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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crash Courses in Hebrew Reading and Basic Judaism, One Day Hebrew Reading Review help Jews feel more comfortable in Synagogue NEW YORK, August 20 - The National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) today announced that it will be sponsoring free classes at 201 sites across the country to help Jews with little or no background in Judaism or the Hebrew language prepare for the High Holidays. By participating in these programs now, individuals will be able to follow along in a prayer book and feel more connected to Judaism by Rosh Hashanah, which begins on the evening of September 26th. "A feeling of discomfort is one of the most common reasons that Jews don't attend synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur," says Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, founder and director of NJOP. "Often, people feel intimidated because they can't follow along in a prayer book or they don't know the basics of Jewish life and worship. NJOP's goal is to make all Jews, regardless of their background or education, feel comfortable enough to go to High Holiday services. Our Crash Courses and the One Day Review have been designed specifically for that purpose." The Hebrew Reading Crash Course focuses on teaching the Hebrew alphabet and reading skills. In only five 1-1/2 hour sessions, participants learn to read Hebrew and follow along in a prayer book. All students will receive a free copy of NJOP's Hebrew primer, which will enable them to practice reading at home. By the end of the course, students are noticeably more at ease reading the basic prayers in Hebrew. As a student from Glen Cove, New York, said, "I took the five week Crash Course, and now I can actually read from our prayer book at Friday night services. It's a wonderful feeling." Those who have completed the Crash Course in the past, or who already know how to read Hebrew, albeit slowly, can take either a Level II Hebrew Reading Crash Course to advance their skills, or a One Day Review to brush up before the holidays. The Level II course features four modules that use many of Judaism's central prayers as practice texts, making it a perfect segue into the High Holiday season. The One Day Review is an ideal refresher, offering a concise review of the material learned in the Crash Course. The Crash Course in Basic Judaism is a five-week lecture series providing a basic introduction to Jewish philosophy and observance. Topics covered are: Belief in G-d, Prayer, the Sabbath, Jewish Observance, and Sexuality. The up-beat course emphasizes the positive aspects of Jewish life. As an NJOP student from South Pasadena, California, notes, "The Crash Course in Basic Judaism is a great chance for those of us who fell through the cracks of assimilation. It's a wonderful, soul-satisfying opportunity to claim what has always been mine, and until now, eluded me!" "By offering positive Jewish experiences, NJOP is able to demystify some of Judaism and help newcomers feel more comfortable walking into a synagogue for the first time," says Rabbi Buchwald. For information and locations on these courses, please call 1-800-44 (TORAH).
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