The education program of Temple Anshe Hesed is known as “The Gesher Program.” “Gesher” is the Hebrew word for "bridge". Our education program is viewed as a bridge between the Temple and home, between the Temple’s history and the future, between the young and the old. As such education is not viewed as something only for religious school age students. Family education and adult education are coordinated and conducted with the traditional religious school programming. Our Temple is a congregation of learners. Parental involvement is fostered through a series of Parent programs, grade-level Family Days and All-Congregation Programs such as an Intergenerational Seder, Mitzvah Day and an annual closing program. The program begins with a monthly “Look Who’s Coming to Religious School” class for the very young, and continues through the post-Confirmation, 12th grade class.

Students who remain in the Program through 12th grade are eligible for Temple Anshe Hesed and Jewish Community Council subsidized trip to Israel. The Education Administrator and the Education Committee direct the Gesher Program. The Rabbi serves as Rosh Yeshiva, the head of the program. The Gesher program continues to work toward a comprehensive, professional curriculum to bring to our students the most modern and dynamic approaches to Jewish Education and to instill in them a strong Jewish identity.

Our Mission

The Educational program of Temple Anshe Hesed is committed to fostering and instilling a Reform Jewish identity through life-long educational experiences in a comfortable and inclusive environment.

Goals

1. To foster Jewish identity through formal and informal learning experiences, family education and worship, Jewish values, and mitzvot.

2. To encourage lifelong study of Torah, religious practice, history, literature, and the Hebrew language.

3. To promote spiritual and personal relationships with God through prayer and worship.

4. To establish an inclusive welcoming, caring, and compassionate community that models, teaches, and validates diversity.

5. To create connections with the land of Israel, its people, and its history.

6. To embrace and integrate the spirit of K’Ial Yisrael (Jewish unity throughout the world).