Race to Nowhere

Congregation Or Ami and
Ilan Ramon Day School present:

Race To Nowhere
Film Screening and Discussion

Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 6:30 pm
at Congregation Or Ami
26115 Mureau Road, Suite B, Calabasas, CA 91302

October 3, 2011: Congregation Or Ami and Ilan Ramon Day School (formerly Heschel West Day School) invite you to view an important documentary about our educational system, Race to Nowhere, on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 6:30 pm. Screening to be followed by facilitated discussion.

Race to Nowhere, a provocative film made by Vicki Abeles – a concerned mother turned filmmaker, addresses the high-pressure culture that occupies our schools and the price young people pay for this “race to nowhere” where high-stakes testing has by and large replaced teaching. Stress-related illness and burnout are now rampant, as is cheating. Many young people arrive at college or the workplace unprepared and uninspired.

Rabbi Paul Kipnes, spiritual leader of Congregation Or Ami, commented, “Our Or Ami Center for Jewish Parenting has long been concerned with the stresses placed upon our young people. All parents should be concerned when the school environment ceases to be a nurturing forum for learning, and instead becomes a haven for pressure, competition and limitless testing.”

Adds Yuri Hronsky, Head of School at Ilan Ramon Day School, “We are so pleased to be partnering with Congregation Or Ami to show this very important film. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders and The Ilan Ramon Day School is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment in which children's varying learning styles are greeted with enthusiasm and respect. Equally important to learning the highest levels of academics are the lessons in integrity, kindness, compassion, and respect that are integrated into daily life on campus.”

Come be moved and inspired by this film to create change in our educational system and improve our children’s quality of life. Discussion after the film will be facilitated by Rabbi Julia Weisz of Congregation Or Ami, and by Yuri Hronsky, Head of School and Rivka Ben-Daniel, Director of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, both at Ilan Ramon Day School.

Race to Nowhere screening and discussion is Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 6:30 pm at Congregation Or Ami,  26115 Mureau Rd. Suite B, Calabasas, CA 91302.  RSVP to Joy Haines at joy@orami.org or call 818.880.4880.  There is no charge to attend.  Free childcare is available with advanced reservation.

            To learn more about Congregation Or Ami’s Adult Learning programs contact Or Ami Program and Marketing Director, Marsha Rothpan at marsha@orami.org or visit www.orami.org.

Congregation Or Ami is at 26115 Mureau Road, Suite B, Calabasas, CA 91302. Rabbi Paul Kipnes, the synagogue’s spiritual leader, may be reached by email at rabbipaul@orami.org.

Congregation Or Ami is a Reform Jewish synagogue serving the west San Fernando and Conejo Valleys. 

Ilan Ramon Day School, located in Agoura, CA, is a community day school committed to educating students in an academic secular and Judaic environment in which students develop a lifelong love of learning. Ilan Ramon Day School students develop critical thinking, problem solving and creative self expression skills in an integrated curriculum taught by outstanding educators. Fundamental to our philosophy is the development of each individual learner to his/her highest potential. To learn more about Ilan Ramon Day School, visit www.ilanramon.com.

###