Curriculum
Kindergarten and First Grade
“MyJewish Self, Home and Family”
These classes serve as a continuationfor those who were in a Jewish pre-school and as an introductionfor all others. In these classes, Judaism is introduced and reinforcedas a positive experience. These two classes are similar in content,but different in approach due to the age difference. The KindergartenCurriculum includes “Torah Tales and Me: Jewish Symbols.”
1st grade includes “My Jewish Family;Shabbat and Havdalah.”
Sunday 9:15-11:45 AM
Second Grade and Third Grade
“My Jewish Community”
Through the use of activities such asmusic, crafts, dance, stories, discussion and food, the synagoguecommunity and Torah will come alive for our 2nd graders. A Hebrewpre-primer will be used to begin their introduction to the Hebrewlanguage. 3rd graders will “travel” through Israel andthey will experience Judaism through the customs of the Ashkenazim,Sephardim and Jews around the world. Their learning of the Hebrewlanguage will continue with a Hebrew primer and the studying ofprayers and blessings.
Sunday 9:15-11:45 AM
Fourth Grade
“The Life Cycle Journey”
LifeCycle is the Judaica curricula for the Fourth grade. Students willexplore the Jewish traditions starting with the rituals of birthand concluding with a field trip to a Jewish Cemetery. They willlearn all of the letters and vowels of the Hebrew Aleph Bet andwill be able to combine them into one and two syllable words. Aseach introductory prayer is taught, students will gain an understandingof the concept of that prayer. They will then have the ability tobegin to make personal meaning of those ancient words.
Sunday 9:15-11:45 AM
Tuesday 4:00-6:30 PM
Fifth Grade
“Lessons from the Torah”
The 5th grade classes will be taking ajourney through the Torah. The students will be learning about theancient leaders of our people, discovering our Jewish history andconnecting the Bible to their own lives. They will also exploreand discuss concepts of God. In the fifth grade year, students willbe reading three and four syllable words and will be capable ofleading many of the prayers for Erev Shabbat Tefillah.
Sunday 9:15-11:45 AM
Tuesday 4:00-6:30 PM
Sixth Grade
“Coming to America”
Our 6th graders will take the next stepin exploring their personal Jewish identity. They will delve furtherinto the concept of mitzvot (commandments) that we are obligatedas Jews to do in order to live as partners with God. By followingthe journey our ancestors took as they immigrated to America, thestudents will discover that Jews have played an important role inthe history of our country. An integral part of this class willbe the learning of prayers and chants in preparation for leadingShabbat tefillah. Through discussion and activities the studentswill continue to make personal meaning of these prayers.
Download the 6th Grade YouTube Video Release
Sunday 9:15-11:45 AM
Tuesday 4:00-6:30 PM
Seventh Grade
“Celebration”
The Seventh graders are circulated through2 classes: Hebrew and Judaica. The Hebrew unit will include a focuson liturgical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew and trope (Torah chanting).The Judaica unit will include a focus on Jewish History and Tzedakah.There will also be a unit about the Holocaust, including a survivoras a guest speaker. This special and unique program will help toprepare the students for becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, as well as helpingto give them a clear understanding of their responsibility to remaina part of the community after becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Studentswill be divided into classes according to Bar/Bat Mitzvah date,ensuring that they are working on relevant and interesting subjectmatter. At the end of this year, students will be honored for theirhard work and success in their formal Hebrew School studies. Theywill also be strongly encouraged to continue on with their commitmentto Jewish education as they prepare for Confirmation. This celebrationwill take place during a Saturday morning service led by the 7thgraders.
Tuesday 4:00-6:30 PM
Occasional Sunday Mornings
(Individual meetings scheduled with mentorteacher)
Eighth and Ninth Grades
“Noar”
This is an exciting component of theirJewish Education, which leads into the Confirmation Program in the10/11th grade. This Wednesday evening Noar program allows our 8thand 9th graders the opportunity to continue enjoying the companyof their Temple friends and take an exciting interactive class.The program provides positive role modeling for teens in a safeand comfortable environment. Participants in the Wednesday NoarProgram will enjoy dinner together, interesting electives that mayinclude basketball, music, improv, yoga and creative Jewish learningranging from Holocaust studies to Modern Hebrew. In addition, therewill be speakers and various programs throughout the year for bothgrades and a monthly tefillah service.
Wednesday 5:00-7:00 PM
Confirmation Class 10/11th Grade
This is the final formal class of ourReligious School and culminates with the Confirmation Tefillah (prayerservice). Our Confirmation class is a two-year cycle for 10th &11th grade. Topics this year include ethics & social action,and the nature of the human being and how to cope with life. Thefollowing year, the curriculum includes Comparative Religions andComparative Judaism. Dilemmas of vital importance to our young peopleare candidly discussed and explored. This year will include a tripto Washington D.C., with a focus on Social Action. As 10th and 11thgrades are combined, there will be a 2 year curriculum cycle. Dinneris included each week as part of our Confirmation program.
While subjects are discussed from allstandpoints, Jewish values are clearly stated. It is the goal ofthis class that students will be able to make sound life choicesfor themselves in a caring, non-judgmental environment. Confirmationis taught by Rabbi Kaufmanand Rabbi Hronsky.
The Confirmation ceremony takes place at the end of 11th grade
Wednesday 5:30-7:00 P.M.
12th Grade
This is a unique program for our ReligiousSchool teens, allowing them to hang-out, share and study with theRabbis. Students will be meeting the Rabbis in their office oncea month and will study various texts.
Class will be the 3rd Wednesday of the month
Wednesday 5:00-6:30 P.M.
