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:
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 *
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.
- Sunday, Dec. 8, 4-5:30pm – Sip & Schmooze. Imagine your kiddo playing with some games, you enjoying a cocktail (or mocktail!) while connecting with other Jewish families… All before dinner time! RSVP by emailing Cara Abrams at cara@shaarietorah.org.
WHO
Families with kids 0-5. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.
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.
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
- No Shabbat Community – Saturday, Dec. 21 – due to Winter Break
- 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
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.
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.
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!
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
- Sunday mornings (most 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month)
- Shabbat mornings (3rd Saturdays of the month)
- Family and Communal Holiday Celebrations
- 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.
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
SUNDAY PROGRAM DETAILS
- 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
UPCOMING DATES
2024
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Dec. 15: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Saturday, Dec. 21: NO SHABBAT COMMUNITY (Winter Break)
- Sunday, Dec. 22: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Winter Break)
- Sunday, Dec. 29: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Winter Break)
2025
- Sunday, Jan. 5: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Jan. 12: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Saturday, Jan. 18: NO SHABBAT COMMUNITY (MLK Day Weekend)
- Sunday, Jan. 19: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (MLK Day Weekend)
- Sunday, Jan 26: Mensch Community *Family Communal Service Experience* Details TBA
- Sunday, Feb. 2: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Feb. 9: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Saturday, Feb. 15: Shabbat Community, 10:30-11:45am
- Sunday, Feb. 16: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday session after 3rd Shabbat)
- Sunday, Mar. 2: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Sunday, Mar. 9: Mensch Community, 9:30am-12pm
- Thursday, Mar. 13: Communal Purim Gathing, 6:30pm
- Saturday, Mar. 15: Shabbat Community, 10:30-11:45am
- Sunday, Mar. 16: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (No Sunday session after 3rd Shabbat)
- Sunday, Mar. 23: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Spring Break)
- Sunday, Mar. 30: NO MENSCH COMMUNITY (Spring Break)
"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
