Young, religious school teachers returning to class
The madrichim program is implemented within numerous synagogues throughout America.
Published November 18, 2021
As students return to in-person school, Sunday school classes are also returning. For many, the shift from virtual religious education to in-person Sunday school classes was a major adjustment, especially for young Jewish educators, called madrichim.
In Hebrew, the word madrich translates to “leader” or “teacher.” As Sunday school teacher assistants, madrichim obtain the significant role of fostering the growth of Jewish education for the next generation of Jewish individuals.
Samara Landy, a sophomore at Clayton High School and member of Congregation B’nai Amoona, signed up to be a madrich during the height of the pandemic and has continued to fulfill this position at her congregation’s religious school.
“I taught sixth grade last year, and I was entirely online for the school year, which was not great,” Landy said. “This is my first year being a madrich in-person, and I am with the third-grade class. I also definitely prefer being a madrich this year compared to last year.”
Despite the apparent difficulties she encountered when first becoming a madrich during the pandemic, Landy was motivated to continue as a Jewish role model for elementary-age children.
“I signed up to teach Sunday school as a madrich because I used to go to the same Sunday school,” Landy said. “I also wanted to be a teacher to the kids that were not as willing to go, so they could have more fun and be excited to come to Sunday school. I am trying to show them that Hebrew school is fun to go to, and it can be a good experience.”
In order to shine a positive light and encourage Sunday school attendance, head teachers, with the assistance of madrichim, carry out a variety of educational and engaging activities. Alyssa Smith, a senior at Parkway Central High School and congregant of B’nai Amoona, detailed the schedule that students at her synagogue’s religious school follow each week.
“At the beginning of religious school, the kids are in their classroom for 15 minutes doing an activity,” Smith said. “Then, they have some sort of elective, whether that be music, learning about Israel or art. We are eventually adding in cooking. Then, they go back to their room for Hebrew lessons, and later they will have a break. At 11 a.m., they go to T’filah, and then they go home.”
Smith provides assistance to individual students as the inclusion specialist. Although this position differs from her past role as a teacher assistant in a specific classroom, the role is just as rewarding for Smith.
“I do a variety of things as the inclusion specialist,” Smith said. “I walk around to all of the different classrooms, and I see where I can help out with the kids. I also sit in the sensory room with kids, so if they need a break from the classroom, they can go in there. I feel like I am allowing my students to get a more flexible and comfortable Jewish experience as well. It is just fun getting to hang out with the kids.”
Andrew Goldberg, a senior at Parkway North High School and member of Congregation Shaare Emeth, has been promoted from assistant teacher to lead educator. Starting off as a madrich his freshman year of high school, Goldberg enjoys being a co-teacher alongside another Jewish educator.
“When I previously worked as a teacher assistant, it was more learning how to be a teacher and helping the teacher with background activities,” Goldberg said. “If markers were running low, I would go get more markers. I would be the one writing things on the board while the teacher was teaching. Now, my role has changed.”
With his new position, Goldberg now has greater autonomy in his classroom as a teacher and has been able to engage even more with the students.
“It’s great working with the kids, and I get to do that more as the head teacher,” Goldberg said. “My favorite part of teaching Sunday school is being able to pass down what I have learned through these years. I hope to impact my students by passing down my own Jewish traditions and knowledge. The message of L’dor V’dor, generation to generation, is very important to me.”
Although many madrichim including Landy, Smith and Goldberg have all been a part of the teacher assistant program for several consecutive years, others are just beginning to share their Jewish knowledge with young children. Carli Alper, a freshman at Parkway Central High School and congregant of United Hebrew, has fostered the growth of Jewish education among her class of kindergartners and first-graders as a madrich.
“It is interesting to see the different levels of learning and curiosity, and also what the kids know and what they want to know more about,” Alper said. “I hope that I am encouraging my students to actually like being Jewish and enjoy going to Sunday school. I definitely feel that students enjoying Sunday school is important to our future as a Jewish people because it is a gateway into other Jewish opportunities.
Throughout the remainder of the religious school year, madrichim will continue to share their Jewish experiences and knowledge with their students, some even planning their own lessons to teach in class.
