OUR TENT 2024-25
SECOND TRIMESTER SCHEDULE
DATES: November 3, 10, 17, 24, December 8 & 15
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 IX (Adults)
Class Description:
20th Century Jewish History – Part IX: This class will deal with Jewish history, predominantly in a chronological fashion, starting in the 1940s. 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 - Finding Life in Death (Adults)
Class Description:
Finding Life in Death: We’ll be discussing a variety of topics concerned with that “forbidden” word - death. A focus will be what Judaism has to teach us about this eternal issue in the current world. We will likely find that there is a great deal we can learn which will enrich our lives. Other topics may include grief, hospice and palliative care.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructors: Ellen Weber
Ellen Weber has worked in a number of areas during her nursing career, including intensive care, teaching, and oncology. She volunteered at a hospice for more than 7 years where she previously lived in Indiana and has been a volunteer with Hospice of the Western Reserve (HWR) since 2019. Ellen recently completed an intensive course in End of Life Doula training. Our current culture’s peculiar denial of our own mortality and avoidance of the topic has always interested her.
SESSION 1 - A Tapestry of Jewish Music (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
A Tapestry of Jewish Music: In this class, we will look at how Judaism influenced secular Jewish musicians, focusing on artists like Carole King, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan. We’ll discover how their Jewish backgrounds shaped their music and explore themes, such as searching for meaning and cultural identity.
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: Annika Balish
Annika Balish is STKA's Music Director. She graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in voice in 2022, and spent the summers of 2022 and 2023 at Camp Wise as the performing arts supervisor. She found her love of music at her own synagogue growing up, and loves to help instill that love in many others!
SESSION 1 - V'ahavta: Teach it to Your Children (Kindergarten-4th Grade)
Class Description:
V’Ahavta: Teach it to Your Children: Our learning theme for the year is Sh’ma: Listening and Paying Attention. After we recite Sh’ma, we chant V’ahavta. Throughout this year we will look at different verses from V’ahavta and how they teach us to live Jewishly. In this trimester, we will look at the verse “v’shinantam l’vanecha – and you shall teach it to your children.” We will focus on why it is so important that we learn about Jewish teachings and traditions and pass them on l’dor vador – from one generation to the next.
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 - What Do You Meme (5th-12th Grade)
Class Description:
What Do You Meme: Everyone loves to laugh at a good meme! In this class, we will learn how to create the best and funniest memes with a Jewish twist!
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructors: Noah (Nappel) Appel
Noah Appel, or Nappel as he is known, is finishing his bachelor’s degree in social work at Cleveland State University, after beginning at Kent State University. He has spent 13 summers at Camp Wise, including this past summer as the Sports Supervisor and Jewish Life Specialist. He will bring his knowledge of Jewish values, his leadership experience, and his love for life to any class he teaches!
SESSION 1 - Yehudi: Proud to be Jewish and Me (Kindergarten-Adults)
Yehudi: Proud to be Jewish and Me: What qualities in ourselves are we proudest of? And what are we proudest of in the accomplishments of the Jewish people? In this all-ages course, we’ll explore all the ways we can celebrate our Judaism and share our heritage as a source of pride out in the world.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Alan Hazzard
Alan Hazzard has been teaching at STKA for over 15 years. He was a member the Board of Trustees and is current Chair of the Our House Our Home Committee. Professionally he works at Westfield Insurance managing the company's real estate and facilities.
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: Rachel Goetz
Rachel Goetz is incredibly excited to join Suburban Temple Kol Ami’s team as the Torah Tots teacher! She is currently a second year masters student at Case Western Reserve University, obtaining a masters in social work with a focus in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She has worked with children of all ages for 12 years and is excited to bring her experience and her love of fun, Judaism, and learning to Torah Tots!
SESSION 2 - You've Got the Beat (Adults)
Class Description:
You’ve Got the Beat: In this class we will discover how different melodies for prayers and making music with different instruments can change our feelings about the prayer and how the prayer makes us feel. We will be playing percussion in this class, but no musical knowledge or talent is required.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Josh Levy
Josh Levy is a licensed social worker and longtime staff member and songleader at Camp Wise. Josh is excited to combine his passions for mental health and wellness, Judaism, and music into this class!
SESSION 2 - Soaking Up the Words of Torah (8th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
Soaking Up the Words of Torah: The last three words of the blessing for studying Torah are “l’asok b’dvrei Torah,” which can be translated as “to soak up the words of Torah." So, let’s dive into the deep end past the surface meanings and seek out the interpretations to be discovered below the depths. No prior study of Torah is expected or needed to enjoy this class. All that's needed is an open mind and an open heart.
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, Texas and moved back to Cleveland, his adopted hometown. He is grateful to continue to teach, a passion of his.
SESSION 2 - A MARVELous Comparative Religion Class (9th Grade-Adults)
Class Description:
A MARVELous Comparative Religion Class: The Marvel Cinematic Universe addresses numerous religions and religious ideas as real, living events. From Norse mythology to African spiritual beliefs, there is much to explore in these movies. This class addresses these issues in a fun, interesting way.
This class is offered on Zoom or in-person, please indicate how you will be taking the class when you register.
Instructor: David Oppenheimer
David Oppenheimer is the son of Carolyn Oppenheimer and Rabbi Michael Oppenheimer of blessed memory. He has been a long-standing member of the Suburban Temple Kol Ami, and with his wife Michelle and son Aron, has participated in many programs with the Temple. David also enjoys games, including board games.
SESSION 2 - Wherever You Go, There's Always Someone Jewish (Kindergarten - 4th Grade)
Class Description:
Wherever You Go, There’s Always Someone Jewish: It is a fun song and also true! We Jews live everywhere, and we have learned from and adapted to the culture of the people around us. We have also taught them a thing or two! In this class we will learn about how Jews all around the world live and practice Judaism.
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Carly Chessin
Carly was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She has her bachelors in Criminology from the University of Miami, Florida and her masters in Criminology and Criminal Psychology from the University of Greenwich in London, England. She just finished her 16th summer at Camp Wise where she has been a camper, a counselor, a village supervisor, and most recently the Health Center Manager. She is excited to meet everyone!
SESSION 2 - Sparks of Wisdom: Jewish Values in Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief (5th-12th Grade)
Class Description:
Sparks of Wisdom: Jewish Values in Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief: What do quests, cabins, and capture the flag have in common? Just some of the staples of life at Camp Half-Blood! Other staples include paying attention, welcoming others, and passing on traditions. Sound familiar? That’s because those are also Jewish values! Take this class and explore the world of Percy Jackson and how we can find Jewish values in his story!
This class is offered in-person only.
Instructor: Leia Withee & Isaac Vann
Leia is a book lover, violinist, and has a crazy little orange cat named Percy (yes, like Percy Jackson). She received her MSW from Ohio State in 2022. She has recently been a social worker at Camp Wise and Community Care Director at 6points Creative Arts Academy.
Isaac Vann is a senior at the Innovative Center at Shaker High School. He loves fantasy and one of the first fantasy novels he fell in love with was Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus.
SESSION 2 - More KavanArt (Kindergarten-Adults)
More KavanArt: Kavanah is the intention with which we do things and art is a way we can make the ordinary extraordinary. In this class we will learn about the different Jewish holidays, and we will make cards and ritual objects for each one.
This class is offered in-person only. THIS CLASS WILL OFFER DIFFERENT LESSONS FROM THE PREVIOUS TRIMESTER, SO YOU CAN SIGN UP WHETHER YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED OR NOT.
Instructors: Mandy Anderson & Tracey Messer
Mandy Anderson is a 2006 graduate of Brevard College where she received her BFA with an emphasis in painting. She loves to share her love of art with the community by teaching and participating in local artist events. From painting to needlework, she loves exploring and experimenting with new mediums. You can usually find her outdoors in the Metroparks or inside testing out a new baking recipe.
Tracey Messer is a professor at Case Western Reserve University at the Weatherhead School of Management and a proponent of emotional intelligence. She and her wife Karen are active members of STKA.
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: Rachel Goetz
Rachel Goetz is incredibly excited to join Suburban Temple Kol Ami’s team as the Torah Tots teacher! She is currently a second year masters student at Case Western Reserve University, obtaining a masters in social work with a focus in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She has worked with children of all ages for 12 years and is excited to bring her experience and her love of fun, Judaism, and learning to Torah Tots!
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