The Coalition for Jewish Learning, the education program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, is set to begin its fall semester of classes and programs aimed at teens and parents.
Machon, an interactive learning experience for Jewish high school teens, will begin its second year, and a new program is being offered to the parents of Jewish teens.
Machon will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30-8:45 p.m., Oct. 17-Dec. 12, at the Kohl Education Building on the Karl Community Campus. Open to teens from all backgrounds, the sessions will be presented by speakers representing a full range of Jewish thought.
The five-session parenting group will run parallel with Machon at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, Oct. 17-Nov. 14. As is the case with the teen component, the parenting group is open to all parents. Its scheduling was planned as a convenience to families should both teens and their parents desire to participate in the respective programs.
Entitled “Parenting Jewish Teens: School, Social & Home Life Issues,” the parenting component aims to provide Jewish parents an opportunity to discuss everyday challenges of raising teens from the perspective of Jewish tradition.
First director
Machon is also kicking off its second year with the hiring of Shahanna McKinney as its first director.
“As more than 35 teens participated last year and we’re encouraged more will do so this year, we felt it is important to have someone oversee the program,” said Dr. Steven Baruch, executive director of CJL.
A graduate of Hillel Academy, McKinney has taught at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha and in Milwaukee Public Schools.
Machon is designed to complement existing educational programs for teenagers who wish to study Jewish texts, arts and culture as well as contemporary issues. Students may select two hour-long sessions including “Rapping with our Rabbis,” “Intercultural Music Workshop,” “Women of the Torah” and “Teenage Ethical Dilemmas.”
“The curriculum was developed by CJL with assistance from the teens, their parents, synagogues and other members of the community,” Baruch added.
The new parenting program, which was sparked by interest from parents, said Baruch, will provide an opportunity to discuss, share and problem solve through discussion of various approaches to parenting.
According to program facilitator Sharon Lerman, a part-time CJL consultant and parenting educator, “At CJL’s Educator’s Weekend last spring, Wendy Mogel, author of ‘The Blessings of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children,’ spoke to several local groups. Some parents expressed interest to continue to examine core concerns and the integration of Jewish principles into parenting.”
Lerman said that using a Jewish viewpoint, parents will further discuss the insights Mogel shared.
Cost for Machon is $50. For more information, call CJL, 962-8860.
Cost of the parenting group is $15. For more information, call Lerman, 352-4817.
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