OUR TENT 2023-24
SECOND TRIMESTER SCHEDULE
DATES: November 5, 12, 19 & December 3, 10, 17
Our Tent Morning Schedule:
9:00-9:20 - Cafe
9:25-10:20 - Learning Session I
10:25-11:00 - T'filah (Services)
11:05-12:00 - Learning Session II
SESSION 1 - 20th Century Jewish History - Part VII (Adults)
Class Description:
20th Century Jewish History – Part VII: This class will deal with Jewish history, predominantly in a chronological fashion, starting in the late 1930s. However, there will be side trips into such general issues as assimilation, antisemitism, and immigration, and whatever else strikes my fancy (or yours).
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN THE PREVIOUS SECTIONS TO SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS.
Instructor: Dave Aron
David Aron, a physician and researcher, is Professor of Medicine at CWRU School of Medicine. In addition to the medical school, he teaches at the Weatherhead School of Management. Dave is an active member of the temple and can be found every Shabbat morning at Torah Study.
SESSION 1 - Coffee Talk: Interviewing Cleveland Thought Leaders about their Connection to Religion and Spirituality (10th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Coffee Talk: Interviewing Cleveland Thought Leaders about their Connection to Religion and Spirituality: Join us for these fun and interesting interviews with fun and interesting Clevelanders. We'll talk to Cleveland's best actors, comedians, authors, and even former State Senator, Kenny Yuko. We'll discuss work, life, religion, and spirituality. This interactive class will help us not only hear about these topics from others but also explore them within ourselves.
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: Deena Nyer Mendlowitz
Deena Nyer Mendlowitz is a teacher and improviser. She and her son, Rafi, are active members of STKA and actively involved in Our Tent. If you need a good laugh, a good pun, or a good way to connect pop culture, especially from the 80s, to Judaism, Deena is your person!
SESSION 1 - And You Shall be a Blessing - Part II (Kindergarten - 4th Grade)
Class Description:
And You Shall Be a Blessing - Part II: The Rabbis teach that we are to recite 100 blessings every day. It is our grateful response to all the things that we find awesome. In this class we will learn about all kinds of Jewish blessings, including those for the holidays, those we recite throughout our lives, those for special and unique occasions, and we will even write some of our own!
This class is offered in-person only. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN THE PREVIOUS SECTION TO SIGN UP FOR THIS CLASS.
Instructor: Linda Wolfe
Linda Wolfe has dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching at STKA. She teaches Hebrew in our learning program and to many of our B’nai Mitzvah students. She also loves teaching our youngest learners about Torah and values! It is her true passion and joy!
SESSION 1 - Jewish Geography - Food Edition (Kindergarten-Adults)
Jewish Geography – Food Edition: In this class we will discover Jewish culture throughout the world through the foods we eat. We will make a different recipe each session while learning about our Jewish family around the globe. Temple is sure to smell great and the food will be delicious! Come join the adventure, no passport necessary.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Rabbi Shana Nyer
Rabbi Shana Nyer was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003 and received her Master of Arts in Religious Education from there in 2016. She loves teaching students of all ages and is passionate about advocating for the inclusion of all learners. Rabbi Shana is a gifted storyteller who loves to teach Jewish values through this medium, and also gets excited when her lessons combine her knowledge of and passion for Judaism and her interest in all things pop culture.
SESSION 1 - Torah Tots (0-PreK Learners)
Class Description:
Torah Tots: This program is for our youngest learners. It will be available all morning and will include childcare and age-appropriate fun Jewish learning.
Please sign up for each session your child will be in Torah Tots. This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Liam Jacobs
Liam has seven years of professional experience working with young children as a teacher, babysitter, and nanny. He recently graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In his free time, Liam enjoys staying physically active at the gym and in nature. He is looking forward to another year of connection and growth in Torah Tots with STKA!
SESSION 2 - Mindfulness Movement (Adults)
Class Description:
Mindfulness Movement: This class will use Yoga with breathwork, meditation, and the Jewish spiritual practice of Mussar as gateway to mindfulness to transform body and soul.
This class is offered in-person only. THIS CLASS WILL OFFER DIFFERENT LESSONS FROM PREVIOUS TRIMESTERS, SO YOU CAN SIGN UP WHETHER YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED OR NOT.
Instructor: Tessa Gable
Tessa Gable has been a member of STKA since 2019. She is a registered yoga teacher completing a 200-hour Hatha yoga training in May. She loves cycling, painting, learning about anything spiritual, and spending time with family.
SESSION 2 - Modern Topics from Ancient Ethics (11th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Modern Topics from Ancient Ethics: Ever feel like you don't know what to think about a difficult modern question? We can find guidance by applying the ethics of our ancestors. We'll especially concentrate on questions that you bring to the class for discussion. (Please do send in questions before the first class!)
This class is offered in-person and on Zoom. Please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: Rabbi Ben Sternman
Rabbi Ben recently retired from being the rabbi of Adat Chaverim in Plano, TX and moved back to Cleveland, his adopted hometown. He is grateful to continue to teach, a passion of his.
SESSION 2 - The Art of Being a Woman (Adults)
Class Description:
The Art of being a Woman: We will examine several women in the bible, such as Judith, Eve, Esther and Deborah and how they are depicted through both text and art. Through discussion, close reading of the text, and image study we'll consider how they are depicted and how that affects our understanding of their stories.
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: Rabbi Allison Vann & Muriel Lederman
Rabbi Vann is beginning her twenty-fifth year in the rabbinate and her thirteenth year as STKA’s spiritual leader. She has always taken an active role in our learning program and loves to teach a wide range of subjects to learners of all ages.
Muriel Lederman is retired from Biology and Women’s Studies at Virginia Tech. She is newish to Cleveland and enjoys the Art Museum, the Symphony and teaching in Health Humanities at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
SESSION 2 - Light it Up Again! (Kindergarten - 4th Grade)
Class Description:
Light it Up Again!: Since we will experience the awe-inspiring of an eclipse in Ohio in 2024, it seems a perfect time to think about the miracle of “light” through a Jewish lens, and what it means to be the “light” in dark places. With the challenges of modern times, Judaism reminds us that “There always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and full of tears. We can curse the darkness or we can light a light, and as the Chassidim say, a little light drives out much darkness. May we all help light up the world”- Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Through science, literature, art, music, and drama our students will explore the unique ways they are each poised to impact the world for good.
This class is offered in-person only. THIS CLASS WILL OFFER DIFFERENT LESSONS FROM PREVIOUS TRIMESTERS, SO YOU CAN SIGN UP WHETHER YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED OR NOT.
Instructor: Kathy Klein
Kathy Klein has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Masters in Jewish Education. She taught for over 25 years at the Mayfield JCC, Park, & Mandel JCC Early Childhood Centers and was Director of Early Childhood Education at the Shaw Jewish Community Center in Akron. She has been active in Interfaith activities and received two community service awards from then Bishop Pilla. Her research in how young children construct identity was featured at Ingenuityfest. Now retired, she enjoys painting, textile art, and long walks with her husband, Peter, and their four German shepherds.
SESSION 2 - Pop Goes Judaism (5th-12th Grade)
Class Description:
Pop Goes Judaism: Music has always been a great tool to express feelings and beliefs. In this class we will explore the Jewish values that we find in music today. From Harry Styles to Noah Kahan to Taylor Swift, lets find just what these musicians can tell us through their music!
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructors: Annika Balish and Emily Langel
Annika Balish is ST-KA's Music Director and a recent addition to our staff. She graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in voice in 2022. She has spent the past two summers at Camp Wise as the performing arts supervisor. She found her love of music at her own synagogue growing up, and cannot wait to help instill that love in many others!
Emily Langel is a 9th grader at Orange High School. She loves music and going to concerts and will pass on her knowledge and love of music in this class.
SESSION 2 - How Beautiful is Art! (Kindergarten-Adults)
How Beautiful is Art! In this class we will be bringing out everyone’s inner artist. Our projects will be reflective of the things we are grateful for in life, and the process of art will help us to think deeply about the things we care about. And there will be fun projects to take home and gift to the people who make our life so special.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Irene Young
Irene Young is a recent graduate of THE Ohio State University where she studied education. Now she teaches brain and memory exercises at a memory care specific assisted living residence. She also grew up going to Camp Wise and has been the art supervisor for the past 2 summers.
SESSION 2 - Torah Tots (0-PreK Learners)
Class Description:
Torah Tots: This program is for our youngest learners. It will be available all morning and will include childcare and age-appropriate fun Jewish learning.
Please sign up for each session your child will be in Torah Tots. This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Liam Jacobs
Liam has seven years of professional experience working with young children as a teacher, babysitter, and nanny. He recently graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In his free time, Liam enjoys staying physically active at the gym and in nature. He is looking forward to another year of connection and growth in Torah Tots with STKA!
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