches, 17 adult members of Temple Beth Ahm in Aberdeen are getting a little closer to achieving their dream. The holiday will mark the half-way point in a two-year study program that began in 2005 and will culminate in their becoming b’nei mitzva at the 2007 Shavuot service.
According to Rabbi Michael Pont, the temple’s religious leader and class instructor, the course celebrates an educational journey and the process of learning.
“I wanted to establish a class in which adults could make a serious commitment to Jewish living and where they could do so by engaging with their rabbi and their peers,” said Pont, an Aberdeen resident who came to Beth Ahm in July 2004. “We are exploring what it means to be Jewish and engaging on an intense level that is ongoing.”
Several of the class members had previously participated in other adult b’nei mitzva classes, but joined the Temple Beth Ahm program because they were looking for a deeper experience, he added.
“As we get older, we change and regard the experience through more mature eyes and with a more mature attitude,” Pont said. “That is one of the reasons these men and women are taking part in this program for the first time, and also why several of them who were already adult bar and bat mitzvas elected to go through the process again.
“Gaining a new perspective that comes with maturity is why we read the Torah over and over again,” he continued. “You see it differently each time.”
Pont seeks to ensure that the students know they are on a path of Jewish learning and likens the experience to the story of Jacob’s ladder.
“It stretches from earth to heaven, and people often say you will never reach the top, so why bother climbing,” he said. “But the Jewish way of life is to reach the next rung and keep on climbing.”
The program curriculum presents a Conservative Jewish perspective and is based on a course of study designed by the Melton Research Center for Jewish Education of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Additional material is provided by the National Jewish Outreach Program.
Each session lasts two hours and begins at the Sunday morning minyan service; a class discussion follows. The program consists of 12 classes that meet twice a month from November to June.
Class members learn Hebrew and the skills that are necessary to lead parts of a prayer service; they also analyze and discuss Torah passages and study Jewish traditions, philosophy, and sociology, Pont said.
The curriculum also offers the students a chance to obtain insights into Jewish prayer, history, and the impact of Judaism on daily life. Subjects include keeping a kosher home, the beauty and meaning of reciting daily blessings, giving tzedaka, and community-building.
“It brings to life what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century,” said Pont. “We are all trying to figure out what it means to be Jewish and live on this planet in this day and age. We’re all in this together.”
Each class is an individual unit of study; however, topical discussions are sometimes extended. For example, several weeks were devoted to aspects of prayer.
“We talked about why we recite the prayers and why they are important,” he said. “We discussed what the rabbis were thinking when they decided on our core prayers, such as the Sh’ma.”
The importance of the subject matter is always paramount and is presented in a serious forum for discussion, Pont said. However, the class atmosphere is informal; members sit in a circle and are often asked to suggest topics that are of particular interest to them. Discussions are always spirited — and often humorous, Pont said.
“Each student has a different perspective, and they are encouraged to put a voice to that,” he said. “This class is much more than just the dissemination of information; we discuss, debate, and address questions. It’s intense.”
Each student was asked to bring a Jewish object to the first several classes; students brought seder plates, Kiddush cups, candlesticks, ketubot, and childhood photos, all of which represented their religious journeys. A discussion followed that focused on how the course would be a continuation of their journey through Judaism, Pont explained.
The class will also participate in a group mitzva project in conjunction with the temple’s social action committee; the specific project is currently under discussion by the students.
Pont said he regards leading the program as part of his responsibilities as a rabbi.
“I would be remiss as a Jewish leader if I didn’t encourage the study of Jewish history, law, and prayer,” said Pont. “Study is a mitzva, just as much as observing a Jewish holiday or keeping a kosher home. The program is a chance to show how beautiful Jewish life is; as a Jewish leader, I must take advantage of this opportunity. That’s my mission.”
Comment | |
All rights reserved