The Morduck and Rebecca Kapiloff Religious School was dedicated in 1976. The school offers a varied curriculum that includes studies of Hebrew, Torah, halacha and Jewish law, ethics, values, life cycles, holidays, history and literature. United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the congregation arm of the Conservative movement, chose our curriculum to be a model for other Conservative movement schools.
The educational philosophy of the religious school is that every student should learn ruach, spirit for the love of learning to be Jewish, and kavod, respect for their peers and their elders,” says Director of Education Jill G. Epstein.
The school program is open to children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Kindergarten-through-second graders meet Sunday mornings. Third graders meet Sunday mornings and one weekday afternoon. Fourth-through-seventh graders meet Sundays and one weekday afternoon.
Religious school continues after Bar/Bat Mitzvah with an upper school seminar program,which culminates in Confirmation, and a post-seminar class for eleventh and twelfth graders led by Rabbi Pohl. The seminar program meets on Wednesday evenings, and the post-confirmation seminar class schedule is set by Rabbi Pohl.
Jill G. Epstein joined our staff in July 2001. She has extensive experience in Jewish education both as a director of education and a teacher. In the mid-1970s, she taught religious school at B’nai Shalom of Olney, and is excited to return to initiate and implement innovations in Jewish education. Mrs. Epstein has a master’s degree in Education and Human Development and a Family Education Certificate from George Washington University and College of Jewish Studies in Washington. She is on the board of a variety of professional organizations, including the Jewish Educators Association, Israel Quest lay and professional committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and Capital Camps.
In 2000, our religious school received a prestigious $4,000 Initiatives in Congregation Institutions grant from the Jewish Federation for a Jewish family education programs, which targeted various grades including a cluster grant with another neighboring congregation. With Mrs. Epstein’s experience in family education, these programs will surely continue.
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Download these forms to print them out. Forms can be sent or delivered to the B'nai Shalom of Olney Religious School at 18401 Burtfield Drive, Olney, MD 20832. Please contact the Religious School Office with any questions or concerns at 301-774-9323 or bso.rs@bnaishalomofolney.org