OUR TENT 2023-24
THIRD TRIMESTER SCHEDULE
DATES: January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 25, March 3 &10
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 - 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 1 - Living Life in Radical Amazement: The Life and Teaching of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Living Life in Radical Amazement: The Life and Teaching of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: Rabbi Heschel (1907-1972) has been hailed as a hero, honored as a visionary, and endlessly quoted as a writer. He was one of the most remarkable and inspiring figures of the American 20th century; a prolific scholar, impassioned theologian, and prominent activist. Through text study, discussion, film and more, we’ll delve into what makes Rabbi Heschel so important and relevant for today.
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
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.
SESSION 1 - 7 for 75 (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
7 for 75: As we celebrate 75 years as a congregation, join us for these fun and interesting interviews with fun and interesting members of STKA. We'll talk to a trailblazer in the marketing world, a career baseball executive, a bankruptcy court Chief Justice, a glass artist and others. 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 III (Kindergarten-4th Grade)
Class Description:
And You Shall Be a Blessing - Part III: 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 SECTIONS 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 - Truth, Justice and the Jewish Way (5th-9th Grade)
Class Description:
Truth, Justice and the Jewish Way: Whether Marvel or DC, our comic book heroes often save the world using the same values we are taught in Judaism. In this class we will learn from the likes of Superman, Captain America and Wonder Woman what makes a great superhero and how to be one on our world today.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Noah (Nappel) Appel
Noah Appel, or Nappel as he is known, will be finishing his bachelor’s degree in social work at Cleveland State University, after beginning at Kent State University. He has spent 12 summers at Camp Wise, including this past summer as the Sports Supervisor and Supervisor of the Cornerstone Fellows. He will bring his knowledge of Jewish values, his leadership experience, and his love for life to this class!
SESSION 1 - Lots of Purim Fun (Kindergarten-Adults)
Lots of Purim Fun: In this class we will learn all about Purim, and then we will have fun designing and making some new games for the Purim Carnival.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Charlie Vann
Charlie Vann hails from Houston, TX. He works at Onaway Elementary school, loves to cook, is incredibly creative and super handy!
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 - They Blinded Me with Science (7th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
They Blinded Me with Science: How many Jewish scientists can you name? Did you know Jews were involved in the discoveries of fission, DNA, and computer coding? Join me (a real rocket scientist) and learn about seven great Jewish minds whose works had a profound impact on our world.
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: David Nathenson
David Nathenson’s childhood love of outer space led him to a career as a rocket scientist. He is the father of three boys and a dog. In his spare time, he enjoys creating board games to play with his wife and sons.
SESSION 2 - Once More with Feeling (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Once More with Feeling: A meditation at the beginning of our prayerbook says in part: "Through prayer, I can sense my inner strength, my inner purpose, my inner joy, my capacity to love. As I reach upward in prayer, I sense these qualities in my Creator." This class will explore how to put our strength, purpose, joy, and love into the words we say, bringing them alive and connecting us to the Divine; how to infuse our intentions (the Kavanah) into the fixed prayer (the Keva).
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 - Are You There God, It's Me Barbie, You are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Are You There God, It’s Me Barbie, You are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah: Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, Barbie, and You are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah are all movies that are overtly Jewish or with Jewish influences that have been released this past year and have been very well-received. In this heightened time of antisemitism, we will look at the Jewish values in these movies, what they say about Judaism and Jewish culture, and what their popularity might mean. You do not need to have seen these movies to take the class, we will be watching relevant clips in class.
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 2 - Light it Up One More Time! (Kindergarten - 4th Grade)
Class Description:
Light it Up One More Time!: 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 - Awe Inspiring Art (5th-12th Grade)
Class Description:
Awe Inspiring Art: Each week we will learn about a different Jewish artist and then we will create a piece of art inspired by that artist. We will use lots of different materials so get ready to get creative and have fun!
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructors: 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 - Purim Parodies (Kindergarten-Adults)
Purim Parodies: Purim is a holiday where you can truly let your creativity bloom, and in this class, you can explore many creative outlets all in one! We will be writing our very own Purim play to perform at our annual Purim carnival. Each scene will explore a different genre of music or media, so there's something for everyone to enjoy!
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Anikka Balish
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!
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!
Update this content.