Sunday School
Upcoming Events
Sun, Jan 26PhiladelphiaJan 26, 2025, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AMPhiladelphia, 8000 Cherokee St, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USAJan 26, 2025, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AMPhiladelphia, 8000 Cherokee St, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USAIlya Knizhnik, Folkshul member and passionate advocate for Ukraine, will share his personal family history and its deep ties to Ukraine, shedding light on the broader Jewish-Ukrainian experience over the past 150 years.
Folkshul is a welcoming and joyful Secular Humanistic Jewish community that transmits the values of social justice and human responsibility.
We are a whole community comprised of a Sunday School, with family education, and adult membership independent of students who celebrate Holidays, lifecycles, and collectively pursue social justice and aim to live our Secular Humanistic Jewish values.
We welcome all who want to be part of our Jewish community including, but not limited to, folks who are: culturally Jewish, agnostic, atheist, spiritual, self-identified Jewish, Jew~ish, Jew-curious, in an interfaith family, LGBTQ, leaving Judaism, returning to Judaism, freethinkers, humanists, grandparents, singles, couples, parents-trying-to-give-their-kids-good-values-and-a-cultural-identity-in-a-non-religious-setting.
Our theme for this year is Kehillah and Connections. Two years ago our theme was Kavanah - thoughtful intention. This is aiming and setting your intention to understand the complexity and depth of challenges and therefore approaching the world with intellect, kindness and compassion. As a community and individually we will explore ourselves inside and outside of our community and strengthen the connections to each element of life. By embracing Kehillah and Connections and creating a warm and welcoming community with Kavanah, Folkshul embraces the interconnected-ness of Jewish values and traditions to ourselves in today's world.
Our Sunday school has programming for children from pre-k through 12th grade. Students learn Jewish history, traditions, holidays, and values. Our curriculum teaches young people social action through the Jewish lens of Tikkun Olam—repairing the world.
Our inclusive, Secular Humanistic Jewish community invites you to participate in our programming for adults, whether you have a child in our Sunday School or not. Adult Community activities include: restaurant club, local outings, study groups, mahjong, film screenings, speakers series, Zumba, and more!
We take pride in welcoming all who wish to grow, celebrate, and find comfort in Jewish life cycle ceremonies. We'll work with you to identify and personalize Jewish texts and rituals. Together, we'll create an individualized ceremony that is a reflection of you and your family's values and traditions.
We facilitate Baby Welcoming/Naming Ceremonies, Weddings/Commitment Ceremonies, Funerals and Memorial Services. Our B'nai Mitzvah program is the only of its kind in the region. Teens select a topic related to Judaism and spend a year with a 1 on 1 mentor crafting a presentation for their friends, family, and community.
At Folkshul, we interpret Jewish holiday celebrations through a Secular Humanistic lens. Our intergenerational holiday celebrations combine Jewish traditions with current events and secular music. Instead of worshipping, we reflect on the lessons of the holidays and how they inform our commitment to Tikkun Olam—repairing the world.
As a community, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Tu BiShvat, Purim, and Passover. We also perform acts of service to mark Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
