August Letter from the Rabbi

Letter from Rabbi Goldsmith
New Leadership, New Curriculum, and Renewed Excitement at TBE Religious School In the second paragraph of the Shema, we are told that we must teach our children about God’s commandment and our beloved Jewish tradition. As Lord Rabbi Andrew Sacks wrote recently, one of the hallmarks of Jewish history is the emphasis our people have had on providing a proper religious education for our children. Thus, it is with great pleasure that we welcome to the Temple Beth-El staff two wonderful educators: Leon Covitz as the Education Director and Maksim Shilkrot as the new Youth Programming Director, who we know will bring renewed excitement and educational excellence to the Temple Beth-El Religious School and Youth Department.

Leon Covitz earned his B.A in Jewish Studies from Jews College, London, and M.A in Jewish Education from the Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland, Ohio. He has had extensive experience in both formal and informal Jewish education settings, as both teacher and administrator in Glasgow, London, Israel, Canada and Washington D.C, when he came to the States as a Shaliach – emissary - from Israel. At the Weber High School in Atlanta, Georgia, Leon taught Judaics at all grade levels and coordinated its programs. Leon later became the director of Jewish Studies and Jewish Lifeat Greenfield Hebrew Academy. He taught Talmud, Chumash and the History of Israel to both lower and upper middle schools. Leon created and taught the History of Israel curriculum and directed the 8th Grade Israel program. He has also taught at the Melton Adult Education Program. Leon will be the Director of Judaics at NEMJDS and the Director of Education at Temple Beth- El. As our new Director of Education he will be responsible for the hiring, supervising and training of our Religious School staff. He will be using his expertise to ensure the implementation of the new curriculum which our synagogue has recently acquired from the Institute for Southern Jewish Life. This curriculum, which
encompasses Pre-K through 10th grades, is in use in more than 70 southern communities. Leon will be working together with Rabbi Goldsmith and the teachers to ensure that this widely-hailed curriculum is given the special imprint of Temple Beth-El.

Maksim Shilkrot, a graduate of Temple Beth-El’s Religious School, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, and UAB has now joined our staff. After graduating from Shades Valley High School in 2001, he attended UAB majoring in History and Political Science. In 2005, under Mrs. Gresham’s supervision, he concluded his teaching internship at the N. E. Miles Jewish Day School and briefly worked at Temple Beth El as an 8th grade teacher. In 2009, Maksim graduated with an MA in Jewish Education from Baltimore Hebrew University/Baltimore Hebrew Institute with a concentration in Jewish History. While studying in Baltimore, Maksim worked for two years at Beth El congregation teaching grades 6 and 7, Hebrew tutoring and helping run Kadima Shabbaton for the Seaboard Region. He will be assuming the role of Director of Youth Programming and will work to re-activate our Youth
Department and exciting activities for students in grades 4-12. In addition to serving as the coordinator of our youth groups, Maksim will also be leading our students at the Youth Minyan, our new name for Junior Congregation. At the Youth Minyan he hopes to enlist the participation of teen madrichim who will help lead younger students in the prayers, educational games, and plays. Finally, Maksim will also be serving as a teacher in both our lower school and upper school.

It is a very exciting time for our youth and Temple Beth-El. We welcome our amazing new directors as
we look forward to a wonderful year for us all.