Janice Rozenwasser
Director

Pam Chassen
Hey 

Beth Rems
Gimmel

Lisa Segelman
Dalet

Adeena Hudes
Pre-Gan/Aleph

Juliette Klug
Administration

Amy Olsen
Aleph/Bet
Judaic Studies

Hana Frankl
Aleph/Bet
Hebrew Studies

March Message from Janice Rozenwasser, Director
Irving T. Wolfson Religious School

In surveys taken about what home rituals Jews in America observe, the Passover seder comes out at the top of the list. When discussing Jewish identity with young students and teens, I often hear how the Passover seder is the one that gathers families together. This night, more than any other, brings the story of our people, into our homes. The re-enactment of the Exodus from Egypt is a very powerful educational tool, in teaching our children, from generation to generation, the history of our people.

This month in the Irving T. Wolfson Religious School, our students and teachers will be busy preparing for Pesach, studying the Haggadah and learning ways to enrich our seders at home. This holiday, more than any other, is one of the connection M'Dor L'Dor - from generation to generation. Please share your family traditions about Passover with your children so they can share them with us at school.

We will be having our school-wide Chocolate Seder on Sunday, March 21 at 11:00 A.M. and look forward to having you join us for this fun day.

Warmest wishes for a "zissin Pesach" - a sweet Passover.

B'shalom,

Janice Rozenwasser

Director

Helpful Resources

* Parent Handbook

* 2009/2010 Religious School Registration
 

* 2009/2010 Religious School Calendar
 

* 2009 Bar / Bat Mitzvah Handbook

About Our School

The Irving T. Wolfson Religious School of White Meadow Temple is a Jewish supplemental school dedicated to creating a caring and supportive environment for excellence in Jewish education. We emphasize Tefillah (worship of God), Limud Torah (study of Jewish texts), Mitzvot (observance and practice) and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness).

As a school affiliated with the Conservative movement, we seek the integration of Judaism into the lives and homes of our students. We are committed to enhancing the full intellectual and spiritual potential of each student through traditional and innovative means.  We seek to build a school community in which students work with a dedicated faculty, which will bring to each student a love of Judaism, Jewish values, and a deep regard for the individual differences and worth of each student.  We seek to instill a respect for Klal Yisrael, the entire spectrum of the Jewish community and Jewish civilization. We seek to inculcate Ahavat Yisrael (a love of Israel), its language, land and people. We are committed to the study of Hebrew as the language of prayer and seek to provide students with a foundation for further study.

In a secular world, we seek to imbue our lives with a sense of Kedushah (holiness), an awareness of God’s presence, and our individual and collective responsibilities toward God’s creation. We cultivate a sense of wonder, gratitude, and thankfulness, which is the foundation of  Jewish religious life.

About Our Staff

Pam Chassen has 18 years of experience teaching, including 15 years at White Meadow Temple teaching all grades levels. Pam has worked with the Hey students for the past nine years, and this year is teaching the Hey class Judaica and Hebrew.  Pam holds a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and has attended numerous educator classes given through the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning.

Amy Olsen has been teaching Judaic Studies at the Irving T. Wolfson Religious School for the past five years and in White Meadow Temple's Early Childhood Education Program for the past seven years.  Amy has taught in our Aleph and Bet classes for the last four years and our Gan/Pre- Aleph class before that. Amy is also the Director of White Meadow Temple's Early Childhood Education and Head Teacher of the 3-year-old class. During the summer, Amy is the Director and counselor at White Meadow Temple's Sandcastle Club summer program. Amy is married to John, and they have two boys, Zachary and Taylor.

Returning for a third year at WMT's Irving T. Wolfson Religious School, Beth Rems is the Gimmel class teacher of Judaic Studies and Hebrew.  Mrs. Rems holds degrees from Rutgers University with majors in Sociology and Judaic Studies, and from Montclair State University Graduate School with a Masters of Arts in Teaching for Elementary school children. She is looking forward to another exciting and fun school year with her Kitah Gimmel students and families.

Carol Shapiro has lived in Rockaway for thirty years and taught at our religious school for over twenty of those years.  Her "old"  students are now parents themselves, and she's heartened when she sees those who have chosen to live in our town send their children to WMT and become involved in an active Jewish life.  In her position as a resource room teacher, it's her hope that every student will  feel comfortable with Hebrew reading and  continue to learn for many years to come.    

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor

The tutor for White Meadow Temple students preparing for their bar/bat mitzvahs is Cantor Ted Prosnitz.  A graduate of the University of Rochester, Ted went on to work as a hospital administrator after graduate school at the University of Michigan.  But his heartstrings pulled him back to the family retail business, PROZYS ARMY NAVY.  Ted's involvement in synagogue life inspired him to study for the cantorate.  He is now a full-time cantorial student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City.  He has already begun working with some of our students, and is enjoying helping our children with this rite of passage.  Cantor Ted Prosnitz will be teaching at the Temple every Sunday.

Born in Hackensack, he now lives in Wyckoff.  His wife, Karen Cohen-Prosnitz, is the Skating School Director at Ice Vault Arena in Wayne. 

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Highlights from the 2009 Chocolate Seder

 

Irving T. Wolfson Religious School Fundraiser -- Fashion Show

Thanks to our models -- Barbara Feinberg, Arlene Testa, Elaine Mico, Fariba Mahgerefteh, Juliette Klug, Mindy Klarman, Rhea Adler, Stacey Spector, Trish Morchower, and June Zieder -- and our hosts Lori Swirson, Nancy Malchi and Stephanie Levine.