Jewish Studies

The Jewish Studies program is offered for children who are toddlers through high school. Classes for preschool to seventh grade meet on Sunday mornings during the school year. There are several components to Jewish Studies Program in the Religious School. Some subjects are studied every year with increasing depth based on the student’s grade and level of understanding. Jewish Studies cover:

●Holidays

●Jewish History

●Jewish Values

●Torah/Mitzvot/Ritual

●Tzedakah

●Israel

In addition to general Jewish studies, each grade generally focuses on a specific subject as appropriate to the grade level.

One of the added benefits expressed by many of our students of being a part of Temple Emanu-El’s Religious School program throughout the years is the sense of community that is created. Students progress through the curriculum with the same children each year and share the common experience of learning about Judaism and learning about their role in the broader Jewish community. By the time they are ready to become Bar/Bat (B’nai) Mitzvah, the friendships and support are firmly grounded.

 

Shalom Chaverim (18 months to 3 years)

8 sessions – Sundays 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

(2007: Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 11, Dec. 2.  2008:  Jan. 20, Mar. 9, Apr. 13, May 4.)

Shalom Chaverim, a “Mommy/Daddy and Me” class for Jewish children 18 months to 3 years old, offers an opportunity for students and their parents to be introduced to Jewish values and the celebrations of holidays and customs through singing, storytelling, art, movement, and Jewish games. This class is eight sessions per year.

 

Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2
(Students must be 3 yrs. old by 12/2/07)

Sundays 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

      The core Jewish Studies program begins in the Pre-Kindergarten class, where students enrich their understanding of the Jewish holidays and the meaning of T’fillah. In addition, they are introduced to the world of Torah, mitzvot, ritual practices, tzedakah, and Jewish ethical values. Kindergarten has a special focus on Shabbat.

 

Grade 3 through Grade 7

Sundays 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

      As the students grow and mature, they will revisit some of the same topics each year, with an increasing depth of understanding. Additionally, each grade will focus on a particular subject as is appropriate to their age level. For example, the 3rd grade class has a focus on the 10 Commandments; the 5th grade class spends a good portion of class learning about the history of the land of Israel; and the 6th grade focuses on Jewish life cycle events and rituals from brit to burial.

 

B’nai Mitzvah Program

To become Bar/Bat (B’nai) Mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El, students must be concurrently enrolled in our Religious School and the B’nai Mitzvah preparatory class during the year of their B’nai Mitzvah and have successfully completed four years of Hebrew and Judaic study or its equivalent, as determined by the Rabbi and/or the Religious School Principal. For further information, please contact the Religious School office or the Rabbi.

 

 

Teen Jewish Studies  (8th grade+)

Wednesdays 6 – 8 p.m.  – includes dinner –  

Keeping our youth involved in active Jewish learning after B’nai Mitzvah has always been a challenge. We offer an exciting educational program on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for youth 8th grade and above that includes dinner, elective-style classes which rotate throughout the year, and special one-time programs and Family Education sessions.

 

Confirmation (10th grade+)

Sundays 9:00 a.m.– 10 a.m

This course, taught by Rabbi Dana Magat, explores the essence of what it means to be a Reform Jew. Confirmation students, typically 10th grade, explore the depths of Judaism and their own personalities. They write and lead a prayer service that expresses their hopes, fears, and discoveries. A confirmation ceremony takes place on Erev Shavuot after a year of meaningful study with the Rabbi. In this moving ceremony, these young adults confirm their faith and determination to help Judaism grow and be strong. The fee includes a retreat trip to Los Angeles. Confirmation students are strongly encouraged to continue to participate in the Teen Jewish Studies program. A syllabus and course schedule will be passed out during the first class.

 

 

Hebrew Studies (School)

Hebrew studies is a four-year program beginning with the Aleph class and continuing through the Dalet class. Classes meet on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings.  These classes are in addition to and separate from the Jewish Studies curriculum. While there are some variations in how old students are when beginning Hebrew studies, students typically take the Aleph class beginning in 3rd grade. Please contact the Religious School principal if you have any questions about whether Hebrew studies is appropriate for your child.

Aleph through Dalet (4 year program) focuses on Prayer book Hebrew (reading and meaning). The Hebrew studies program teaches Prayer book Hebrew through increasing exposure to letters, vowel sounds, reading, prayer vocabulary, and prayer chanting. It is augmented with studying Hebrew associated with holidays and associated rituals and blessings. T’fillah is a central part of our Hebrew studies and it is incorporated in the Sunday and Wednesday Hebrew classes. Hebrew classes provide students the opportunity to lead portions of a Family Shabbat service and/or Saturday morning Minyan service.

 

Aleph

Wednesdays 4 – 6 p.m. and Sundays 9 – 10 a.m.

      The first year of Hebrew School is a critical time in building a foundation for a lifetime of learning and engagement with the Hebrew language. In recognizing this, we keep our student to teacher ratio very low for the Aleph class. The cost of tuition includes the child’s own siddur (prayer book), which will be presented to him/her in a special ceremony.

 

Bet, Gimel, and Dalet                          

Wednesdays 4 – 6 p.m. and Sundays 9 – 10 a.m.

      The completion of the four year (Aleph-Dalet) Hebrew program (0r its equivalent) is a requisite for having a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El. The focus of the program is the use of Hebrew in services, holidays and other rituals. Each week all of our Hebrew students have T’fillah together, and each class leads an erev Shabbat service and/or Minyan during the year. Gimel students begin to learn Torah Trope.