If you join a synagogue that is the right fit, you may find yourself wanting to be part of the community. Another option, if you are interested in your child developing a positive Jewish identity is to send him to a Jewish sleep away camp-- note that a camp that happens to have a lot of Jews is different. You will want educational programming that teaches about Judaism and Israel in a fun way. Camp Ramah, Camp Harlem, there's a reconstructionist camp, there are B'nai Brith camps and Young Judaea camps... And more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is 8 and we are needing to make a decision about attending hebrew school. With being so busy with school and other activities I am seeking an alternative to going to hebrew school. I just can not see spending so much money to belong to a temple just to have a bar mitzvah. We live in northern va but would consider traveling if it was worth it! Looking for conservative or reform education--1 time a week to start!

Thanks!

If you actually have financial problems, most synagogues will work with you on dues.

If you just don't think being part of a Jewish community is worth supporting, I am not sure what to say. What do you hope to accomplish by having your kid have a Bar Mitzvah? making your parents (the kids grandparents) happy? Or actually building the base for a Jewish life. Kids learn from YOUR priorities. If you don't care about supporting a synagogue, going to synagogue yourself, even on the high holidays, etc I do not think the bar mitzvah will mean much to them. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but thats what I've observed.

+1

Be creative
Try a chinese school


You kid will turn out fine that way too

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.[/quote]


I just LOVE how Chabad undercuts Reform and Conservative synagogues financially, and then claims to be all about "authentic Judaism" Feh![/quote]

What is wrong with Chabad offering low cost Jewish education? They strongly value the orthodox theology and believe everyone Jewish should have the opportunity to learn more about it. What makes them less authentic than conservative or reform? [/quote]

They claim to be MORE authentic, which I disagree with. And they can undercut the reform and conservative shuls in part because they get contributions from rich assimilated jews who think they are more authentic (ah, beards! Black hats! ShtetL!) and give to feel better about their own assimilated lives.

The worse impact is probably on modern orthodox shuls though - in some communities the chabad basically precludes a Modern O shul from starting up.

Choice is nice and all that, but there are economies of scale in running a synagogue (worse when an older synagogue has a legacy building to maintain)[/quote]

I am modern Orthodox and live in a community that has a Chabad and several MO synagogue within a few blocks of each other and they serve different purposes and different populations. You sound incredibly biased against Chabad and while they are not perfect, they do so much good for Jews everywhere while maintaining a high level of observant Judaism. They are more welcoming and open towards non-observant Jews than you seem to be to them. It is not their beards or black hats that make them authentic, it is their commitment to Torah and Mitzvot.

You could probably also have your child do a bar or bat mitzvah in Israel on a family trip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.

I just LOVE how Chabad undercuts Reform and Conservative synagogues financially, and then claims to be all about "authentic Judaism" Feh!

What is wrong with Chabad offering low cost Jewish education? They strongly value the orthodox theology and believe everyone Jewish should have the opportunity to learn more about it. What makes them less authentic than conservative or reform?

They claim to be MORE authentic, which I disagree with. And they can undercut the reform and conservative shuls in part because they get contributions from rich assimilated jews who think they are more authentic (ah, beards! Black hats! ShtetL!) and give to feel better about their own assimilated lives.

The worse impact is probably on modern orthodox shuls though - in some communities the chabad basically precludes a Modern O shul from starting up.

Choice is nice and all that, but there are economies of scale in running a synagogue (worse when an older synagogue has a legacy building to maintain)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.

I just LOVE how Chabad undercuts Reform and Conservative synagogues financially, and then claims to be all about "authentic Judaism" Feh!

What is wrong with Chabad offering low cost Jewish education? They strongly value the orthodox theology and believe everyone Jewish should have the opportunity to learn more about it. What makes them less authentic than conservative or reform?

Anonymous wrote:My child is 8 and we are needing to make a decision about attending hebrew school. With being so busy with school and other activities I am seeking an alternative to going to hebrew school. I just can not see spending so much money to belong to a temple just to have a bar mitzvah. We live in northern va but would consider traveling if it was worth it! Looking for conservative or reform education--1 time a week to start!

Thanks!

If you actually have financial problems, most synagogues will work with you on dues.

If you just don't think being part of a Jewish community is worth supporting, I am not sure what to say. What do you hope to accomplish by having your kid have a Bar Mitzvah? making your parents (the kids grandparents) happy? Or actually building the base for a Jewish life. Kids learn from YOUR priorities. If you don't care about supporting a synagogue, going to synagogue yourself, even on the high holidays, etc I do not think the bar mitzvah will mean much to them. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but thats what I've observed.

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.

I just LOVE how Chabad undercuts Reform and Conservative synagogues financially, and then claims to be all about "authentic Judaism" Feh!

Anonymous wrote:Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.

JDS and $30K year after year . . .

not really an option most would consider

You can hire a tutor and have your service at a place like the 6th and I St. synagogue.

FYI, you didn't have to join my temple in order to go to hebrew school. Which by 8, was twice a week - 4-6:30pm.

Agree with you about being busy and activities. My solution was JDS.

Look at Chabad. I know you said reform or Conservative but their mission is to support the community. They usually offer a low cost Hebrew school. Your Chabad May or may not require membership. Most do not but that is starting to change. Even so, membership is usually very reasonable.

Reconstructionist in Cabin john Bethesda area. Torah school on Saturdays. I forget the name of the temple.

I can't see paying all that money just to have a bar mitzvah either. I can see paying it to support a community that you want to do something for you ...but it won't be there if you don't support it.

My child is 8 and we are needing to make a decision about attending hebrew school. With being so busy with school and other activities I am seeking an alternative to going to hebrew school. I just can not see spending so much money to belong to a temple just to have a bar mitzvah. We live in northern va but would consider traveling if it was worth it! Looking for conservative or reform education--1 time a week to start!

Thanks!