PRE-SCHOOL SUNDAYS

Our “Pre-School Sundays”, with Rosie Hymerling, introduces three and four year old children to the Jewish holidays, Shabbat and the joys of being Jewish.  These children meet once a month for programming that includes art projects, introduction to basic prayers, music and holiday foods.  The class meets from 9:00 –11:00 AM.

KINDERGARTEN

Our Kindergarten year is full of fun projects and important learning.  Through story time and projects, our students are introduced to stories of the Torah, including Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Tower of Babel and Noah’s Ark.  The holidays are taught through hands-on-activities and art projects.  The students are introduced to basic Hebrew words and prayers. The meaning and importance of tzedakah (righteous giving) and other Jewish values are introduced.  The highlight of the year is our Consecration Service – a meaningful life cycle event when the children are blessed by our Rabbis on the Bimah and presented with their very own Torah.            

Texts: Let’s Discover Holidays & Let’s Discover Mitzvot

FIRST GRADE

The first grade curriculum focuses on the Book of Genesis, Beresheet.  The lives of our matriarchs and patriarchs are introduced. The holidays are taught with a special emphasis on the rituals and blessings for Shabbat.  The performance of tzedakah (righteous giving) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness) are emphasized.  The students also are introduced to the people and culture of Israel.   The students explore our synagogue building, learning about Jewish symbols and ritual objects.  Our rabbis welcome our students into our sanctuary and show them the Torah and other important objects. 

Texts: Let’s Discover Bible & Let’s Discover Synagogue

SECOND GRADE

The second grade curriculum begins with a review of the book of Genesis and, then, focuses on the Book of Exodus or Shemot.  The Exodus from Egypt, the experience at Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments are taught in depth.   The curriculum emphasizes the Jewish values of community responsibility through special projects.  The students learn about the traditions and customs of the holidays through hands-on projects.

Texts:   A Kids’ Cartoon Bible & My Jewish Year

THIRD GRADE

The third grade curriculum is based on learning about Biblical stories and the values that they teach.   The third graders also discuss ethics and morals for daily living.  The students learn about the holidays through studying the Biblical text.

Texts:  A Child's Bible & The Be a Mensch Campaign

FOURTH GRADE 

Our fourth grade students study the Jewish life-cycle – from birth to death.   In an age appropriate manner, the students learn about the different traditions that they will encounter as they journey through life.  They also focus on learning about the customs and rituals of each holiday.

Text: Journey of a Lifetime & The Jewish Holiday Book

FIFTH GRADE

 The fifth grade students are introduced to Jewish history on Sunday morning.  They review the stories of the Torah from a historical perspective and, then, focus on the events leading up to the destruction of the Second Temple.   The students study the books of Prophets  and learn about the ethical messages in these books.

Texts:   Introduction to Jewish History & Gift of Wisdom

HEBREW STUDIES FOR GRADES 2 TO 5

Hebrew study begins in the second grade.  Students are urged to enroll in HeadStart Hebrew, which includes letter recognition and elementary modern spoken vocabulary.  In 3rd, 4th, & 5th, grades the students are taught to read with accuracy and fluency, as well as studying the meaning of prayers in the Shabbat service.  Students continue with learning concepts of Hebrew grammar and prayer book vocabulary. 

The curriculum also includes familiarization of specific prayers from the siddur, or prayer book, enabling students to participate and eventually lead a prayer service.  The Hebrew program for 2nd-5th grade includes a reinforcement of classroom lessons through a weekly prayer service with Rabbi Cohen. 

SIXTH GRADE

 Sixth grade students study on  Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.  On Sundays, they study Jewish history from the time of the Rabbis through the twentieth century. The students’ Jewish text study  focuses on Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, a Talmudic text.  

On Wednesday evenings, the students focus on building the Hebrew skills for Bar or Bat Mitzvah.   They learn the prayers of the Torah service and learn Torah chanting with Cantor Halpern and Judaica with Rabbi Cohen. Each session ncludes drills of the other prayers that B’nai Mitzvah students typically lead at their ceremonies.  The students also study the concluding prayers of the service, including the Kaddish.

 Texts:  Altas of Great Jewish Communities & A Bridge to Tradition

                                            7th Graders on a Mitzvah Trip to the Jewish Relief Agency.

SEVENTH GRADE STAR PROGRAM

The Seventh Grade Tikun Olam, Academics and Ruach program combines a weekly classroom learning on Wednesdays with a monthly trip component on the weekends.   Our program is aimed at making the year a very special one.  Rabbi Newburge, along with other experienced teachers, lead this program. 

The theme of the year is “What it Means to be a Jewish Adult.”   The students will discuss Jewish adulthood from different perspectives.  We will use methods of experiential learning, guest speakers and group process.  Students will explore their own relationship to Judaism and important questions they have about the relevance of Judaism to today’s world.  Students may elect to take Conversation Hebrew as part of the program.

These weekend programs include mtzvah projects and other trips of Jewish interest. These programs complement and reinforce the students’ mid-week studies. 

EIGTH AND NINTH GRADES – CONFIRMATION ACADEMY

Our 8th and 9th Grade school year is divided into semesters.  Each student takes 2 courses each semester, or 4 courses during the school year.  Students have one required course; the other three courses are electives.  Eighth graders are required to take a Holocaust class and 9th graders are required to take an Israel class.   For example, a 9th grade student might take the Israel course and an elective in the fall and, then, two electives in the spring. Students have the option of taking “Scholars’ Circle” classes.   Scholars’ Circle classes are intended for students who want an in-depth, text-based learning experience and a greater academic challenge.  Students who take two or more Scholars’ Circle classes each year will receive a special designation on their Confirmation certificate.

TENTH GRADE – CONFIRMATION YEAR

The Tenth grade class is taught by our rabbis and Robin Cogan   A syllabus is given out to the students each year.  The students study Judaism & sexuality with Rabbi Cohen, Dr. Susan  Kaufman  and Dr. David Chasen during the first part of the year for an hour each week.    In the Spring, student go on field trips exploring aspects of the Jewish community and will prepare for the Confirmation service on Shavuot.  The students go to Israel over Winter Break.

Our Confirmation Academy students have the option of completing a project known as the A.H.L. in the 10th grade.  The A.H.L. is a home research project that focuses on in-depth Jewish knowledge and thought.  It requires students to think and study on a college-oriented level.   Students who complete the A.H.L. are recognized at Confirmation.

ELEVENTH AND TWELTH GRADES       

The ELITE (Extended Learning Institute at Temple Emanuel) Program continues to offer our students the necessary information and experiences to enable them to become responsible Jews in the 21st century.  Through lively class discussion and reading of texts and articles,  students explore contemporary issues through a Jewish lens.  The students also discuss Jewish life on college campuses.  As an option, 11th and 12th graders may take classes in methodology and complete student teaching to achieve a teaching certificate.