mensch • men(t)SH/
Noun: 1. a person of integrity and honor. 2. The kind of person you want your kid to be.
Mensch Academy is inspired, down-to-earth Judaism for kids and families. At Mensch Academy, kids build character, confidence, curiosity and a sense of who they are as Jews in the world through engaging in serious Jewish learning, prayer and exploration. Respecting each person’s mind and spirit, Mensch Academy is a space where kids feel loved enough and safe enough to take risks and experiment with Jewish tradition, making it their own and becoming the best versions of themselves.
Mensch Academy is a Jewish educational program for ages 3 – 13.
2018 – 2019 Program Details
WHAT?
Preschool (3-4 year olds) Family Cohort: You will explore Jewish holidays and prayers through text study, music, art, and conversation. Parents will have the opportunity to learn alongside their children, and also get to cultivate their own Jewish ideas with other parents.
- One Sunday morning per month 10:00am – 12:00pm (pre-k cohort with parents).
- Sep 23, Oct. 21, Nov 18, Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 10, March 17, April 14 & May 19th
K – 2nd graders: You will explore Jewish themes through text study, music, art, and conversation. You will develop your own big questions and ideas that you will express through designing and creating your own projects.
- Tuesdays October 9th through May 28th, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm (drop-off program).
3rd – 5th graders: You will explore Jewish themes through text study, music, art, and conversation. You will develop your own big questions and ideas that you will express through designing and creating your own projects.
- Wednesdays October 10th through May 29th, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm (drop-off program).
In 6th and 7th grade, on Wednesdays from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, you will prepare for your cohort group B’nai Mitzvah ceremony (separate from the 3rd – 5th graders) which will take place at the end of 7th grade. At Mishkan, you will celebrate your B’nai Mitzvah with a small community cohort, AND you will design and research your own intensive Jewish project. Everyone in your cohort will present their projects at the B’nai Mitzvah ceremony, along with reading from the Torah, and co-creating the ceremony itself. At Mensch Academy, your journey toward B’nai Mitzvah is personally meaningful, and celebrated with a community of peers.
We also have 4 parent nights throughout the year when parents join their children at Mensch sessions. Parents will have the opportunity to cultivate their own Jewish ideas with other parents, and to learn from and with their children.
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WHERE?
The NEW Mensch Space
Same building, but we we’ve moved downstairs (1st floor) to a bigger and brighter space!
WHEN?
In 2018-19, Mensch Academy will meet from October through end of May (excluding Jewish and national holidays and school vacations).
WHY?
Families who come out of Mensch Academy know that they are the newest and most important link in the chain of Jewish people and tradition, owning their identity, modeling what it means to be a mensch, and creating an empowered, educated, inspired Jewish future. Read more about our vision and core guiding values.
*Family Buildership is a requirement to attend Mensch Academy however first year families can sign up at any level of Buildership. If you’re not a Builder, learn more here and sign up.
If cost is a barrier to you, please Rachel Cort to discuss tuition assistance.
Have general questions? Check out our FAQ’s or contact us!
The B’nai Mitzvah Journey
Jewish tradition teaches that the Torah was given to each person at Sinai according to their unique capabilities and strengths, each person hearing the voice of God and tradition in their own way. At Mishkan, we are exploring new ways for each child becoming B’nai Mitzvah to find their own voice, and to share it with others. At Mensch Academy, B’nai Mitzvah students and parents will focus on learning big Jewish ideas together through text and guided discussion and projects. Kids will hone their ability to ask big questions, and will develop projects to investigate and express those questions (and maybe even some answers, too). Their ideas and interests will drive their learning.
