By Leslie Feldman
At Kehilat HaNahar in New Hope, Jewish education isn’t confined to classrooms or weekly lessons. Instead, children learn alongside parents, grandparents, congregants and clergy in an innovative Shul School program that’s redefining what synagogue education can look like.
Meeting just twice a month for two-hour sessions, the school’s havurah-style model emphasizes hands-on learning, intergenerational connections and authentic Jewish experiences over traditional lectures and grade-level classrooms.
“The goals of our Shul School are to foster a love of Judaism, encourage enthusiasm for Jewish learning and help every child develop a strong Jewish identity while feeling at home in our synagogue,” said Education Director Anita Lerman. “Our Shul School families have truly become a community within themselves while also becoming part of our larger KHN family. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
That sense of belonging is one reason the program has experienced remarkable growth. Enrollment is expected to reach 23 students for the 2026-27 school year, more than doubling from just 10 active students three years ago. Thirteen families also participate in the congregation’s monthly Tots & Kids program.
For parent Michelle Komie, the difference has been profound.
“At KHN, families have the opportunity to shape the experience we want for ourselves and our children. This is not your grandparents’ congregation,” Komie said. “The kids are with our wonderful rabbi regularly and they truly feel connected to her. We have a regular ‘Ask the Rabbi’ session where the children can ask questions about whatever they are wondering about, from other religions to what Jews believe about different things.”
Komie said her 10-year-old looks forward to attending each session. “My 10-year-old has had our amazing education director, Anita Lerman, as a teacher for several years and truly enjoys and looks forward to her new Hebrew tutoring sessions as a result. We are so fortunate to have Kehilat HaNahar in our community, and to be a part of the community it has created.”
The current Shul School model emerged after the congregation reevaluated its educational program following the pandemic and the departure of its longtime education director. Rather than simply rebuilding what existed before, congregational leaders saw an opportunity to create something new.
“We really reimagined the program out of necessity,” Lerman said. “We had committed teachers and families, a supportive board, an engaged rabbi and congregants who wanted to share their talents with our children. We asked ourselves how we could build something that was more flexible for families, more experiential and more connected to the life of the congregation.”
Today, parents can participate alongside their children, spend time with the rabbi during school sessions or simply drop their children off. Congregation members regularly lead activities in art, music, movement and Torah study, while students of all ages learn together in small groups.
Rather than separating children strictly by grade, the school groups students according to developmental needs and provides individualized instruction. Formal Hebrew learning begins in fourth grade through free one-on-one tutoring tailored to each student’s pace and schedule.
“Every child learns differently,” Lerman said. “The individualized Hebrew tutoring allows us to meet students where they are. No one gets left behind, and everyone has the opportunity to build confidence before their b’mitzvah.”
The program also gives students frequent opportunities to put their learning into practice. Throughout the year, families gather for Shabbat dinners, children participate in holiday celebrations, and students lead Friday evening worship services twice annually.
Intergenerational programming is another hallmark of the school. Students work alongside older congregants on service projects, artistic activities and special events, strengthening relationships across generations.
“Our congregation includes artists, musicians, educators and people with so many different gifts,” Lerman said. “Whenever possible, we invite them into Shul School so children experience Judaism through creativity, relationships and community, not just textbooks.”
New additions planned for the coming year include expanded learning opportunities for students preparing for their b’mitzvah, a growing Gan class for the youngest learners, an intergenerational trip to New York City’s Tenement Museum and leadership opportunities for the congregation’s rabbinic intern.
Lerman believes the program’s greatest strength is its ability to help children experience Judaism as something they live rather than simply study.
“We’re teaching children how to live joyful Jewish lives,” she said. “When they celebrate holidays together, lead services, learn from their rabbi every session and build friendships across generations, they’re becoming active members of a caring Jewish community. That’s something they’ll carry with them long after they leave Shul School.”
Leslie Feldman is a freelance writer.