Family Enrichment Experiences

Enrichment experiences will be adapted for the 2022-23 year in accordance with health guidelines while continuing to reflect Open Temple’s commitment to creativity and meaning-making.

The Torah begins with the story of a Jewish family. They are dynamic. They are complex. They became something so great, we are still wrestling with their thoughts, ideas and legacy through our storytelling. Open Temple begins with you. And your family. You are dynamic. You are complex. You are becoming something great as a family emerging and turning through the thoughts, ideas and legacy of our storytelling tradition.

All families are encouraged to engage in Enrichment experiences, which include both observances and “Happenings” for Holiday celebrations: High Holiday Ritual Labs, celebrations for Sukkot, Hanukah, and Purim, and a Shabbat dinner experience, Sukkot on the AK Farm, Hanukah on the Canal Parade, and our Purim Dance Party. In addition, all students (with or without their families) are invited to join Arts 36 when we visit a local museum, have a Wilderness experience in the mountains, prepare a Shabbat dinner for our community and engage in a direct impact Service Project together.

Additionally, families will be given “kits” throughout the year with instructions and ritual objects (some created by their students in class) to bring Jewish ritual and moments home. We encourage families to capture these home rituals through posting to our Facebook page or making a video which can be shared with the community.

Enduring Understandings:

• Judaism is a Living Experience that is accessed through Ritual, Community and Moments of Awe.
• Creativity is a way to express one’s spirituality and understand concepts like God, Biblical Characters, History and Ritual.
• Spiritual practices like prayer are a way to express one’s emotions of gratitude, praise, joy, regret, sadness in connection to what is going on with their lives right now.
• Religion is interpretive and personal as well as transmitted and communal.

Registration is now open for Fall 2022/5783. For further inquiry and to sign up:

School Fees

Open Temple believes that participation in Creative Torah Academy is for the whole family and requires that families become Open Temple co-creators before beginning Creative Torah Academy. If our suggested membership rates aren’t affordable for your family, please contact us and we will work something out.

Our 2022-2023 rates are as follows:

Arts 36 (6-9): $1800/year

Venice Yeshiva (9-11): $1800/year

B Mitzvah: $6500

Creative Torah Academy Arts 36 was designed thanks to the generous support of the Etzah Fellowship at the American Jewish University Fingerhut School of Education by Rabbi Lori Shapiro.