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Community Corner

Temple Beth Rishon (TBR) Welcomes Israeli Educator, Gonen Arad, as New Religious School Director. State of the Art Education Facility and New Direction Make TBR the "Best in Class"

Temple Beth Rishon, the leading liberal egalitarian synagogue in Northern New Jersey, named Gonen Arad the director of Religious School at the Henry and Elaine Kaufman Learning Center at TBR.

Arad is an Israeli born educator trained at U.S. institutions of higher learning, who will direct and manage education at the Temple’s new education facility, which was launched in a gala ceremony in May.

Laura J. Freeman, President of TBR, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Gonen Arad, a world class educator who will take our TBR religious school to a new level of excellence.” She concluded, “Gonen was born in a Kibbutz near Haifa. Growing up in a Kibbutz emphasized to him the beauty and the benefits of living in a solid community that shares values and beliefs. It’s that spirit, and that message, we want to bring to our school, and to families throughout northern New Jersey.”

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Gonen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Ruppin College in July, 2001 and Master’s Degree in Jewish education from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in May, 2007.

In the last ten years, he worked in Jewish Education in several communities on the east coast, and experienced the variety of secular and Jewish organizations that engage with Jews and Jewish issues. He believes that as a Jewish educator, he is charged with the deep and important responsibility of bringing Jews to Judaism and Judaism to Jews, and creating an environment that is warm and welcoming – for members of the Jewish community and others alike.

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Arad said, “I am happy to join this vibrant Jewish community, which is so dedicated to education at all levels, and to cultivating the values of egalitarian Judaism in its children.” I look forward to working with Laura, temple leadership, parents and the entire community in and around Wyckoff, to realize the potential of this lovely, state of the art institution and program,”

Temple Beth Rishon was founded in 1975 with less than twenty families, and has grown into one of the largest and most vibrant Jewish communities in Northern New Jersey. It has more than 450 member families, and offers acclaimed spiritual and educational programs for learners of all ages. In 2013-14, TBR’s family education programs – including Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Religious School and Hebrew High School, enrolled more than 250 students and held dozens of educational programs, seminars, and special events.

For more information on educational offerings and the religious school at TBR, please call Gonen Arad at 201-891-4466 or visit www.bethrishon.org.

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