KoREH News

 

It’s an odd feeling to look back and be struck by just how much has changed in what seemed like such a small span of time. Seven years ago, I inherited a Kol Rinah Religious School that was ready for change. We had amazing families who were hungry for new Jewish experiences, and so together, we set about finding our way forward.

 

That small, committed group of thirty-seven students has exploded into a vibrant educational powerhouse of sixty-two learners, plus their parents and families who learn together each Sunday. Our Kol Rinah Education Hub (KoREH) has blossomed over the past six years into an incredible learning community, and we are on track next year to grow to new heights with four new families already signed up for next year as of the first week in June.

 

What’s more important than just growing the school, however, is what has been behind that growth. As a community of educators, we dedicated ourselves to not just teaching Jewish facts, but creating Jewish experiences for our learners of every age. We found the best, most creative, and unfailingly committed teachers and staff to shape our students’ learning day, help them build real friendships, and open the doors to a lifetime of asking big questions, encountering their heritage, and eventually helping build the skills so these young learners can one day create new and meaningful Jewish experiences for themselves.

 

It is with incredible pride and gratitude that I hand the reins of this school off to my friend and colleague, Cindy Kalachek. She is a brilliant, warm, thoughtful educator with a lifetime of experience in creating enriching environments for learning. I have already been blown away by her energy and her wonderful ideas for the school, and I know that moving forward it will only continue to grow. Cindy will also be aided by the greatest group of teachers and madrichimot (teachers’ assistants) I could imagine, as well as the incomparable Karen Kern, who has been my right hand, my partner, and my most ardent supporter in the work of running this school. Thank you all for everything you have done for this school, our families, and for me as well. None of this would be possible without each one of you.

 

In Hebrew, we say, “L’hitraot,” when we leave one another, which does not mean “goodbye,” but rather “until we see each other again.” As you read my final article in the Voice, I will be moving on to my new role as Deputy Director and Social Justice Director at the JCRC of St. Louis, but I will always be an active member, and ardent supporter, of both Kol Rinah and of KoREH. I am excited to see not only what the future holds for me, but for this school and our community as well. Having been blessed to see how much we have grown and changed over the last seven years, I know that the best is yet to come.

 

So, l’hitraot, dear friends, students, staff, and community members. I hope to see you all again very soon.