The Religious School at Congregation Achduth Vesholom seeks to provide an enriching learning experience that engenders a deeper, more purposeful appreciation of our students' spiritual heritage.

Our aims and objects:

• To implant in our students and their families a feeling of belonging to the Jewish community.
• To teach Jewish values, traditions, history and culture.
• To create meaningful Jewish experiences for our children so that Judaism becomes a positive intellectual and emotional experience that brings pleasure, beauty and joy of life.
• To strengthen and reinforce Jewish associations within the lives of our young people so that the TEMPLE and HOME become the centers for Jewish life and values.

Our Religious School team looks forward to a great year!

Principal: Rabbi Lenny Sarko
Zera/Pre-K/Kindergarten: Melissa Kessel
Grades 1 to 3: Samara Sheray
Grades 4 & 5: Kristin Goldberg
Grades 6, 7 & 8: Leah Hadashi
High School (Grades 9-12): Ellen Tom
Hebrew: Bruce Colegrove and Rabbi Lenny Sarko
Librarian: Betsy Gephart
Madrich (Aide): Ethan Zweig

At Religious School, our children's weekly education includes the recognition of Jewish responsibility and helping others in need in the community. Weekly collections of Tzedakah taken in each classroom on Sunday morning give each child the opportunity to put this knowledge into action. Please encourage your child to share his or her good fortune by giving from his or her allowance. Funds will be allocated during the school year as students learn about places and people in need.

Religious School Hours: Students age three through 8th grade meet on Sunday mornings from 9:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. High School students meet from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please enter through the front entrance on Sunday mornings.

Hebrew School Hours: Students in grades 4-6 will meet on Tuesdays or Wednesdays as scheduled between 4 and 6 p.m. 

Religious School 2016-2017: It's never too late to register for Jewish learning! Find the Religious School calendar. Find all registration materials. These include the following:

• Welcome to Religious School
• Registration form
• Health information form
• Fees and payment information
• Permissions, including field trips
• Library registration form
• Photo permission form
• Calendar for 2016-2017

Questions? Please contact us at (260) 744-4245 or office@TempleCAV.org for membership information or with questions about our school Religious School Chair Ellen Tom and Rabbi Lenny Sarko also are available to discuss your child's education.

Religious School: In the event of inclement weather, a calling tree will go out to all families, teachers and aides no later than 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Hebrew School: If Fort Wayne Community Schools are closed due to weather, then we will not have Hebrew School. If the weather gets bad later in the day on Tuesday or Wednesday, a calling tree will go out to all Hebrew School families and teachers no later than 4 p.m.

As always, please use your discretion regarding the weather. You and your family's health and safety are always the top priority.

The goal of the Temple's Family Education program is to provide tools for integrating Jewish customs, observances and rituals into a student's home. Family education attempts to provide a level playing field for both parents and children in our school and give a basis for family celebrations of holidays and life-cycle events. Discussion revolving around faith issues and the role of Judaism in family life (both historically and with current relevance) will provide parents an opportunity to participate in various discussions without having to initiate them. Family Education Programs occur approximately 2-3 times per year in grades kindergarten through 8th grade.