Shalom! My name is Woody Pollock.  I am the Teen Program instructor for the coming year. I have been teaching since the mid-60’s both as a full-time educator and since the late 70’s as a Hebrew School teacher in various synagogues in three counties, and two states.

I enjoy teaching teenagers.  Over the years I have developed very specific programs that aim to present the concepts and beauties of our religion to the young aspiring adherents of it.  My task is to give them something to believe in for future consumption and to bring them a love of Israel.  I seek to lead their wonderfully acute minds on a journey through a magnificent major religion of Humankind (I so sorely want to say “Mankind” and have deferred, this being the PC language of the 2000’s).

To this end I require certain acts of both student and teacher; that is, I will never come to class unprepared—that’s my JOB right?  On the other hand, an unprepared student is an oxymoron at best and a moron at worst.  This is where you enter into the picture (as a parent, not as a moron). I will not attempt to conflict with public school tasks, but a half an hour or so of reading per week is both reasonable and necessary.   To accomplish my goals I must have cooperation in this area.

I promise to open entire realms of knowledge to your child—I love to pass this wonder on to a new generation of Jews.  I will be bringing some of my friends into class to share their Jewish lives and stories throughout the year as well.  I promise not to be boring or stultified.  I need a child who is motivated and desirous of coming to class.  You get me the child-- I’ll do the rest!

I wish you a Happy and Healthy Year and look forward to a year filled with the joy of learning and the fun that this can bring.

B’Shalom,

Woody Pollock   
October, 2009