The demand is particularly acute in the younger years. “Maybe people are wanting to start their children’s Jewish education earlier,” she speculated.
One possibility for the increase could be the aftershock from October 7 with some families seeking closer contact with the Jewish community as a result.
Tamar Berman, US director of schools strategy, believes that must have had an effect, although cautioning: ““We haven’t asked new parents why they have joined so this is anecdotal rather than data-based but certainly feels possible.”
It could be also the case that some families, having lost contact with the synagogue during the isolation of the Covid years, have only slowly made their way back.
But whatever the cause, the numbers show that cheder still plays a significant role within US communities. The newest US cheder is at Welwyn Garden City Hebrew Congregation, which opened one with nine children in September.
The US recently recruited a new staff member dedicated to its cheder network, a compliance manager, to ensure that centres conform to its safety standards.
“There are a still a lot of children who don’t attend Jewish schools,” Berman said. “I think people are looking for their children not just to have Jewish education but to have Jewish friends, and that’s becoming quite important.”
While chedarim obviously vary in size, they may also vary in nature, tailoring their offering to the community they serve. “Some [cater] for primary age, some for teenagers. We have one where they run a GCSE Jewish studies course. People have got some variety to choose from,” said Berman.
Edgware United, for instance, has a programme aimed at teenagers. “It is not a weekly lesson, it is once every couple of weeks,” she said.” It is normally some kind of fun, informal activity linked to Jewish learning or going out on an outing with the rabbi, where he picks somewhere where he can still share his wisdom and bring Jewish influence into it.”
Parents too can exercise choice. If they feel the local cheder might not be quite right for their child, they may opt for another further afield.
Aleph Centre year 2 packing gifts for Mitzvah Day[Missing Credit]
To send a child to the Aleph Centre, “they don’t have to be members of Hampstead Garden Suburb”, Fehler pointed out. “Some may not be members anywhere.”
She attributes its popularity to its professionalism and “excellent staff and experienced teachers. The Centre has an engaging curriculum, weekly lesson plans and ensures that all time spent at cheder is accounted for.”
While the planning is meticulous, for children the experience will be “more informal” than school. “We make it fun and as interactive as possible.”
As well as textual learning which provides academic content, there are musical assemblies, drama and crafts, and outings as well – to different synagogues or on a “kosher scavenger hunt”, where the children might be taken to a supermarket and asked to search for kosher symbols.
Star bakers at the Aleph Centre[Missing Credit]
On Sunday mornings, Fehler said: “We have a very popular breakfast club where parents can come and practise their Hebrew reading with their children before cheder starts. There are freshly made crepes and hot chocolate.
“In Year 6, there is a ‘Stump the Rabbi’ session where the rabbi comes in and they can ask any question.”
In Year 6, too, activities include each child choosing a Jewish hero of their choice and giving a ten-minute presentation.
Apart from heading the cheder, Fehler is also founding chief executive of Project ImpAct, the youth volunteering scheme, which was partly prompted by her concern over having a place where post-cheder teens could go.
With families clamouring to get their children in, and having no space for any more classes, Aleph may well have a unique problem. But it is still looking how to develop.
It is thinking of expanding by opening a weekday club with more specialist learning, for example in modern Hebrew.
