Curriculum

Hebrew

Our Hebrew reading program begins with letter recognition for our youngest children, followed by phonetic decoding, reading, fluency, comprehension, and grammar concepts until they reach prayer literacy. Our goal is that upon graduation, every child will be fluent in and comfortable with reading Hebrew especially the common parts of the liturgy.

Holidays

Lessons on each Jewish holiday will fill the calendar as we proceed from Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays through Chanukah, Purim, Passover and the festival of Shavuot. The students will gain practical instruction in the traditions through arts & crafts and hands-on learning. They will also learn about the meanings of each holiday and their relevant customs and importance today.

Prayer & Song

Prayer time focuses on the study and understanding of prayer and the Siddur (prayer book). Students learn the meaning of each prayer as well as some key words to remember. They also learn wonderful songs both from the liturgy as well as songs about Jewish life and traditions.

Individual Curriculum

 Pre-School & Kindergarten:
Exploring Jewish Life - Level 1

The students will explore and experience some basic fundamental mitzvot such as Shabbat, Tzedakah (charity), Mezuzah, Torah and more.The lessons each begin with a children's "story time" that introduces the topic and assists the children in finding practical application and meaning to these ideas.

Grade 1:
Exploring Jewish Life - Level 2

The students will continue to delve into more of the essential mitzvot and character development, such as kosher, brachot (blessings/benedictions), gratitude, kindness and respect. The concepts are explored through interactive lessons that allow the students to experience the mitzvot and practice their new learned skills .

Grade 2:
My Jewish Home

The students will focus on different areas in their homes and their daily life. The lessons are filled with Jewish customs, warmth, positivity and good character, and how to apply these in their home life and daily schedules.   

Grade 3:
Jewish History Pt. 1 - Creation to Exile

The students will learn all about the fascinating stories and characters from the time of creation through the time our were freed as slaves from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. The students will be enthralled with stories about brave and smart characters from our history and the many lessons we can learn from them and the lives they led.

Grade 4:
Jewish History Pt. 2 - Exodus and Beyond

The students will continue learning about the trials and triumphs of the Jewish people from the time we entered the land of Israel to the era of the Jewish Kings and the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They will discover interesting facts about Judaism such as the origin of the Western Wall, the Star of David and understand the beginnings of the Jewish people as a nation and how it affects us today.

Grade 5:
My Jewish Soul—The Treasure Within Me

The students will explore the special G‑dly spark we have inside of us, called our soul. Following a curriculum called the Treasure within Me, they will learn about our soul’s relevance and role in our life as a Jew.

Grade 6: 

Life Cycles  

A lifetime is filled with many milestones and celebrations. The Life Cycles program explores the each of these special and significant moments from a Jewish perspective. With a truly innovative program in which each student "adopts" a pretend child to raise, the students are enthusiastic about exploring each event and uncovering its true significance.

Grade  7:
iTorah

In the oldest class we will have comprehensive discussions and conversations about many of the fundamentals of Judaism, the customs, principles and traditions such as belief in Hashem/ G‑d, Tefillin, divine providence, becoming familiar with Synagogue services and more.

Special Projects

Israel project:

The land of Israel, which we refer to as the ‘Holy Land’ is at the center of our Jewish tradition. The special Israel Project will help the children learn about biblical and modern Israel: the history, geography, people, food, technology, etc

 

Weekly Torah Portions

Basic biblical knowledge is the foundation for good Jewish literacy. This year we will be focusing on giving the kids an awareness of the key biblical stories, history, and teachings. 

Ask the Rabbi

The children have been asking for it so we are glad to welcome back our ‘Ask the Rabbi’ sessions where the children get to ask the rabbi anything that is on their mind…. and maybe even stump him from time to time.