Ohr Chadash Religious School, located in Queens, New York, is an example of a new model of supplementary Jewish education.

Comprised of a consortium of three Conservative synagogues in eastern Queens, Ohr Chadash combines classroom learning with experiential programming including ongoing opportunities throughout the year for parent, grandparent and guardian education as well as outstanding Shabbat experiences for young people.

Ohr Chadash is concerned about the security of our school staff and children and has retained a security guard to be present when school is in session at each of the three partner synagogues. The guard will be there until all children have been picked up by a designated individual.

May 3, 2024: I hope that everyone had a restful and meaningful Pesach, and expect that our children were able to share their acquired knowledge about the holiday with you
and that they were able to recite Ma Nishtana, the Four Questions.

At our last session before the vacation, April 21st, our students took the forefront at the Ohr Chadash Model Passover Seder.  Moreh Marc led the chorus of classes as various
holiday songs and certain selected Passover parodies were chanted.

Morah Judy conducted the Seder which followed, reading from a special school Haggadah. Each student performed their parts letter-perfect, whether it was in Hebrew or English. In concert, the children sang in unison Dayeinu, diminished their grape juice cups as they recited the plaques, and chanted the various brachot.

Changing the usual order of the Seder, the ceremonial meal was held at the end instead of the in middle. The children were treated to potato kugel, apple kugel, chocolate cream roll, mocha cream cake roll, and the traditional holiday macaroons.

After the meal they scoured the Moreida Room in search of the previously
secreted Afikomens. Those who were able to discover the hidden matzah portions were rewarded with various chocolate treats.

Thank you to Sabrina Weiler, an Ohr Chadash graduate and older sibling
of Philip, who helped in the preparation of the necessary elements of the Seder.

Appreciation is also extended to Arlene Ratzabi of the Ohr Chadash
School Board for helping out with food distribution and clean.  It was wonderful to see her daughter and two grandsons, as well as Morah Judy’s grandson and granddaughter at our celebration.

This Sunday, May 5th, our Giborim and Chaverim classes will learn about
the upcoming Yom HaShoah observance from Yael Rozic, mother of our local representative, Nily Rozic, who is a former docent at Yad Vashem.

On May 12th, the families of Levi, Emily, Jackson, Philip, Scarlett, Shane, Shawn, and Steven are invited to our Siddur Presentation Program as these students will receive their
personal siddurs, which will serve as a guiding light for them throughout the years.

Finally, on Sunday, May 19th, all families are asked to join us for our
end of semester Lag B’Omer BBQ.

April 21, 2024:  Ohr Chadash convened its annual children’s seder. A beautiful rendering of the Passover story combined with great food. The potato and apple kugels that Shari made are mind blowing! Chag sameach everyone!

There are no classes on Sunday, April 28th.

The children will return on Sunday, May 5th.  Our older two classes will meet with Representative Nily Rozic’s mother, who has served as a docent at Yad Vashem.  On Sunday, May 12th, our Giborim class will be presented with their Siddurim. On May 19, our last day of Ohr Chadash, we will have our Lag B’Omer BBQ and our end of school celebration.

April 12, 2024: Our students are truly in Passover mode, diligently practicing the Ohr
Chadash holiday service with vigor and enthusiasm.  They enjoy singing the parodies of familiar songs with funny Pesach lyrics and can’t wait for the actual event on Sunday April 21st.

To provide you with the schedule for the remainder of the school year:

Sunday, May 12th — Our Giborim class will be receiving their Siddurim. 
Parents of these children are invited to the ceremony.

Sunday, May 19th — Last day of Ohr Chadash — Lag  B’Omer celebration.

On Sunday, March 31st, following a morning of Passover Seder preparation
and subject studies, our students were treated to a very engrossing in-person author experiential program.  Elyssa Friedland, creator of numerous children’s books, visited our children and read to them her latest work, “The Museum of Lost Teeth”, which posited a possible solution to the question “What happens to baby teeth once the Tooth Fairy takes them away from under a child’s pillow?”

Ms. Friedland’s book held the students’ undivided attention when it was being read and
the author’s questions about their personal dental experiences paved the way for a number
of animated discussions.

Following the Q & A session, the author provided each child with a tooth-shaped container
which the students were able to decorate with appropriate stickers associated with dental care and some shaped like teeth themselves. The container would serve the purpose of safely holding a lost tooth until such time as a Tooth Fairy can whisk it away to the museum for the next stage of its existence.

The next few weeks are going to be crucial as our students prepare for the Ohr Chadash Passover Seder. We ask that all parents make Sunday attendance the top consideration for their children.

Additionally, to our Giborim Parents: On Sunday, May 12th, your children will be presented
with their personal Siddurim.  It is imperative that our Giborim children attend every week, barring illness, so they will be able to demonstrate to their families how much they have learned.  Morah Marina is working intensely with this class to make sure our parents will be proud of them.  Unfortunately,  due to outside commitments which have taken precedence over school attendance, her efforts are being hampered. Please make Ohr Chadash the Number One priority on Sunday mornings.

March 27, 2024: This past week the Ohr Chadash School celebrated as we always do, with a fantastic Purim song fest  followed by the Purim carnival. Thank you Shari and Paul and all the others who helped make this a wonderful celebration!  Photo Gallery below; Click for Video

Please read the COVID-19 protocols below: