JEWISH LEARNING EXPERIENCES (JLE) at Tikkun v’Or (“jelly”) provides creative, interactive, and 
progressive Reform Jewish education for children in kindergarten through 7th grade. Our curriculum includes history, holidays, ethics, Torah, Israel, and Hebrew. Classes meet on Sunday mornings. Sixth and seventh grade students also meet on Wednesdays for additional Hebrew studies and preparation for becoming b-mitzvah.
Kitah Gan and Alef (kindergarten and grade 1) is a FAMILY JLE program, meeting from 10-11:30 am one Saturday a month. Family JLE is for students in kindergarten and first grade, with at least one parent or caregiver staying for the program. Rabbi Tziona Szajman leads activities for holidays, Shabbat, and Torah learning. It includes music, movement, stories, and crafts, and learning opportunities for children and adults.
We welcome all Jewish students, regardless of the childs’ and parent(s)’ religious backgrounds, ethnic identities, race, family configuration, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. We have many interfaith LGBTQ+ families and children, people who are newly discovering Jewish connections, as well as those with a wide range of Jewish experiences.
We are pleased to work with many different kinds of learners, including students with special challenges. We will do our best to accommodate and nurture all students “al pi darko” (“according to their ways”).
Naomi Wilensky is the Education Director. Our teachers are community members, sometimes assisted by college students from nearby Ithaca College and Cornell University. Middle and high school students help out as madrichol. Parent volunteers are always welcome, especially to help with our chugim (electives) — a chance for students to choose activities such as Jewish music, cooking, art, dance, and more. We use the Hineini: The New Hebrew for Prayer series as on of several resource texts for Hebrew.
Tuition assistance is provided by Ithaca Area United Jewish Community. Requests for assistance should be sent attn: Presidents. Please fill out this tuition assistance form.
Summer Camp: Has your child been talking about overnight camp? Have you looked at Jewish overnight camps? Ask about IAUJC Summer Camp and Teen Experience Camperships or download an application here. More information about Jewish camps is available at iaujc.org,
Photos of many of our recent activities can be found on the TVO Facebook page. and here.
Highlights this year included:
Making our own shofarot for the High Holidays
Celebrating Sigd with students from the Cornell Ethiopian/Eritean Club
Percussion workshop with Marne Oshae
Setting prayer intentions through Qigong with Will Fuderman
A Day in the Woods and Chanukah Bonfire with Kitah vav/zayin
Creating a Tikkun v’Orchestra with klezmer musician Jennie Lavine
Purim theater with Sarah Plotkin
