When a group
of parents formed The City Congregation's KidSchool, it was to give
their then-very-young children a cultural Jewish community. One in
which they could grow, and learn, and love their wonderful Jewish
heritage. A community where they could understand our holidays and
literature from the same secular humanistic perspective as their
parents.
A commitment to education has been one of the core
values of Jewish culture, practically from the start. From generation
to generation we have been passing down the wisdom and teachings of one
generation to the next. We are proud to be part of this chain of
tradition ourselves.
As Humanistic Jews, we use critical
thinking and scientific reasoning to assess inherited truths. We do not
automatically accept as authoritative the teachings of the past. While
we believe that it is important for our children to become familiar
with stories from the Hebrew bible and other ancient texts, we also
subject those stories to the same scrutiny that we would apply to any
body of knowledge.
At The City Congregation we believe that
learning should be substantive and also fun. When there are no
expectations, there is little progress. And when there is little
enjoyment, there can be little motivation.
At The City
Congregation we believe that learning is a life-long enterprise. We
send an important message to our children when they see that the adults
in the community attend their own classes, often held during KidSchool.
Finally,
at The City Congregation we also believe that education takes place not
just in formal class settings but in moments of conversation and social
encounters and when we come together as a community for celebrations
and observances. That's when we make lifelong connections - to people
and to joyful feelings of identification with our Jewish heritage.
Become part of our joyful community.
Classes are held twice each month on Sundays from 2:45 to 5:15pm at 15 W. 86th Street (SAJ) in Manhattan.
Membership in The City Congregation is necessary to enroll your child in KidSchool. Payment plans, reduced payment, and partial scholarships for tuition are available.