Mensch Lab
Mensch Lab, the religious school at Old York Road Temple-Beth Am for students from Kindergarten until B Mitzvah, is a cutting-edge model of Jewish
education focused on imparting joy. Nothing is more important to us than creating an association between religious school and the happiest times of our students’ youth, instilling a proud Jewish identity that endures for a lifetime.
All our students attend Mensch Lab on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am to noon. Every Sunday begins with breakfast at 9:00 am giving everyone the opportunity to catch up with each other. We start our morning with Havdalah then proceed to class for fun and engaging Jewish studies. Our Sunday breakfasts build a sense of extended family – the hallmark of our synagogue – and ensure parents are continually informed of their children’s progress.
Our students in grades 4, 5 and pre-B Mitzvah grade 6/7 attend Mensch Lab twice a week: Sundays and Tuesdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Our Tuesday Mensch Lab sessions have a different flavor than Sundays. With our students already having attended a full day of secular school, we begin our Tuesday Mensch Lab sessions with dinner and social time to build friendships and community. Our unique Tuesday model, stressing social interaction in recognition of students’ midweek needs, has earned the praise of students and parents alike.
Our curriculum:
On Sundays, students explore Judaism on a deeply personal level. We focus on Shabbat, Jewish holidays and rituals, begin Hebrew and prayers, and lay the groundwork for every student developing a relationship with Israel.
Instead of keeping students confined to the classroom, we rotate them around our synagogue for regular sessions with Rabbi Leib and community leaders, and for special sessions with folk singers and Jewish hip-hop artists. Music, art, stories, movement and play are the order of the day.|
Mensch Lab is also among the select Jewish religious schools in the country to offer electives ranging from choir to yoga.
Once our students reach grade 4, we integrate our unique Mensch Lab curriculum, “Jewish Heroes, Jewish Values.” We cover a wide range of heroes and Jewish values throughout the year. Month by month, we explore different mitzvot and middot in an engaging and experiential way.
To that end, grade 4 is where we introduce current events in Israel at an age-appropriate level. Old York Road Temple-Beth Am has a rich tradition of standing with Israel, including during the toughest times.
“Jewish Heroes, Jewish Values” at Mensch Lab sets the stage for post-B Mitzvah teens, Beit Noar.
Mensch Lab honors the menschlikheit of Rabbi Harold B. and Elise Waintrup, both of blessed memory, and the character of our entire synagogue community.