Our approach is both child-centered and family-centered. We believe in focusing on “the whole family” which supports a young person’s overall growth and development, including the Jewish identity of each child. This is holy work in our eyes.
We care about knowing you, your child, and your family. We strive to create access and entry points for all Jewish family make-ups regardless of previous education and/or experiences.
We look forward to meeting you!
Our youth & family programming and approach are guided by four core values:
FUN
We believe in supporting positive Jewish identity through developmentally appropriate learning that is joyful at its core – and therefore fun!
CHARACTER
We believe in cultivating kindness and practicing being our best selves in a world full of division and isolation. Jewish wisdom offers tools and practices to cultivate these traits, called middot, or soul-traits.
COMMUNITY
We believe in creating authentic relationships and a sense of belonging for our youth and their families, building connections with the greater Shaarie Torah community as well as the greater Portland metro community.
CONFIDENCE
We believe in providing access to Judaism’s wisdom through exposure, and customizing learning goals based on specific skills/areas of content important to each family. This value helps bring to life our student- and family-centered approach.
K'tantan
Community
* A combination of Holidays, Shabbat, and Sunday mornings *
* Kids ages 0-5 *
* Families together *
* Kids ages 0-5 *
* Families together *
Shabbat community
* 7 Shabbat mornings *
* All ages welcome *
* Families together *
* All ages welcome *
* Families together *
holiday community
* 7 Holiday experiences *
* All ages welcome *
* Families together *
* All ages welcome *
* Families together *
Mensch
Community
* 14 Sunday mornings
7 Shabbat mornings
7 Holiday experiences
2 Communal Service programs
* Kids in grades K-8 *
* Families join at times *
7 Shabbat mornings
7 Holiday experiences
2 Communal Service programs
* Kids in grades K-8 *
* Families join at times *
Mensch Community
Shabbat Community
K'tantan Community
Holiday Community
Mensch Community
WHAT
Mensch Community is a consistent learning community for kids in grades K – 8 which also invites active family participation to build community amongst families and with the greater Shaarie Torah community. Our learning experiences and goals are inspired by our educational values: Fun, Character, Community, and Confidence, explained in detail above. To learn about our customized approach to preparing for and marking becoming B’nai Mitzvah, visit our Lifecycle page! Mensch Community is a community of families who participate in our Holiday and Shabbat Communities in addition to prioritizing approx. 3 Sunday mornings a month. Through the participation in all these community experiences, kids and families are offered the opportunities to celebrate Shabbat and holidays both inside and outside of Shaarie Torah, engage in acts of chesed / communal service in our local community, as well as experience fun, developmentally-appropriate Jewish learning together with age cohorts on Sunday mornings.WHEN
- 14 Sunday mornings (most 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month)
- 7 Shabbat mornings (3rd Saturdays of the month)
- 7 family and communal holiday celebrations
- 2 family communal service experiences
WHO
Our cohorts are grouped by age, depending on who is in our community each year. There are opportunities to gather as a larger community of all ages, as well as learning time in age-specific cohorts. This coming year (2024-2025) there will be an elementary school cohort and two middle school cohorts. Email Cara Abrams to learn more about your family exploring Mensch Community, or any youth and family programming. Enrollment is open now and all are welcome, members and non-members alike.SATURDAY PROGRAM DETAILS
- Family Mensch Community *parents and siblings present with students and leaders*
- Family Shabbat Program
- 10:30am – 11:45am (followed by Communal Shabbat Kiddush Luncheon around 1!:45am)
- Downstairs Chapel
- Family Mensch Community *parents and siblings present with students and teachers*
- Community, Coffee + Snacks
- 9:30am – 10:00am
- Upper Foyer
- Mensch Community *kids only, age-based cohorts*
- Learning Session
- 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Classrooms
- Sunday, Sept 8: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday sessions pre-High Holidays)
- Sunday, Sept 15: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday sessions pre-High Holidays)
- Saturday, Sept 21: Shabbat Community, 10:30-11:45am
- Sunday, Sept 22: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday session after 3rd Shabbat)
- Sunday, Sept 29: Mensch Community High Holidays Art Activity, 10am-12pm
- Thursday, Oct 3: Mensch Community Family Rosh HaShanah Experience, 10-11:30am
- Sunday, Oct 6: Mensch Community Family Tashlich Experience, 1pm at a park
- Saturday, Oct 12: Mensch Community Family Yom Kippur Experience, 10-11:30am
- Sunday, Oct 13: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday sessions High Holidays)
- Saturday, Oct 19: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday sessions High Holidays)
- Sunday, Oct 20: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday sessions High Holidays)
- Sunday, Oct 20: Mensch Community Family Sukkot Dinner, 6:30-7:30pm
- Thursday, Oct 24, 6:30pm: Community Simchat Torah Celebration
- Sunday, October 27: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Nov 3: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Nov 10: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Veterans Day Weekend)
- Saturday, Nov 16: Shabbat Community, 10:30-11:45am
- Sunday, Nov 17: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday session after 3rd Shabbat)
- Sunday, Nov 24: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Thanksgiving Break)
- Sunday, Dec 1: Mensch Community Family Rosh Chodesh Service & Lunch, 10am-12pm
- Sunday, Dec 8: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Dec 15: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Dec 22: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Winter Break)
- Sunday, Dec 29: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Winter Break)
Shabbat Community
WHAT: Shabbat Community is an experience designed for families with kids of any age. Our hope is for families to experience the joy of tefillah (prayer) in community as a family, while engaging kids in a range of modalities – song, making music, movement, and more. Each service includes a short Parsha Play acted out by kids as well as a visit to the main service to carry a mini Torah through the community.
WHEN: Most 3rd Saturdays of Month, see dates below.
10:30am-11:45am – Family Shabbat Program – Downstairs Chapel
(approx.) 11:45am – Communal Shabbat Kiddush Luncheon – Downstairs Social Hall
WHO: Families with kids of any age. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
Interested in joining us? Use our interest form here to get notified of upcoming events and connect with us! Email Cara Abrams at cara@shaarietorah.org to receive details about parking and building entrance.
WHEN: Most 3rd Saturdays of Month, see dates below.
10:30am-11:45am – Family Shabbat Program – Downstairs Chapel
(approx.) 11:45am – Communal Shabbat Kiddush Luncheon – Downstairs Social Hall
- Saturday, Sept. 21
- No Shabbat Community – Saturday, Oct. 19 – due to High Holidays
- Saturday, Nov. 16
- Saturday, Dec. 21
- No Shabbat Community – Saturday, Jan. 18 – due to MLK Day Weekend
- Saturday, Feb. 15
- Saturday, Mar. 15
- Saturday, Apr. 19
- Saturday, May 17 – Special 5th Grade La’Alot (Rising) Ceremony
WHO: Families with kids of any age. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
Interested in joining us? Use our interest form here to get notified of upcoming events and connect with us! Email Cara Abrams at cara@shaarietorah.org to receive details about parking and building entrance.
K'tantan Community
WHAT: K’tantan Community is designed to support and engage parents and their young kids, ages 0-5. Our goal is to foster a sense of community, as a group of parents of young kids as well as with the larger Shaarie Torah community. As this program develops in its second year, when and where we gather will be shifting and evolving based on the needs and capacities of participating families.
K’tantan comes from the word k’tan קטן meaning small, little, and was also the star of popular children’s stories in the 1940s, called K’tonton. Many families find their way to Jewish community when their kids are in this early stage of development, and our K’tantan Community aspires to meet the range of backgrounds of today’s modern Jewish families.
WHEN: K’tantan Community will gather for select Holiday celebrations, Shabbat mornings and Sunday mornings at Shaarie Torah, as well as home- and park-based social gatherings according to families’ availability and location.
Specific dates and times for the upcoming 2024-2025 / 5784-5785 year TBA. You can also use our interest form here to get notified when dates are solidified or request to connect directly with Education Director, Cara Abrams.
WHO: Families with kids 0-5. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
K’tantan comes from the word k’tan קטן meaning small, little, and was also the star of popular children’s stories in the 1940s, called K’tonton. Many families find their way to Jewish community when their kids are in this early stage of development, and our K’tantan Community aspires to meet the range of backgrounds of today’s modern Jewish families.
WHEN: K’tantan Community will gather for select Holiday celebrations, Shabbat mornings and Sunday mornings at Shaarie Torah, as well as home- and park-based social gatherings according to families’ availability and location.
Specific dates and times for the upcoming 2024-2025 / 5784-5785 year TBA. You can also use our interest form here to get notified when dates are solidified or request to connect directly with Education Director, Cara Abrams.
WHO: Families with kids 0-5. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
Holiday Community
WHAT
Holiday Community is a celebratory experience designed for families with kids of any age, with some experiences custom designed for a certain age group. Our hope is for families to experience celebrating and engaging in themes of each holiday as a family, at times with other families and at times with the greater Shaarie Torah community.WHEN:
- Sunday, Sept. 29 – 10:00am – 12:00pm – High Holidays Art Activity – Designed for families with kids 6-14: you must RSVP to participate in this hands-on fun! Email cara@shaarietorah.org to receive details.
- Thursday, Oct. 3 – 10:00am – 11:30am – Family Rosh HaShanah Experience – Designed for families with kids all ages: imagine kid-friendly service followed by activities for 0-5 and 6-14
- Sunday, Oct. 6 – 1:00pm – Family Tashlich Experience – Designed for families with kids all ages: imagine kid-friendly short program followed by family Tashlich (casting) ritual at creek. Westmoreland Park, 7530 SE 22nd Ave.
- Saturday, Oct. 12 – 10:00am – 11:30am – Family Yom Kippur Experience – Designed for families with kids all ages: imagine kid-friendly service followed by activities for 0-5 and 6-14
- Thursday, Oct. 24 – 6:30pm – Community Simchat Torah Celebration – Designed for the greater Shaarie Torah community, and families welcome!
WHO
Families with kids of any age. All are welcome, members and non-members alike. Interested in joining us? Use our interest form here to get notified of upcoming events and connect with us! Email Cara Abrams at cara@shaarietorah.org to receive details about parking and building entrance. All are welcome.
"While studying kavod (honor)
I noticed that I was trying to be
more kind to my sibling."
I noticed that I was trying to be
more kind to my sibling."
Mae Cutler, 8th Grade
mensch community student
