Jewish Children's Folkshul

Connecting Jews the world over with the past and future, our community celebrates the coming of the New Year with reflection on our actions of the past year, messages of hope and peace, and a celebration of a new season of possibilities. Come join our observance and enjoy our music, poetry and readings.

Together we affirm that as humanistic Jews we are responsible for our motives and actions, and we vow to amend for past injustices and commit to right action in the coming years. Our observance includes the Kol Nidre, a Nizkor (“We remember”) section and blowing of the shofar, among other meaningful reminders of our heritage.

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Come celebrate the holidays with a like-minded community!  Along with other members of “Kehilla for Secular Jews,” Jewish Children’s Folkshul presents meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur programs each year at the Greene Street Friends School Meetinghouse. The Meetinghouse is on School House Lane in Germantown, between Greene Street and Germantown Avenue, with plenty of free parking available in the bank lot next door. There is no charge to attend the programs, although donations are encouraged.

Following the observances of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Sukkot is marked by an outdoor celebration for the whole family, in which we build a sukkah and blend the traditional message of the holiday with a call for a more just society. Crafts, songs and a community picnic are made even more enjoyable by the beautiful surroundings of Fort Washington State Park.

On this holiday we celebrate the Jewish victories over tyranny and prejudice. We enjoy a program of songs and skits, followed by a Crafts Bazaar for holiday shopping. Playing dreidl, lighting candles, eating latkes – Chanukah is fun!

A joyous holiday, Tu B’Shevat holds special meaning for secular humanistic Jews as we celebrate the planting of trees as a way of restoring the earth.

On this holiday we celebrate another human victory over tyranny and prejudice. A Purim Parade shows off our Queen Esthers and Uncle Mordechais. The program gets better every year, followed by our Purim Carnival with games and prizes. And hamentashen for everyone!

Folkshul holds a humanistic Passover seder to bring the community together and teach the importance of freedom for all. With our new secular Haggadah, the community reviews the historical underpinnings of the holiday and continues to raise awareness of today’s societal challenges.

Folkshul participates in the city-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration. In 2005 our 7th and 8th grade classes, teachers and parents had brunch at Federation headquarters, where they met and interacted with Holocaust survivors. Along with the  Kehilla for Secular Jews, Folkshul laid a wreath at the Monument to the Six Million Jewish Martyrs on the Parkway, and some participated in the March of the Children observance.

Folkshul celebrates the importance of Israel to Jews and Jewish life. In learning about Israeli Independence Day, our students also enjoy a special “Israel Day” each year complete with a giant walk-on map, middle Eastern foods, workshops, speakers and lots of fun and learning.