GCJC Religious School students share pandemic experiences

| April 29, 2021

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In March 2020, when the Garden City Jewish Center (GCJC) transitioned all in-person activities onto Zoom, its Sunday Religious School classes went online, too.

Carolyn Hoera, longtime Garden City resident, former GCJC president, current Membership Chair, resident photographer, and Religious School principal for more than 30 years, faced the task of transforming her Sunday School lesson plans into an online format that would help students stay connected and feel supported by the GCJC during a prolonged period of extreme social isolation.

By this past January, Hoera reported, “Our religious school students are ahead in their studies, and we teachers are grateful to the families for helping us keep this structure and stability in all of our lives. We are all enjoying the Zoom services, songs and prayers (often co-conducted by Chippy the chipmunk, as Rabbi’s assistant), the breakout rooms, the individual lessons and the socialization and fun that we manage to find each week. We try to slip in some simple therapy, too.”

Recognizing the historical significance of the moment, Hoera wrote a 10-question survey and informed the congregation, “I have been gathering questionnaires from the students about their reactions and coping strategies to the current pandemic situation. I hope everyone will complete their entries as I compile the information into a book for our Temple library and for the American Jewish Archives, where it will become a historical report for future generations.”

With Rabbi Stephen Goodman’s help motivating the children to send in their responses, Hoera began to compile Student Reactions to the Global 2020-2021 Pandemic. The publication includes personal responses from the students, Hoera, Rabbi Goodman, Student Cantor Rachel Weston, and the teaching staff.

In its opening pages, Hoera writes, “I give sincere thanks to our wonderful group of students for their bravery, patience, humor, enthusiasm, and honesty in answering these questions. They have helped us get a little insight into how this very challenging and frightening year has affected them.”

The religious school students range in age from 6 to 15, and they live in different towns, where each school district conducted either in-person, all remote, or a hybrid combination of school lessons, in an attempt to meet the needs of staff and students while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

To request a PDF copy of Student Reactions to the Global 2020-2021 Pandemic , email info@gardencityjewishcenter.org.

The Garden City Jewish Center is an inclusive Reform congregation. Membership is open to all Jews, those interested in becoming Jewish, dual-faith families, singles, and students. Rabbi Stephen Wise Goodman has been the spiritual leader of the Garden City Jewish Center for more than 35 years.