Special classes for Beit Hamidrash

Throughout all the stress of the upcoming two months, Beit Hamidrash has some stress relief for students with free one-time classes and get-togethers to “create your Jewish life.”

Nov. 11, 7 p.m., students can take an hour to honor the memory of the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht with a visit to the Holocaust Center and create a piece of their own commemorative art work.

For an extra special take on Chanukah, on Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., Amy Geboff invites 8-12th graders and their parents to learn about “Balancing a Jewish life style in a non-Jewish environment.” Chanukah represents the fight against assimilation.  Students and their parents will explore the reality of assimilation and what it is like for a Jewish teenager in Orlando to maintain a Jewish lifestyle in a non-Jewish environment.  The program will be hands-on and interactive.

Finally, on Dec. 9, Beit Hamidrash welcomes Angela King back to the community. It has been many years since this powerful and engaging speaker has visited Beit Hamidrash. King is a former racist skinhead, who served time in prison. She now runs an organization called Life after Hate, and speaks widely across the country, including being a delegate and panelist at the Google Summit Against Violent Extremism, and a panelist with the Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism program (Department of Homeland Security) This program will be open to 8-12 graders and their parents.

All programs are open to Jewish eighth- through 12-grade students, free of charge. A canned food donation is recommended for an entrance gift.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Lisa Sholk at 407-261-3175 or lsholk@jfgo.org.

For more information about Beit Hamidrash, visit http://www.orlandojewishfed.org/BeitHamidrash.aspx.