The RUACH community school & programs for youth, families, and teens is a central and joyful part of the Beit Ahavah community.  Kids and families learn in a positive, Jewish environment and progressive, Reform community focused on repair of the world and lovingkindness.  RUACH (“ru-ach”) includes opportunities for learning led by dynamic teachers, as well as special events, outings, Shabbat services, Fall Family Holiday events and more.

RUACH is our dynamic approach to creative and meaningful Jewish youth and families learning, social justice/tikkun olam (repair of the world), Hebrew, music, art, nature, spirituality, thought and Jewish expression. We also welcome parent involvement and creativity.

We explore creative and meaningful ways of learning, with community-based, joyous community programs for youth and families.   

Registration is now available for the 2025-2026 / 5786 school year ahead!  To speak further with Rabbah Riqi,  please click here.

Joyous, Deeply Rooted, Child-Led

Our new’s year theme “L’taken Olam b’Malchut Shaddai” means To heal the World in the Majesty of Nurture!  We empower our youth and families with the richness of our tradition to make positive change and hope in the world as it is into the world we dream of and can make possible.

Through “mini-mesters” — Fall (stav), Winter (choref), Spring (aviv), and Summer (kayitz) seasons of learning, doing and being together, we celebrate the rhythm of the Jewish holidays and create hope in the world.

We believe in nurturing the inner wisdom of children and young people with learning about progressive Jewish values, empowering families, and creating learning environments that support and encourage wisdom, asking great questions (always more questions!), and having friendships with each other, teachers, Rabbah Riqi, students and families to expand and flourish. 

In a child-led approach, we affirm that young people are the experts of their own experiences and learning styles, and work to meet all students where they are.

RUACH classes and program offerings build community, offer meaningful entryways into Jewish life, celebrate diversity, and deepen our commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world) and love for our planet.  With teachers and mentors, friends and family, we study, make Hebrew learning fun and useful, celebrate all the holidays, bring core Jewish values to life, go on “chavaya” real-world outings, delve into subjects through specialties and electives, do projects, build and make art, and have a lot of fun!

RUACH includes:

• Tot Shabbat Family Service & Tot Sha-potluck Dinner (especially for families and friends with kids 0-9) The magical musical hour welcoming the Sabbath and holidays, led by Marlene Rachelle with Rabbah Riqi. The first Friday of the month 5:15-6:30 p.m. followed by veggie potluck, pizza provided.
• MishpachArts (grades preK-2) A new arts-focused program is forming to build upon our strong Tot Shabbat Family service monthly group and do more movement, music and creating together!  This will be integrated with RUACH Arts as well as special events.
• RUACH ARTS (grades K-3) group meets weekly, with additional opportunities for Friday nights, Saturday morning “Shabbat B’Yachad” (Sabbath Together), family and holiday celebrations, gatherings, Hebrew aleph-bet through movement, art, cooking, Torah stories, values and crafts.
• RUACH LAB (grades 4-7) meets weekly as a “laboratory” for Jewish learning, with off-site “havaya” adventures, opportunities for Shabbat services and family holiday celebrations, and family-Shabbat dinner/Havdalah led gatherings.
• HEBREW HAVURAH Thursdays and independent (grades 3-7) studies modern Hebrew and the prayer services, with healthy snacks, songs and fun in a great learning studio environment.  We utilize a range of progressive curricula such as URJ Mitkadem, Hebrew Through Movement, Shiri the Llama, Hebrew in Harmony, and have a lot of fun.   Hebrew Havurah teachers are passionate about Hebrew for kids and includes Rabbi Riqi and Hebrew specialists.
• B’NEI MITZVAH JOURNEY with Rabbah Riqi & specialists – for tweens who are 1-2 years prior to celebrating becoming Bar/Bat/Bet Mitzvah.  This very supportive cohort includes creative study, discussion, art, class bonding, trips, tikkun olam mitzvah projects, and creating a supportive container with the rabbi for students and families on the journey to Jewish young adulthood and becoming teens in a complex world.