our Jewish academy for moral imagination
Our holy task is to cultivate Jewish Moral Imagination and to raise Jewish moral actors.
JAMI 5785 | 2024-25 is here!
JAMI IS BACK!
Dive in by reading up on the JAMI year below! Complete your JAMI 5785 Community-Building Form by Friday, October 18.
SATURday, November 2
10:30am - 12:00pm Ben Zung becomes B’Mitzvah!
Celebrate Ben as he leads t’filah with Rabbi Joey and teaches and chants from Parshat Noach.
Youth and family education 5785 | Upcoming events and gatherings
Read about upcoming events, gatherings, and closures. Complete our JAMI 5785 Community-Building Form by the end of November.
SATURday, November 9
10:30am - 12:00pm David Sweet becomes B’Mitzvah!
Celebrate David as he leads t’filah with Rabbi Arielle and teaches and chants from Parshat Lech L’cha.
wednesday, November 27
JAMI Closed | Thanksgiving Break
B’Mitzvah Tutoring is remote. Or will be in touch with the schedule, and tutors will provide their Zoom links.
FRIday, November 8
5:30pm - 8:00pm JAMI Shabbat Evening (2nd grade - 5th grade and families)
Text.
SATURday, November 16
9:30am - 10:30am Tot Shabbat
Our youngest and their families sing, dance, and learn together during monthly Tot Shabbat. Oneg (shabbat treats) follow the service. Shana, Rabbi Arielle, and Forrest are excited to be with you on shabbat morning!
9:30am - 10:15am JAMI Shabbat Morning (7th grade)
7th graders gather for some text study and nosh in advance of the B’Mitzvah service.
10:30am - 12:00pm Isaac Whalen Goldfarb and Oliver Whalen Goldfarb become B’Mitzvah!
Celebrate Isaac and Oliver as they lead t’filah with Rabbi Arielle and Rabbi Joey and teach and chant from Parshat Vayeira.
SATURday, November 23
9:30am - 12:30pm JAMI Shabbat Morning (6th grade families)
6th grade families gather as they continue taking steps toward the B’Mitzvah year.
sunday, December 1
JAMI Closed | Thanksgiving Break
JAMI NEEDS YOU!
At Shir Tikvah, it takes a village! We rely heavily on congregant support - and we cannot build the learning community of our dreams without everyone’s help. Lean into the following volunteer efforts. Current needs are listed below; please click to be directed to the right spot. This list is ever-changing; be in touch with Or to find the right volunteer opportunity for you or your family - including if you have an idea that isn’t listed!
Small-Group Hebrew Tutoring (paid) | Sprucing up classrooms | Substitute-teaching (paid) | Taking a shift at the Bagel Table
JAMI 5785 | by the numbers
103 Students | 74 Families | 7 Faculty Members | 7 Eidot (Class Cohorts) | 5 Teaching Assistants | 5 Staff | 1 Community
Kindergarten through 7th grade
Sundays, 9:30am to 11:30am
9:00am B’ruchim HaBaim - Welcome! (Arrival)
Schmooze over a bagel with friends and staff before class.
9:30am Boker Tov - Good Morning! Kindergarten through 7th grade Classes
Class is in session for Kindergarteners through 7th graders!
Kindergarteners through 3rd graders gather for T’filat Noar (Youth Prayer). Parents/Guardians of these students are encouraged to attend alongside their children.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend special programming when offered.
11:30am L’hitraot - See you later! (Departure)
4th grade through 10th grade
Wednesdays, 4:30pm to 6:30pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm
4:30pm Tzohorayim Tov - Good Afternoon! Section Alef 4th through 6th grade Classes
Class is in session for Section Alef 4th through 6th graders!
6:00pm T’filat Noar - Youth Prayer (All-School Service)
All students gather. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to attend alongside their children.
6:30pm Erev Tov - Good Evening! Section Alef Departure and Section Bet 4th through 9th grade Classes
Class is in session for Section Bet 4th through 9th graders!
8:00pm Lilah Tov - Goodnight! (Section Bet Departure)
11th grade and 12th grade
Various dates and times each month
Information varies by gathering; check the calendar for specifics.
Will your child be absent? Are they sick? Are you running late to arrival or dismissal? Please call the Youth and Family Education line at 612.234.2765. We appreciate hearing from you so we can best care for our students and be there for our families.
JAMI 5785 | Session information
Find all you need to know about our schedule, classrooms, and faculty.
JAMI 5785 | EIDOt (class cohorts)
Our JAMI classes are grouped into one- or two-grade eidot (cohorts). Explore each eidah below, including reading their curriculum guide, meeting their teacher(s), and subscribing to their Google or iCal Calendar. Reference the minimal hardcopy calendar here.
Pre-Kindergarten
Mishpachotim, or “Families”
Meet our Mishpachotim teacher, Alison Campbell!
Subscribe to the Mishpachotim Google Calendar here.
Mishpachotim meets downstairs at Shir Tikvah.
4th Grade & 5th Grade
Chofrimot, or “Excavators”
Meet our Chofrimot teachers, Rachel Poleke and Esther Ouray!
Subscribe to the Chofrimot Google Calendar here.
Chofrimot meets upstairs at Shir Tikvah.
6th Grade
Sho’elimot, or “Questioners”
Meet our Sho’elimot teachers, Barry Epstein and Jesse Goldfarb!
Subscribe to the Sho’elimot Google Calendar here.
Sho’elimot meets upstairs at Shir Tikvah.
7th Grade
Morimot, or “Teachers” and “Rebels”
Meet our Morimot teacher, Sarah-Rose Ballard!
Subscribe to the Morimot Google Calendar here.
Morimot meets downstairs at Shir Tikvah.
8th Grade & 9th Grade
Olimot, or “Risers”
Meet our Olimot teacher, Jim Cohn!
Subscribe to the Olimot Google Calendar here.
Olimot meets downstairs at Shir Tikvah.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Mensches, or “Do-Gooders”
Meet our Mensches teacher, Judy Simon!
Subscribe to the Mensches Google Calendar here.
Mensches meets upstairs at Shir Tikvah.
10th Grade
Tzadikimot, or “Righteous Ones”
Meet our Tzadikimot teacher, Dave Snyder! Rabbi Arielle will also be teaching.
Subscribe to the Tzadikimot Google Calendar here.
Tzadikimot meets downstairs at Shir Tikvah.
2nd Grade & 3rd Grade
Misaprimot, or “Storytellers”
Meet our Misaprimot teacher, Esther Ouray!
Subscribe to the Misaprimot Google Calendar here.
Misaprimot meets upstairs at Shir Tikvah.
11th Grade & 12th Grade
Manhigimot, or “Leaders”
Forrest is our Manhigimot teacher!
Subscribe to the Manhigimot Google Calendar here.
Manhigimot meets downstairs at Shir Tikvah, and offsite.
Or Levinson
Youth and Family Education Assistant
Find Or with your questions about registration, calendar, and volunteering.
Forrest Yesnes
Director of Youth and Family Education
Find Forrest with your questions about education at Shir Tikvah: our vision, curriculum, faculty, and events.
Raena Davison
Associate Director of Youth and Family Education
Find Raena with your questions about student inclusion and wellness.
Our leadership Team
Direct your questions to the appropriate member of our team. Forrest, Raena, and Or look forward to connecting with you!
Shir Tikvah Membership & JAMI Tuition
Being a member of Shir Tikvah is required before enrolling in JAMI. This is our way of saying, “We love having you as students and parents/guardians - and also, you matter to the whole congregation!” While JAMI and Youth and Family Education offerings are robust, there is even more to discover beyond this department and across Shir Tikvah! With inquiries about joining and your membership, be in touch with Nikolina Erickson-Gunther, Membership and Clergy Coordinator, at Nikolina@ShirTikvahMN.org.
JAMI costs are calculated based on our families’ experiences in our program. This includes factors like the number of hours each eidah meets, the learning and relationship-building with our staff and faculty, the materials that support student and parent/guardian education, the infrastructure necessary to host classes, and more.
Jewish education is central to Shir Tikvah's mission. Because this is core to who we are, Shir Tikvah supports 45% of our families' education costs in our operating budget. Another 15% of our families' education costs are covered by our annual awards from grants like those from the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Families are asked to pay for just 40% of their education costs, in the form of tuition. Read the Tuition Guide.
Shir Tikvah does not allow finances to stand between a student and their Jewish community. We will never deny a child a Jewish education because of financial constraints. If tuition cost is a barrier to participation, please indicate so in your registration form and apply for a tuition reduction. With inquiries about tuition, scholarship, and your account, be in touch with Jessica Markuson, Executive Director, at Jessica@ShirTikvahMN.org.
Our Faculty Team
Check out photos of our faculty during our Orientation sessions!
Rachel, Dave, and Rachel during Faculty Bingo.
Alison and Or swapping ideas.
WHY JAMI?
When it comes to Jewish community and education, Shir Tikvah families are looking for something different - something they cannot find everywhere else. They want their child to live by Jewish values - and they seek their synagogue’s support in making that happen. They yearn to be part of a community that knows their children - a community that looks out for them, raises them, teaches them. They pray their child has the courage and the strength to move through our ever-changing world - and they lean on Shir Tikvah to foster these skills.
And they seek an education program that honors their child - that treats them with respect, that excites them, that takes them seriously. They want their children to love Jewish learning and to understand Jewish life as deep and silly and sweet. They want something that speaks to their children - a school that helps their child embrace, make sense of, and wrestle with their peoplehood, history, and identity.
Shir Tikvah families dream of being part of something bigger, something warm - a place to belong.
This is why we created JAMI, our Jewish Academy for Moral Imagination. JAMI strives to address the interests of our students, meet the needs of our families, and equip our community members with skills to navigate our wild world. So, why JAMI?
JAMI students learn Jewish traditions and Torah stories - not for the sake of, but to build relationship with our people’s past in order to ground in and make sense of today’s world. JAMI students explore Jewish holidays and lifecycle events - not just because, but so they can actively participate in these important moments with their families and friends. Our students discover how to be mensches, how to read Hebrew, and how to pray. Instead of being taught to passively accept what they are presented, our students are encouraged to ask questions of, comment on, and critique our ancient texts. They learn how to advocate for what matters to them. They become change-makers and learned Jews. JAMI students imagine the world of their dreams and get equipped to make those dreams our reality.
JAMI students come to believe that being Jewish is not only who we are, but what we do.
And JAMI students engage in Jewish community with their parents/guardians and other loved ones. Whole families make up the JAMI community by showing up - schmoozing, singing, and studying together. They enjoy wrestling with fun and meaningful debates and rituals - both at Shir Tikvah and at home. They exchange big smiles, phone numbers, and budding perspectives with fellow families. They lend helping hands and listening ears. They share meals, rides, and advice. They celebrate and support fellow classmates.
JAMI families comfort, protect, and take care of one another.
What IS JAMI?
The Jewish Academy for Moral Imagination (JAMI) is Shir Tikvah's community learning program for young people of all ages, and their parents/guardians. The JAMI was established in response to an inspired revisioning of education at Shir Tikvah. It is a moving-on from "Religious School" and a look towards what a 21st Century Shir Tikvah family wants of and needs from their synagogue. Our Academy is a laboratory that explores questions like, How do I become more resilient? What does it take to have a brave heart? Where do I express my love in the world? Am I an agent of moral change?
Our Jewish Academy for Moral Imagination is a community of learners, curious and passionate, with insights and questions about Jewish beliefs and practices. Join us. Welcome to JAMI.
OUR VISION
Our holy task is to cultivate Jewish Moral Imagination and to raise Jewish moral actors.
OUR values
Our values guide us toward our vision and steer our curriculum.
TIKVAH | תִקוָה
HOPE
Like our ancestors, we believe in the potential of the future no matter how daunting.
ahavah | אַהֲבָה
LOVE
Our prayers help us to understand our relationship with each and every part of G~d's creation.
Our Lenses
We explore our tradition by…
Tending the life of the soul. Our sages teach us how to be our best and how to care for our needs.
Nurturing the communities we are part of with belonging and wholeness. Our mitzvot inform how we should behave as family members, neighbors, and human beings.
Growing skills to repair the world. Jews of old and Jews today lead the way - and it is our duty to learn from them as we too take the lead.
Our Lexicon
What is Jewish Moral Imagination?
Jewish Moral Imagination is the use of our tradition's teachings to inspire our creation of a better world. It is the process of identifying who we want to be and striving to become that person. It is exploring what impact we want to make and learning how to make it. It is the ability to live in our world as it is today and still dream about the world as it should be - and then fashioning it into our reality. Developing a Jewish Moral Imagination requires an authentic understanding of Jewish life and a clear purpose of what good to do with that understanding.
Who are Jewish moral actors?
Jewish moral actors are the young learners and leaders of our community. They eagerly approach their study with an eye toward doing great things with what they learn. Jewish moral actors are Jews of every ability, age, background, and perspective who take pride in and are deeply curious about their histories and identities. They model what it means to live as a Jew in the world today by acting righteously on their values. Jewish moral actors are the students in our Jewish Academy for Moral Imagination.
How do we cultivate Jewish Moral Imagination?
By fostering hope. By summoning courage. By expressing love. By tending the life of our soul. By nurturing the communities of which we are part with belonging and wholeness. By growing skills to repair our world.
Motivated by the lessons of our ancient texts, we face today's fears and injustices head-on.