Beit Sefer / Religious School

Rhonda Mlodinoff, Director of Education

Description of Programs 2008-09

Gan Yom Rishon - An interactive parent child class that meets on Sundays from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Children, accompanied by their parent, are introduced to Jewish holidays, rituals, symbols and values in an age appropriate inviting experiential setting which incorporates art, music, stories, games and of course, food. Gan Yom Rishon is also open to non-members.

K-2nd Grade Sunday - Students attend Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The curriculum includes learning Torah stories from the books of Genesis and Exodus, Jewish holidays, G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness), the modern State of Israel and introduction to prayer. Selected Hebrew words related to these subjects are introduced orally.

3rd - 6th Grade Integrated Studies - Students attend Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m and Thursday afternoon from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Judaic studies and prayer-based Hebrew language instruction are integrated and taught for one hour each on Sunday and Thursday. We use the Reform Movement’s CHAI curriculum, which is based on the fundamental principles of Judaism – Torah (study), Avodah (worship), and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness). Each grade studies different text source material, focuses on specific aspects of the prayer service, and engages in acts of loving kindness. For a full description of the CHAI curriculum go to http://urj.org/chai/. In addition, throughout the year each grade level focuses on age appropriate aspects of the Jewish holidays and the people and land of Israel.

Gesher: Transition (7th Grade) - This year’s curriculum seeks to connect with the B’nai Mitzvah process by teaching students about what it means to begin their journey on the path to Jewish adulthood. Students will learn how to examine the life choices that lie before them using a Jewish lens seeing how Judaism intersects with citizenship, sexuality and relationships, leadership, and religious pluralism. Much of this learning will happen outside of the traditional classroom environment. This year is broken down into units each of which includes a service project, a field study day, and a special Rosh Chodesh program. Gesher meets on Thursday afternoons and every other Sunday. Sundays will be reserved for longer field study/social action projects. There will also be a few action day programs planned on days other than Thursdays or Sundays. You will be given ample notice of those activities in order to plan accordingly.

8h Grade Mitzvah Corps - Students attend Sunday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and approximately one Sunday per month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for Mitzvah Corps. A light breakfast is served at 10:30 a.m., followed by one hour of classroom based learning related to Tikkun Olam (repair of the world). Students gain an understanding of each Jew’s obligation to make the world a better place through discussion of Jewish texts. Students will also learn about current problems and issues facing them, their community, and their world from expert guest speakers. Each month students can apply what they’ve learned about Judaism and current events in the field. Students will take part in Tikkun Olam Community Service Projects such as working at homeless shelters, with the elderly, and preparing apartments for the arrival of immigrant refugees. Most but not all of these “action days” will take place on Sunday from 9:30 am to Noon. Any “action days” that deviate from the normal schedule will be announced prior to the beginning of each semester.

Kahal Shabbat
Kahal Shabbat provides an educational alternative to our Sunday programs. Kahal means community, and this intergenerational Shabbat morning worship service, which takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., offers a weekly opportunity to pray and study in a lively, family-friendly environment. Families worship together until the Torah service. After the Torah is read, adults study Torah together while children attend age-appropriate classes for their own studies. Services are followed by Kiddush and, once a month, a potluck lunch.

• K-2nd Grade Kahal Shabbat - Students may attend Kahal Shabbat with their families during the school year instead of coming to school on Sunday.
• 3rd –7th Grade Kahal Shabbat And Integrated Studies - Students may come to Kahal Shabbat with their families during the school year instead of coming to school on Sunday, and also attend Thursday from 4:15 to 6:15 for one hour each of Judaic studies and prayer-based Hebrew instruction. Families interested in having their children celebrate bar/bat mitzvah as part of Kahal must make a commitment to attend the Kahal service for at least a year before the date of the bar/bat mitzvah.

Some questions you may have about the Kahal program:

1. May my child attend services without me? No, these services are intended for adults and families, not unescorted children.
2. How is Kahal enrollment billed? It is billed the same as Sunday school.

Optional Electives 2008-2009

2nd Grade Introduction To Hebrew For Child And Parent - Children and parents attend Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and learn together to identify the Hebrew letters and vowels, to recognize several Hebrew words by sight, and to sound out familiar Hebrew words and phrases.

Chochma (Individualized Hebrew Prayer Study) - This class is designed for students in grades 3 through 7 who learn best with individual or small group instruction in a warm, conducive environment. Chochma also supports students who have ongoing or periodic special learning needs. Students attend Sunday and Thursday as part of the Integrated Studies program and attend Chochma instead of, or as a pull-out from, Mechina, Alef, Bet, or Gimel Hebrew class. Please call the school office and speak with the Director of Education to discuss whether Chochma would be a good fit for your child.

8th Grade students are invited to choose one or both of the following electives in addition to the required Mitzvah Corps program:

• 8th Grade Modern Hebrew Students attend this intensive Hebrew language class Thursday evening from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. It is designed for students who are serious about Hebrew language study and wish to pursue Hebrew in high school. Students who complete this course and additional homework may be able to test out of Hebrew I when they enter high school. A minimum of eight students is required for this course.
• 8th Grade Madrichim (Leadership) Training takes place Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Weekly attendance during the year will include times for formal training with the Madrichim coordinator, hands-on experience in a primary grade classroom, and group reflection and sharing of classroom experiences. There will be no Madrichim session on mornings when an 8TH Grade Mitzvah Corps experiential activity is scheduled. There is no fee for this program. Students who complete training are eligible as 9th–12th graders to work as classroom assistants or Hebrew tutors on Sunday and/or Thursday, for which they will be compensated and/or receive community service hours.