Welcome back! We hope your summer has been restful, joyful, and filled with meaningful experiences. As we step into another vibrant year of youth and family programming at JCOGS, we are thrilled to share some exciting updates and introduce new faces who will help bring even more warmth, learning, and connection to our community.
Enrollment for the 2025-26 year is officially open and can be found here! Below, you’ll find your new instructors and newly-structured programs:
🌱 Tot Shabbat is now called Shoresh, which means “root” in Hebrew—because this is where it all begins! Shoresh is for kiddos from birth through age 7 and meets monthly on Saturdays from 10:00–11:30am. Alongside Rabbi David, these programs will be taught by Katie Yoskowitz, who will guide our young families program with her longtime early and elementary childhood educator experience, and her love of Jewish learning and community engagement. First day: September 13 at 10am.
🌉 Our Wednesday program, Olam Chesed Club, is now called Gesher, meaning “bridge”—symbolizing the crucial years of building identity and connection. Gesher is for children in grades 2–5and meets Wednesdays from 4:15–6:30pm. Rabbi David will be instructing alongside Sarah Villanueva, our new Youth & Family Coordinator, a trained special educator specializing in elementary education and world religions. Sarah has a passion for Jewish education, history, and social justice. First day: September 10 at 4:15pm.
🕍 With her decades-long experience teaching Jewish education, Atara Jaffe will lead our Hebrew Pods with her dynamic energy and passion for Hebrew language learning. Our weekly online Hebrew program for grades 2–5 offers a supportive environment where students build confidence and skills in reading, writing, and learning Hebrew as it relates to their larger Jewish education. First day: September 11.
📘 We’re also thrilled to introduce a new program: the Pre-Mitzvah program for 6th graders, a stepping stone into the Mitzvah program (meeting concurrently with Pre-Mitzvah) . Taught by longtime and beloved JCOGS educator, Amy Rosenthal, this program will meet Sunday mornings from 10:00am–12:00pm, with an additional monthly Saturday session with Rabbi David to give students the chance to participate in Shabbat morning services.
We’re incredibly excited about all the ways your children will learn, grow, and connect this year—rooted in tradition, reaching toward the future, and always grounded in community. Stay tuned for more details and calendars coming your way!
L’shalom,
Rabbi David Fainsilber Sarah Villanueva, M.Ed
Jewish Community of Greater Stowe 1189 Cape Cod Road Stowe, VT 05672 jcogs.org
