Journey

Journey: the Jewish Discovery Project at Congregation Shma Koleinu is, even 10+ years later, a new “take” on Hebrew School.

1. Our most important goal is to help Jewish children and their families (Jewish, not Jewish, or secular), connect with Jewish life, Jewish values, and Jewish tradition. We strive for FUN and MEANING! Our 4K – 7^th graders gather on Sunday mornings throughout the year for engaging and meaningful Jewish learning through story, song, art, play, and sometimes even a little bit of performance! 
2. Our teachers, called “Journey Guides,” are almost all volunteers. For 10+ years, their donation of time and talent would have cost CSK well over $700,000.  But what is the true cost of educating the next generation with pride and knowledge and rootedness within Jewish tradition? Priceless.
3. Journey is Congregation Shma Koleinu’s religious education program for children. All are welcome, membership and dues are not required.  While we welcome and encourage volunteer financial support of CSK, it is not required to enroll your children in Journey.  We say and we mean, “Join us, you already belong.”
4. Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss, a veteran Rabbi and educator, has 30+ years of experience as a Rabbi, a teacher, and a community organizer.  He is CSK’s chief rabbi, chief educator, and chief B’nai Mitzvah director, amidst quite a few other titles.  Rabbi Scott envisions and creates the curricula, trains Journey Guides, teaches, mentors, and counsels when necessary.
5. As of May, 2025, CSK has celebrated 80 B’nai Mitzvah in more than 30 different locations.  Rabbi Scott works very closely with every child and family as they prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration. (For more information about our B’nai Mitzvah program, please click HERE.)

Journey takes place on Sunday Mornings from 9:45 am – 12 pm at the ERJCC on the lower floor adjacent to the outdoor playground.  We welcome all Jewish children and those being raised in Jewish homes from 4 years old through 7^th grade. We also strongly encourage and welcome 8^th graders and older to volunteer as Madrichim, for which we provide volunteer hours (as many as 78 over the course of a year!) Our curriculum is built upon Torah stories, lessons, and meaning, Jewish values, and Hebrew. 

The 2025-26 Journey year will begin on Sunday, August 24.

A Basic Journey Morning Looks Something Like This:

9:45 am          Arrive for a small nosh

10:00 am        Kehillah for our Yeladim (4K – 1^st), Giborim (2^nd – 3^rd), and Mechinah (4^th – 5^th). (Kehillah = songs, prayers, and stories that teach and assimilate our children into Jewish spirituality and observance).

10:00 am        B’nai Mitzvah (6^th – 7^th) work with our instructor in developing Hebrew prayer fluency in preparation for their upcoming B'nai Mitzvah celebrations.

10:30 am        For Yeladim, Giborim, and Mechinah: Round robin of “Tarbut” (Jewish Culture), “Ivrit” (Hebrew language), and a little bit of “Hafsakah” (recess on the playground).

11:00 am        For B’nai Mitzvah, a short break and then Tarbut (Jewish Culture).

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Rabbi Scott. 

Journey 2025-26 Registration is now open!

• Journey Pre-K – 1^st grades - $450
• Journey 2^nd –  3^rd grades - $450
• Journey 4^th – 5^th grades - $750
• Journey 6^th – 7^th grades - $750 
• Journey 7th grade B’nai Mitzvah Support Fee - $650 (7th grade students who will be having their Bar/Bat Mitzvah during the 2025 -2026 school year)                                                 

 As a reminder, full payment isn’t required to sign up.