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Temple Israel Religious School

Our philosophy is to develop within each child a strong and positive Jewish identity. We strive to educate for knowledge, participation and responsibility within the greater Jewish community. Judaism may be learned in school but it is lived at home. The key to successful Jewish education is a strong partnership between the school and the home. By instilling Jewish values, teaching specific skills and mitzvot and providing positive experiences, we hope to strengthen ties between home, synagogue, and school.

While recognizing that much of our teaching is classroom oriented, we are committed to meeting the individual needs of each student, and to providing educational experiences that include the family.

Children begin religious instruction in kindergarten and attend classes two hours a week. This time commitment increases in first grade to four hours a week, and again in third grade to six hours a week.

An Intensive program of ten hours a week is offered beginning in fifth grade.

The comprehensive curriculum includes holidays, Bible, Hebrew language, prayer skills, Israel, mitzvot, literature, history, music, and art. Family workshops and parent learning round out the offerings.

The Religious School, which begins the formal elementary grade process of instilling Jewish values in children, extends to include weekly Shabbat services, Junior Chorale, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah program, and special family programming. By providing a comprehensive curriculum and programming in tandem with the home and the synagogue, the Temple Israel Religious School strives to educate its students to become knowledgeable, responsible, and participating Jews.

Curriculum

We have implemented a spiral curriculum so that many of the same topics, Hebrew language, Bible, Israel, holidays, and Hebrew prayer, are taught throughout the school but specific age-appropriate concepts are covered in each grade. Learning activities are geared toward the cognitive and developmental level of the students at any given age. The following is a brief description of what is taught in each grade.

Gan (Kindergarten)

Our kindergartners explore Jewish holidays, traditions, and customs through stories, art, cooking, music, dramatics, and prayer. Activities are geared to help the children develop a positive Jewish identify and become familiar with and comfortable in the synagogue environment. Children learn basic prayer skills. (2 hours/week)

Aleph (First Grade)

Students continue to learn about the holidays and are introduced to Bible stories. Hebrew language acquisition is emphasized as students learn basic Hebrew words, recognize the aleph-bet and write the Hebrew letters in script. (4 hours/week)

Bet (Second Grade)

In addition to continuing and reinforcing their study of Jewish customs and Bible, students begin to read Hebrew, blending letters and vowels. Students add to their basic oral Hebrew vocabulary. The prayer curriculum includes portions of the Shabbat service, which culminates in a Bet Siyyum, celebration of the children's Hebrew learning . (4 hours/week)

Gimel (Third Grade)

Students begin a lifelong relationship with the Biblical text. The text invites students to become Biblical commentators and to derive meaning from what they have discovered in their study. Holidays, mitzvot, and specific grade-appropriate prayers are reinforced. Students participate in a weekly Minha/Maariv service. Students continue to learn modern Hebrew. (6 hours/week)

Dalet (Fourth Grade)

While students continue their study of Bible, they learn additional prayers and reinforce their oral Hebrew skills. The study of Hebrew language emphasizes grammar, writing skills and reading fluency. Students participate in a Kabbalat Shabbat service and the weekday service. The study of the Haggadah is emphasized in terms of prayers, concepts, and values. (6 hours/week)

Hey (Fifth Grade)

Students begin an inquiry approach to the study of Bible. The focus for the year is the books of Jonah, Esther, and Ruth, material rich with ethical and moral issues. Hebrew language continues with an emphasis on grammar and oral comprehension. Students continue their study of Israel by focusing on the eydot (ethnic communities) in their Israel course using text study, art, cooking, and music. Students are introduced to Rabbinic literature through ethical problems and Jewish responses. (6 hours/week)

Vov (Sixth Grade)

Students continue their Bible study by examining the books of Samuel, looking at these texts through the lens of leadership and moral decision-making. The study of Israel continues with a focus on the builders of the modern state. Holiday liturgical texts are included in the prayer curriculum. Hebrew language continues to emphasize reading fluency and oral skills. The study of life-cycle events, from birth to death, engages students in rabbinic text as well as hands-on mitzvot activities. (6 hours/week)

Zayin (Seventh Grade)

The curriculum focuses on the history of the Jews in America, and features a parent/child course on issues of the Holocaust. Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, deals with moral issues; the study of this text enables students to understand its relevancy to modern life. The weekly Torah portion rounds out the students' study of Torah. Hebrew language is emphasized and students learn the weekday Shaharit service. (6 hours/week)

Intensive Program (Fifth to Seventh Grade)

An optional track of intensive Hebrew language and Judaic studies is offered to students in grades Hey (fifth) to Zayin (seventh). This ten hour a week program offers students the opportunity to spend more time pursuing their Jewish education. In addition to enriched language and tefillah programs, our Intensive students have a weekly class with the Rabbi. (10 hours/week)