Congregation Or Shalom in Vernon Hills recently joined a group of 21 Reform synagogue religious schools in North America, having received accreditation by the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE).
"At a conference about two years ago, I learned about this accreditation as well as about the accreditation process," said Or Shalom Education Director Marcia Cohen. "I thought that going through this process would allow us to examine what we do and reflect on how we can improve."
During the process, which took approximately 18 months, numerous people came together to work on the project. This included the education committee and congregants, providing an opportunity for congregational interest and involvement. Currently, the temple’s 25 teachers serve its 420 students in its religious school.
"Out of 875 Reform congregations in the U.S. and Canada, we became part of an elite group of congregations receiving this accreditation," said Cohen. "However, this is just the beginning of an effort to continue to enhance and refine our educational program. Over the coming years, we will work with staff and the education committee to make our program even better."
Located at 21 Hawthorn Parkway in Vernon Hills, Congregation Or Shalom’s mission is to meet the diverse spiritual, educational and cultural needs of its congregants and the local Jewish community. It also welcomes interfaith families in all facets of temple life. The temple serves a wide area of families who live (south to north) from Buffalo Grove to the Wisconsin border, and from east to west from Lake Bluff to Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods and Round Lake.
For more information about Congregation Or Shalom and its religious school, e-mail Cohen at mcohen@orshalomlc.org, call temple administrator Andi Freier at (847) 362-1948, or visit www.orshalomlc.org.
Submitted by Congregation Or Shalom