A Message from our New Principal

This article first appeared in our Sept/Oct '25 edition of The Bulletin

Jewish education has long been a cornerstone of Jewish life, preserving tradition, identity, and values across generations. At its core, it is far more than academic instruction - it is a means of transmitting a living heritage that stretches back thousands of years. But Jewish learning isn’t just texts and rituals, it’s also our deeply rooted ethical framework that shapes how we engage with the world. It instills a sense of purpose and community, grounding learners in both their history and their responsibility to others. That is our power here at The Einhorn Center for Jewish Education! And it is not lost on me, as the new principal, that it is an awesome responsibility to guide our teachers and students this year.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be guided by such inspiring leaders in Rabbi Weitzman and Cantor Short, whose wisdom and dedication continually light the path forward. And, I am lucky to have so many supportive colleagues in our temple office whose behind-the-scenes efforts are essential to our success and smooth operation as religious school opens this year. Our Education Committee, co-chaired by Liz Albright and Julie Safranko, and its many volunteers, have dedicated their time and talent to helping us shore up curriculum, policy, and procedures for the upcoming school year.

That said, I hope that you will soon have the opportunity to meet Jillian Becker, the school’s new Educational Administrative Assistant and my right-hand partner. If you have questions about religious school registration (no, it’s not too late!) or anything related to school operations, please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us at either Principal@CBEAlbany.org or School@CBEAlbany.org.

Jewish education is powerful for other reasons, including its emphasis on questioning and dialogue. Jewish studies are not about rote memorization, but about interpretation, discussion, and debate. But we are also dedicated to having fun while we learn! From our youngest participants in the Discovery Room to our teen madrichim, we aim to create a welcoming and engaging religious school experience that empowers our students to understand where they come from, engage in our rituals and traditions, and contribute meaningfully to our community and beyond.

Ultimately, the power of Jewish education lies in its capacity to transform our students’ lives - not only through knowledge, but through the cultivation of character, connection, and continuity.

We’ll celebrate the beginning of the school year on September 14 at 11:00 am at our annual Family Fun Fest! The Einhorn Center for Jewish Education returns for the 2025-2026/5786 academic year on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 4:30 pm and Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 9:30 am.

Sending good wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year from everyone here at the Einhorn Center for Jewish Education!

Sara Salitan-Thiell
Principal of The Einhorn Center for Jewish Education