Sholem Community

Just thought I’d share my own experience in case someone else is looking for a similar experience!
Last year after deciding I wanted to expose my kids to some Jewish History and Culture I checked out the Sholem Community. My husband isn’t Jewish, but I am and I have found that since I don’t have any family here in LA, that my kids have missed out on enjoying Jewish celebrations and cultural traditions that were part of my life as a child. I wasn’t looking for a religious school, just a place to expose my kids to stories, food, people, music, history and other cultural aspects. It is a very laid back atmosphere with a welcoming environment. I was mainly interested in their ‘cultural Sunday school’ for kids and was really impressed with the older kids who had been a part of the community for years– They were all down to earth, socially active, progressive, independent thinkers, I admired their confidence. I also liked that most of the members are couples from interfaith marriages from all over Los Angeles. My kids have been attending the Sunday school for the past year and are finally being exposed to little things I took for granted.

Love love love Sholem and the community it affords. My eldest daughter is in Sunday school there and has loved it from day one (ii was prepared to only go once). the teachers are so lovely… they make learning about Jewish culture a pleasure and joy for the kids. It’s Hebrew school w/​out any of the pain or Hebrew :) The kids sing Yiddish songs, learn about their culture, about being social activists and humanists in this complex world. My wee one is in Bagel and Blocks… a once a month program for babies and toddlers. My daughter LOVES it and so do i, most especially the amazing teacher of B&B. Songs, games, books about the Holidays, bagels, crafts… pretty amazing and all for ten dollars a class. Great community!

I grew up in a bacon-​eating, Jewish-​joke telling, culturally Jewish family, uninvolved with Judaism or any organized religion (other than our annual holiday gatherings complete with Christmas trees and Easter eggs.) My first exposure to the Sholem Community was when I attended their wonderful secular Jewish High Holidays observance that was meaningful, moving, and without any mention of God. Years later, married to an equally non-​religious non-​Jew and seeking to provide our young daughter with some sense of her Jewish identity, I returned to check out Sholem’s secular Sunday school.
After some initial resistance on her part, I was delighted when our girl told me after attending about six times, «I wish Sholem were every day!» We signed up and have been coming for a little over a year now. The kids learn about Jewish culture, history, traditions and progressive values (and in my daughter’s class, the Hebrew alphabet plus a Yiddish word each week, like «schlep», «kvetch» and «mensch» — not too shabby!) I’ve been impressed with the terrific teachers, thoughtful curriculum, engaging adult activities, and warm community of families.
If you’re Jewish but not religious, in a relationship with someone who is, or part of a multi-​cultural family, I highly recommend checking out the Sholem Community.

My son and I have been members of Sholem for the past 7 years. We joined when he was 10 because he wanted to – one of his friends belonged – and it has been an extremely positive experience for him. All the kids who were in his bar mitzvah class still go to the Sholem school and work as belfers (teacher’s aids). The children and teens form close bonds that remain strong even after the teens have graduated and gone away to college. The community is warm, inclusive, and full of smart, engaged adults and children. I am not a joiner, but these folks made me feel relaxed and welcome. I really can’t praise Sholem highly enough. It has made a tremendous difference in my son’s life.

The Sholem Community is truly incredible — a welcoming haven for secular-​minded Jews who still long to connect with others, but do not «connect» to the more religious aspects of Jewish culture. Sholem («peace» in Yiddish) has been my community for over 8 years, and has helped me to answer many questions about my Jewish identity, my «Jewishness.» My only wish is that more Angelenos who strongly identify with their Jewish culture but not necessarily with religious Judaism (and I know there are many) would find their way to Sholem and experience it for themselves!