Andrew Goldberger and Doug Smoller

Although it seems like a distant memory, our most recent school year ended just a few weeks ago. Perhaps the most notable aspect of this year was the return to normalcy – with our staff and students able to meet in-person and without many of the Covid 19-related restrictions we’ve had to deal with since 2020. As always, our thanks go to Cantor and his staff for providing an educational and engaging experience for everyone. Speaking of staff, advertising will begin shortly to fill the open positions we have for teachers as well as teacher-assistants. As was the case this past year, we anticipate hiring 2 teacher-assistants for our younger grades, although this may change based on the number of students with special needs. As for the number of students in the Religious School, our budget for 2023-24 was based upon the following projections:

  • Shorashim (Pre-K): 5
  • Anafim (Kindergarten): 4
  • Aleph (1st-2nd Grades): 7
  • Gimel (3rd-4th Grades): 3
  • Dalet (5th-6th Grades): 2
  • Hei (7th-8th Grades): 8
  • CBT Chai / BT (9th-12th):   16

As you can see, our projected enrollment is top and bottom heavy, with the same number of students (16) in Pre-K through 2nd-grade as there are in 9th through 12th grade. Although the situation has presented unique challenges, thankfully, we are growing in the most important area – the lower grades. These younger students and their families represent the future of the religious school – and without them, the future of the school (and the synagogue) is bleak. With this in mind, plans are in place to build-upon the success we’ve enjoyed in recent years, much of which is due to Melissa Kessler and Federation’s PJ Library program. In fact, CBT boasts perhaps the most active — and impactful — of Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey’s multiple PJ Library hubs.

At the opposite end of the age-spectrum from PJ Library is our CBT Chai / Better Together program, which brings together High School students and older adults for events and activities spearheaded by Stacey Rockman. Although this past year marked the official end of the Better Together grant secured by the Rockman’s, the program itself will continue – with the hope / expectation that even more young and older adults will participate. In similar fashion, our Youth Advisor, Sydney Sookerman, is already working on ways to attract and engage tweens and teens throughout the community via USY. For those who are not aware, in December USCJ introduced a new structure for USY, one that eliminated Kadima and instead organizes participants into 3 groups:

  • USY Chaverim (3rd-5th Grade)
  • USY Gesher (6th-8th Grade)
  • USY (9th-12th Grade)

Putting-aside the new structure, Sydney’s task moving forward is a tall one, especially given the relatively small number of 3rd-8th graders in the religious school. Demonstrating once again that she is up to the challenge, in March Sydney secured a USY Chapter Innovation and Engagement Grant in the amount of $2,500 from USY/USCJ! The grant will fund an upcoming speaker event (date / details TBA) that will be open to members of our chapter and others. In the coming year Sydney will also continue working with other area advisors (as well as her regional USY contacts) to plan and conduct joint events at various synagogues and off-site locations.

Of course, there’s more to come as the year progresses – about USY as well as the Religious School, Better Together, PJ Library, and more. In the meantime, seeing as this is our last report as co-VP’s of School and Youth, we would like to thank everyone who contributed their time, energy and expertise to the success of our various programs, including (but certainly not limited to): Cantor Rockman; Lesley Lewkowicz; Rabbi Wolkoff; our incredible Religious School staff; Melissa Kessler and her invaluable crew of PJ Library volunteers; our Religious School Parent Committee Co-Presidents Cheryl Crick and Sharon Cohen; our Youth Advisor Sydney Sookerman; our Better Together leader Stacey Rockman; and our esteemed (and ever-energetic) Junior Congregation leader, Barry Safeer. Lastly, we would like to wish the incoming co-VP’s of School and Youth, Scott and Melissa Kessler, the very best of luck moving forward; we are excited to see what you accomplish.