About B'Yachad
B’Yachad means “being together.”
In the Fall of 2022, the Springfield synagogues Sinai Temple and Temple Beth El religious schools joined together as an exciting new learning community. Our school’s goal is to create a robust and rich Jewish education, to nurture a vibrant Jewish community, and to inspire students to love Judaism as a source of wisdom and a way of life. We work to create a pluralistic and inclusive learning environment for all our students and families and to empower each person with the knowledge to navigate their Jewish identities in the world with strength, confidence, joy, and pride.
History
B'Yachad is the culmination of many years of effort and discussion by congregants, Rabbis, and staff at both Temples, and builds on many of the principles developed by those who worked on this project in the past. B’Yachad will continue to employ the shared teachers and curricula that have been used in both schools this past year. The development of B’Yachad is being steered by a Board of parents, officers, and educators from both synagogues.
Learning
The school, designed to serve more than seventy students between grades Pre-K through 12, will meet on Sundays from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM with individualized Hebrew education during the week. There will be in-person and virtual options for Hebrew tutoring during the year. The 2024-2025 school classes will be held at Sinai Temple. B’nai Mitzvot, Confirmation, and other life cycle rituals will continue to be conducted by each synagogue, and supervised by the Rabbis.
Prayer & Worship
Tefillah (prayer) is a practice. Each Sunday morning we will gather for Family Minyan, students and parents together, for a 30 minute service. Here we learn prayers and songs and spend time contemplating together. In addition, we will gather for a handful of Shabbat services and meals throughout the school year, alternating between Friday nights and Shabbat mornings.
B'nai Mitvah preparation will be under the purview of the home synagogue. Families will meet with their respective Rabbi to learn about the home synagogues customs for B'nai Mitzvah preparation. This largely begins 2-3 years in advance of the big day.