The Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel 2018 confirmands with temple clergy are, front row, from left, Cantor Joan Finn, Darcy Wollard, Orlie White, Carly Lerman, Alexa Stephan, Eliana Mischel, Grace Bratter, Leah Fergus and Rabbi Alexandra Klein; middle row, from left, Cantor Rebecca Moses, Jakob Slade, Ethan Halperin, Abigail Ratner, Daniella Rothstein, Benjamin Gertner and Rabbi Daniel Cohen; and top row, from left, Daniel Teitelbaum, Jack Parry, Jillian Fishback, Olivia Hirsch, Abby Strugger and Jonathan Cutler.
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Eighteen students from Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel in South Orange celebrated their confirmation during the Friday evening service on May 18. The 10th-graders have completed a year of study with synagogue clergy members that focused on various aspects of Jewish identity, preparing them to become active members of the Jewish community. The curriculum includes modules on developing a personal theology, explorations of the Jewish immigrant identity and contemporary obligations to follow the commandment to “care for the stranger in our midst.” The teens also enjoyed a field trip to New York City’s Lower East Side to explore the history of Jewish immigration, and Jewish food and culture.
The students prepared and led a meaningful service for the holiday of Shavuot, an ancient festival that has its roots in agriculture but also celebrates the receiving of the Torah. During the service, they shared their personal interpretations of prayers and their experiences over the course of the year as confirmation students. Many of them also read from the Torah. The celebration was enjoyed by family, friends and the greater TSTI community.
The 2018 confirmands include: Maplewood’s Darcy Wollard, Orlie White, Eliana Mischel, Grace Bratter, Leah Fergus, Ethan Halperin, Benjamin Gertner and Abby Strugger; and South Orange’s Carly Lerman, Alexa Stephan, Jakob Slade, Abigail Ratner, Daniella Rothstein, Daniel Teitelbaum, Jack Parry, Jillian Fishback, Olivia Hirsch and Jonathan Cutler.
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