Contact Us
Lisa Marcus, Director
Temple Emanu-El Religious School
(860) 443-3005 ext. 4
E-mail
We Will Inspire Our Students To Develop A Reform Jewish Identity And A Lifelong Connection To The Jewish Community.
Sundays
Pre-Gan through Kadima
9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Snack provided, please bring water
Wednesdays
Gimel through Zayin
4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
Snack provided, please bring water
In the fall of 2024, TERS introduced a new program for Temple Emanu-El eighth graders and high school students called KADIMA (pronounced ka-DEE-ma.). The Hebrew word KADIMA is an imperative or command meaning ‘move forward!’ or ‘let’s go!’ The Kadima program builds upon the strong connections to friends and community that students have developed during their religious years. Kadima incorporates spirituality, volunteering, community building, social action, social justice, and Jewish learning. 
In our classrooms you will learn:
♦ Values-Based Judaics for self, peers and community
♦ Jewish Holidays & Traditions
♦ Torah Stories
♦ Jewish Ethics
♦ Being Jewish in the World
♦ Holocaust
♦ Hebrew
♦ Trope
♦ B’Nai Mitzvah Preparation
Our Faculty
| Director | Lisa Marcus |
| Assistant to the Director | Amy Orce and Jennifer Zettler |
| Kitah Pre-Gan-Alef | Miss Amanda |
| Kitah Bet-Gimel | Miss Violet and Miss Emma |
| Kitah Dalet | Miss Jen, Mrs. Green, and Mr. Shmuel |
| Kitah Vav | Hazzan Sherry, Miss Jen, Mr. Ben |
| Kitah Zayin | Rabbi Marc. Hazzan Sherry, and Mr. Ben |
| Substitute Teachers | Barbara Senges, Karen Bloustine, and Armi Rowe |
Curriculum
Here at TERS, we inspire our students to develop a Reform Jewish identity and a lifelong connection to the Jewish community while striving to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment for them to learn within. Recently, after years of teaching online, our school has returned to a more hands on approach of learning. The results have been wonderful.
Hebrew Studies: We focus our Hebrew studies on biblical prayerbook Hebrew, using the Hineni series by Behrman House Publishing. We also use Sarah & David and Sam the Detective Primers in the earlier years. Once the students begin to prepare for their B’Nai Mitzvot, they begin to use an actual siddur in class. In the final stage of preparation, the students begin to learn trope and practice reading from the Torah.
Judaic Studies: As referenced above, the study of Judaics at TERS is rich and extensive, incorporating Jewish values and a sense of Jewish identity, studies of holidays and traditions, recognizing holy spaces and objects, and an understanding of Jewish life around the world. We listen to Torah stories and discuss how to celebrate life’s sacred moments. We learn what it means to be Jewish, and we discuss such topics as ethics, the Holocaust, and other events of historical value.
Sense of Self: Here at TERS, we encourage students to find their Jewish identity.
Sense of Community: Here at TERS, we help students to connect with one another and with their Jewish community at large.
Giving back and paying it forward in 2025/2026: Here at TERS, we believe strongly in Jewish values and supporting the greater community through tzedakah and community outreach programs, such as donating time, energy, and resources to the Safe Futures, the Homeless Hospitality Center of New London, New London Immigration Advocacy & Support Center, Gemma E. Moran Fund, and Fresh New London.
If you have questions about how our school is implementing our programming, please contact our TERS Director, Lisa Marcus at (860) 443-3005 ext. 4.