Education Director Hired at Or Atid
Veteran educator and administrator Rebekkah Kline has joined the staff at Congregation Or Atid as part-time Education Director, effective immediately. She retired after a long and rewarding career as a teacher and administrator with the Fairfax County Public School system.
While there, including eight years with the district’s central office, she worked primarily with Title 1 schools as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) specialist.
Before moving to Richmond in 2024, Kline worked extensively with PreK through 12th grade students as a School-Based Technology Specialist, helping both students and teachers adopt technology to their school day curriculum, particularly for students for whom English is a second language.
While a member of Temple Bnai Shalom in Fairfax Station, Va., she also taught religious school. In addition to her public-school duties, Kline was also dedicated to Jewish learning, having her adult Bat Mitzvah and learning to read from the Torah, which she called, “the most meaningful experience I’ve ever had.”
Kline earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Secondary Education, her Master’s in Education, Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language K-12 from George Mason University, and a distinction as an Education Specialist, Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.
Kline and her husband, Richard, have two children, Sara, 25, and Ben 24.
“I love kids, and I love being Jewish,” Kline noted. “I was going to go back to work part-time anyway. This is a nice blend of both – teaching and being Jewish. I like smaller congregations because you get to know people. I’m looking forward to building another Jewish community at Or Atid.”
Seniors’ Club Discusses Downsizing
The air-conditioned comfort of Or Atid’s sanctuary was welcome relief to seniors attending the July session of our Senior Schmooze club.
Attendees enjoyed an engaging and informative conversation on the subject of downsizing featuring Beverly Binns, Executive Director of Thrifty Sisters, and senior real estate specialist Jaime Ebanks.
During the presentation, valuable insights and practical tips were shared, sparking meaningful conversations that continued long after the session ended, with people staying for snacks and more schmoozing.
Thank you Jewish Community Federation of Richmond for sponsoring the club meeting.
Vegetables in Full Bloom at Or Atid’s Garden
The Gan Chesed Kindness Garden at Or Atid has been producing vegetables over the past couple of months. These organically grown vegetables are then donated to the Jewish Community Center’s Elmer Toth Food Pantry.
Even though the food pantry receives regular donations from grocery store partners, Shari Menlowe-Barck, coordinator of the food pantry, has indicated that those receiving the organically grown produce are so appreciative.
It has been very exciting to see the results of the initial plantings this summer. To date, more than 36 pounds of organic vegetables, including cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini and various herbs have been harvested and donated from the garden with much more to come.
The Kindness Garden is a universally accessible, sensory-based outdoor play area and Jewish-themed garden focusing on natural elements to engage all the senses in a safe manner. Inspired by Jewish practices and teachings, Gan Chesed offers new learning opportunities and programs for all ages and abilities in the spirit of inclusion.
If you would like more information and wish to become more involved with the Gan Chesed project, please contact Sue Geller at (804) 387-7643 or email her at susanrgeller@gmail.com.
The Gan Chesed Kindness Garden is supported, in part, by a generous contribution from the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.