From Diana Solomon, VP of Education, Holy Blossom Temple Board:

My name is Diana Solomon. This past November, I joined the Board as Vice-President of Education, overseeing the Youth Education Centre (YEC), Early Childhood Centre (ECC), and the Adult Education program. My family joined HBT when I was in my late teens, so I had “aged out” of Sunday school by that time. But I do have a connection to the Education department. My mom was a student in the program many years ago and I have pointed out her class picture to my kids while walking up the stairs to their classrooms. I feel lucky to have been asked to be a part of the Education department – it offers something for everyone at HBT no matter your age.

My husband and I became involved in Temple life, or more specifically, invested in it once we had kids. We met other families at HBT with kids the same age as ours through the YEC. We got to know the teachers, the Rabbis, and the cantor because we were seeing them each week even if only for a brief greeting. I participated in classes with Rabbi Helfman and other parents on Sunday mornings pre-COVID. I was a Parent Volunteer in my kids’ classes. We joined in family programs like the Purim festival, and Sukkot celebrations, and had fun on Simcha Torah. In short, HBT became more familiar and personal to us – we were becoming part of a wonderful, diverse, and inspiring community with a passion for learning.

Like many things during COVID, the member-run committees, which have always enriched the offerings of the Education department, came to an unfortunate halt. With the pandemic hopefully behind us, we want to re-engage YOU, the parents.

So! This is the green light to GET INVOLVED. Share your ideas with us! Tell us what made you want to enrol your kids in the YEC. Tell us what you love about Holy Blossom. Tell us what you would like to do to make programs even more enriching. We have several parent groups which we are re-establishing and are looking for members to bring their ideas, talents, and energy to join us in this rejuvenation. This list currently includes:

• Parent Chevra (class parents)
• B’nei Mitzvah
• Library
• Youth activities

Our goal is to make the Education department stand out from all the rest – we want it to once again be one of the main reasons why people join HBT and why members of all ages are committed to HBT.

Children who are a part of the YEC, have always felt a part of the community at HBT from a young age. And the goal is that they strengthen their roots here, develop relationships with their peers, they foster a love of learning and inquiry and that they become thoughtful and active members of and leaders in the HBT community and in the community at large. In short, the Education department plays a huge role in our kids’ life, their Jewish identity, and their commitment to leading a Jewish life and all that it offers.

I would love to hear from you. You can contact me at [email protected]