Religious School return to top

Our Religious School, under the direction of our principal, Mary Oler, provides a gentle, nurturing environment in which children can safely express their ideas and feelings -- an environment that encourages critical thinking, love of learning, and the desire for self-improvement. It is a place where children feel good about themselves as Jews and as human beings and are empowered to think for themselves. We seek to give our children a solid understanding of Jewish religion and civilization and the tools to assess issues with an open mind.

The pre-kindergarten through 10^th grade curriculum, leading to Confirmation, covers Jewish history, culture, literature, holidays, Hebrew study, and life-cycle celebrations -- all grounded in Jewish philosophy, values, ethics, and character development. Basic familiarity with Hebrew language and with both traditional and our progressive liturgies is a goal of the curriculum at all levels. Classes meet for two hours on Sunday mornings from September through May, except for the 6th grade, which meets for three hours to allow time for more intensive Hebrew study. Most of our students become Bar or Bat Mitzvah during 7^th grade.

We are affiliated with the Community Foundation for Jewish Education and have received awards for innovative teaching. Our teachers are committed to our progressive philosophy and are able to teach it from a position of genuine understanding.

Religious School Mission Statement

Religious School Curriculum

Kindergarten-first grade students & teacher

Religious School friends

Bar/Bat Mitzvah return to top

Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Beth Or is a meaningful landmark in our young people's intellectual and moral development. Our students prepare by engaging both in a community service project and in a significant intellectual endeavor, which may involve either the study and interpretation of a particular reading from the Torah or other text, or thorough research on a topic of interest to the student. At the Bar or Bat Mitzvah service, the student presents his or her reading or research to the congregation. In addition to class work, students are given individual tutoring in preparation for Bar or Bat Mitzvah.


Confirmation return to top

We encourage our students to continue beyond Bar or Bat Mitzvah through 10th grade, concluding with a Confirmation ceremony. At this ceremony, each student presents an original address, a personal distillation and application of what he or she has gained from studying at Beth Or. The Confirmation curriculum, taught by Rabbi Oler, includes a study of comparative religion and comparative Judaism.
Confirmation speeches by Beth Or's Class of 2002:
Speech 1 Speech 2.


Youth Group return to top
Our youth group for students from 8th grade up meets during the second hour of Religious School. The program consists of both educational and social activities.

Alicia Arkin leads our youth group

Family Education return to top

Family Education programs are integrated into our Family Shabbat services. Each family service is centered on a theme enriched by artistic, musical, or dramatic presentations and involves the participation of a particular Religious School class.


Adult Education return to top

Ongoing Adult Education classes, led by Rabbi Oler and other teachers, all with significant expertise in topics of study, are typically held on Sunday mornings to coincide with the Religious School schedule. Topics have included the study of Judaic texts, the evolution of Judaism, Jewish history and literature, and spiritual practices. An Adult Hebrew reading program is offered from time to time. The classes are extremely well attended.

The Sunday morning Adult Education courses form a significant part of our two-year Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah program. We held our first Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony in the spring of 2002.

Previous and Current Adult Education courses

Adult education classes meet Sunday mornings in our sunny living room

Also Hosted at Beth Orreturn to top


LFB Preschool

LFB Preschool , a longstanding institution in the Lake Forest-Bannockburn area, now makes its home at Beth Or. The preschool offers morning and afternoon programs for 2- to 5-year-olds, five days a week, as well as a Mom and Tot class and a Kindergarten Enrichment program. For information and registration, call Director Amy Morrissey, (847) 478-1505.