The Religious School at the JCSVV offers weekly classes on Sunday mornings for children 5 – 12 years of age (students in grades K-7 and our Youth Group is for students in grades 8-12).  

It is a Religious School for TODAY, using new and innovative curriculum for both Hebrew and Judaic Studies, including preparation for Bar or Bat Mitzvah.  We believe that Religious School should be both fun and educational, and strive for every one of our students to say he or she wants to come back next week.  Students learn Hebrew, history and about Jewish holidays through a variety of modalities, engaging their natural curiosity and range of abilities. The students and their families participate actively in Family/Community Services on Frights nights once a month at which the students and their families are blessed by the rabbi and the entire congregation. The religious school also offers special holiday celebrations at Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat (New Year of the Trees) and Passover.   We encourage the post b'nai mitzvah students to participate in our JewSY teen youth group (Jewish Sedona Youth).

For any questions or to visit the religious school, feel free to contact our Education Director, Marissa Smolinsky, at Marissa.Smolinsky@gmail.com

Education Director : Marissa Smolinsky

Marissa Smolinsky, our Education Director, has a deep commitment to Jewish education.  Marissa earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies – Jewish Education from The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and is currently completing her Master of Education in Special Education at Northern Arizona University.  She has been working in Religious Schools since she was 13 years old, starting as a teacher’s aide and then becoming a teacher.  Marissa also spent two years as the Director of Youth and Family Programming at Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, Maryland.  Marissa is married to Adam, and loves living in Sedona and the Verde Valley.