Pre-K/Kindergarten

Teacher – Brianna Soloski

These first two years of formal Jewish learning are spent immersed in the stories of the Bible, the Chagim (holidays), mitzvot, and what it means to be a Jewish child. A variety of resources are used to expose students to these areas of education. These include electronic sources such as TorahTots, Babaganewz, and Akhla, as well as Shalom Sesame, (which includes videos and pamphlets).   “My Jewish Memory Book” by Torah Aura Publications, “One Minute Bible Stories” and “My First Learn and Do Jewish Holiday Book” are some of the written publications we use as well.   Jewish music is also emphasized through various sources such as Rick Recht’s CD, “Look at Me!”   Students are given a cursory exposure to the Hebrew alphabet to prepare them for their first grade year.

1st/2nd Grade

Teacher – Aimee Knox

Chai Level 1: First graders are introduced to key Jewish terms through their learning about the Jewish holidays, the synagogue and the family.  Through creative activities and stimulating materials, the students begin to understand what it means to be Jewish.

Chai Level 2: This curriculum focuses on the themes of Torah, Avodah (worship) and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness).  Through a variety of meaningful, age-appropriate activities, the students will begin to understand what it means to be a Jew and live a Jewish life.

This class will begin to study Hebrew by learning to recite the alphabet, recognizing the letters in the alphabet (not yet the vowels), and learning Hebrew vocabulary through music and prayer.

3rd Grade

Teacher – Morian Yifrach (Sunday), Aimee Knox/Wendy Malnak (Tuesday)

Sundays: Chai Level 3: The third grade class is introduced to the stories of the Torah and explores the lessons they teach us for living our lives today.  The students will understand how these stories have shaped Judaism and continue to offer guidance for living a Jewish life.

Tuesdays: Shalom Uvracha: The New Hebrew Primer – Script Edition, and Temple Sinai Prayer Packet will be used to facilitate the lessons.  Our students will have a refresher in identifying all the Hebrew letters, and will learn the vowels and how to match them together in order to read. Students will end the year being able to read (not memorize) the following prayers: the Blessings for candles, wine, and bread, the Sh’ma, and the Barchu.

4th Grade

Teacher – Wendy Malnak (Sundays), Morian Yifrach (Tuesdays)

Sundays: Chai Level 4: The fourth grade class is exposed to a more advanced understanding of the core topics of Torah, Avodah (worship) and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness).  The Torah focus is on the concept of brit (covenant) as presented through stories in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Avodah looks at the concepts of keva and kavanah, fixed prayer and intention during worship.  In the area of G’milut Chasadim, the students explore how behavior influences relationships with family and friends.

Tuesdays: Kol Yisrael, level 1, Temple Sinai Prayer Packet. Our students will follow the adventures of the characters in Behrman House’s brand new curriculum, which will guide them through learning many age appropriate blessings. General reading will be practiced and reinforced at each class session. At the end of the year, students will be able to read the following prayers: V’ahavta, Ma’ariv Aravim, Yotzer Or, and Adonai S’fatai Tiftach.

5th Grade

Teacher – Gus Feliu (Sundays), Iris Katz (Tuesdays)

Sundays: Chai Level 5: In fifth grade, the students will learn about the biblical prophets and reflect on the themes and values that the prophets taught and how those themes and values continue to shape Judaism. In particular, the prophets are associated with fighting for social justice, which continues to shape the Reform movement.

Tuesdays: Kol Yisrael, level 2, Temple Sinai Prayer Packet. Our students will follow the adventures of the characters in Behrman House’s brand new curriculum, which will guide them through learning many age appropriate blessings. General reading will be practiced and reinforced at each class session. At the end of the year, students will be able to read the following prayers: Avot V’Imahot, G’vurot, K’dusha, and Chatzi Kadish.

6th Grade

Teacher – Ari Farah (Sundays), Dr. Hava Lurya (Tuesdays)

Sundays: Chai Level 6: This year continues the study of Torah, Avoda (worship) and G’milut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness), as per the structure of Chai. Torah focuses on the fact that studying a Jewish text allows us to explore our relationship with G-d and reflect on the ways G-d is continuously revealed to others and to ourselves. Reform Jews believe that new insights about Judaism can be found even in the modern day.  6th graders learn that they can experience G-d in our world, in others and within ourselves by engaging in acts of g’milut chasadim.

Tuesdays: Kol Yisrael, Level 3, Temple Sinai Prayer Packet. Our students will follow the adventures of the characters in Behrman House’s brand new curriculum, which will guide them through learning many age appropriate blessings. General reading will be practiced and reinforced at each class session. At the end of the year, students will be able to read the following prayers: Torah Blessings (before and after), Haftarah Blessings (before and after), Aleinu, and the Friday Night Kiddush.

7th Grade

Teacher – Bryan Kessler (Sundays), Ilana Shapiro (Tuesdays)

Sundays: Chai Level 7: In this year, students learn how their life is “reflected in and reflects Torah”, that the message and power of Jewish prayer can help them understand and define themselves as individuals and as authentic members of the Jewish community.  They will also learn that their development as emerging Reform Jewish adults and authentic members of the Jewish community is closely linked to their ethical behavior and the performance of acts of g’milut chasadim.

Tuesdays: Parashat Hashavua: Reading Genesis, and Parashat Hashavua: Exodus to Deutoronomy, as well as the Temple Sinai Prayer Packet. The Behrman House curriculum develops word skills and sight recognition of key vocabulary. Students will explore text in Hebrew and an associated mitzvah, the Ten Commandments in Hebrew, Torah readings, and Torah facts. At the end of the year, students will be able to read the entire prayer packet, as well as the song “Lcha Dodi”.

8th Grade

Teacher – Sarah Stewart (Tuesdays Only)

In the post B’nai Mitzvah class, students will look at in depth investigations into key moral questions in Judaism. Students have a choice to discuss six key modern age issues and find what Judaism, as well as their peers, think of these particular issues. The six topics are:

  • How do Jews make moral decisions?
  • Jewish attitudes towards relationships
  • Jewish attitudes to matters of life, such as medical ethics
  • Jewish attitudes toward drug and alcohol abuse
  • Prejudice and discrimination
  • Jewish attitudes to global issues, the environment, and peace

9th Grade

Teacher – Rabbi Malcolm Cohen (Tuesdays Only)

In the Confirmation class, there are four main areas of study and discussion. The first is Jewish ideas of G-d, including G-d’s role in miracles and human suffering. Some of these theological sessions will overlap with the section on the Holocaust, the Nazi destruction of the Jews in the Second World War. A third section of the course is devoted to “Jewish Heroes, Jewish Values”, engaging with some of the great figures of Jewish History and working out what the stories of their lives teach us. Finally, students watch segments of Jewish Movies, learning how to analyze their Jewish content and film-making techniques.

10th, 11th, and 12th Grade

Teacher – Avigail Eisenberg (Sundays only – 12:30-1:30)

This three-year course will be structured across three areas: G-d, Torah, and Israel. This year, we will study “Israel” through the Israel Strand of the Chai Curriculum.  Each of the seven levels focuses on one aspect of Israel and our connection to it as North American progressive Jews. Topics covered include basics about the country in the past and the present, the fruits of Israel, making the map of Israel our own, the face of Israel in the world, Social Justice in Israel, Arabs and Jews in Israel, a Democratic Jewish State, and finally, Reform Judaism in Israel.