Kehilath Israel Synagogue - Religious School

LEARNING

Religious School

Youth

Fred Devinki Religious School

Kehilath Israel is proud to offer tuition-free education to all its members. Students in Pre-K through 7th grade meet on Sunday from 9:15-11:30am. Grades 3-7th meet additionally on Wednesday from 4:30-6:15pm. Curriculum is designed to offer a quality Jewish education, bringing Judaism to life by caring for those in need, and accomplishing good deeds.

Our goal is that during their Religious School education students will achieve:

Knowledge of the major mitzvot in the Torah
Familiarity with the major Biblical characters and stories
An understanding of the various Torah portions and Prophets
Introduction to Mishnah and Talmudic debate
Understanding and participating in Jewish holiday observance and practice
Fluency in reciting and understanding the Jewish Prayers
Ability to read, write, and understand basic Hebrew

Shul Jr.

Come join us the third Shabbat of the month for Shul Jr. Kid-led services with prayer, songs, Torah learning, vigorous debates, and prizes! Geared to kids ages pre-k through bar/bat mitzvah. Parents are free to stay or attend the main service. Held 10-11 a.m. in the chapel. See you there!

Group Aleph/1: K-2 (Ages 5-7) “I Am a Part of the Jewish People”

Goals: Introduce foundational concepts of Jewish life in a fun, positive, and concrete way. The focus is on stories, songs, and hands-on activities.

Torah: The story of the Torah and its importance. Deeper dive into a few select stories from the Torah (e.g., Creation, Noah, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs).

The Stories of Creation: Focus on the beauty of Shabbat and the world God created.
Stories of the Avot and Imahot (Patriarchs and Matriarchs): Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. Emphasize themes of hospitality, family, and faith.
The Story of Moses: Introduce Moses as the leader who helped the Jewish people. Focus on the Exodus story in a simple, non-frightening way (e.g., leaving Egypt, crossing the sea).

Prayer (Tefillah):

Core Prayers: Learn the Shema and Modeh Ani (or Modah Ani for girls). Teach the meaning of each prayer.
Blessings (Berachot): Learn and practice simple blessings for food (HaMotzi, blessings over snacks) and other daily activities.
Songs: Use simple, repetitive songs to learn the names of prayers and parts of the service.

Mitzvot (Commandments) & Values: Simple, age-appropriate good deeds.

Kindness (Gemilut Chasadim): Simple acts of kindness towards friends and family.
Honoring Parents (Kibud Av V’em): Helping at home, using respectful language.
Charity (Tzedakah): Introduce the concept of giving to others. Use a class tzedakah box.
Honesty (Emet): The importance of telling the truth.
Mezuzah: The idea of a Jewish home.
Synagogue: The function of the synagogue and its special objects.

Holidays (Chagim): The major Jewish holidays and their unique symbols.

High Holidays: Introduce the concepts of Teshuvah (repentance) and forgiveness. Make honey cakes for Rosh Hashanah and learn the sound of the shofar.
Sukkot: Build a small sukkah together, decorate it, and eat snacks inside.
Chanukah: Learn the story of the Maccabees. Make latkes and play with dreidels.
Purim: Dress up in costumes and listen to a simplified version of the Megillah.
Passover (Pesach): Learn the story of the Exodus. Practice the Four Questions and identify the sederplate items.
Shabbat: The rhythm of the week and the specialness of Shabbat. Focus on Shabbat as a special day of rest and family. Make challah, light candles, and sing Shalom Aleichem.

Hebrew: Introduction to a few key Hebrew words and phrases, such as Shalom, Toda, and Shabbat Shalom. Students learn to recognize the letters of the Aleph-Bet, with a focus on letter recognition and some basic decoding. Students begin to practice writing the letters.

Group 2: 3-4 (Ages 8-10) “I Live a Jewish Life”

Goals: Deepen understanding of core Jewish texts and traditions. Introduce more complex narratives and the reasons behind mitzvot. Begin more formal Hebrew instruction.

Torah:

Introduction to the Tanach: Be familiar with the parts of the Tanach- Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim.
Emphasis on the Torah: Learn the names of the five books (Bereishit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim) and their general themes.
Torah Stories: Jewish Peoplehood: The concepts of Am Yisrael (The People of Israel) and Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel).
Deeper Look at B’reishit (Genesis): Study the stories of Joseph and his brothers, focusing on themes of forgiveness and family reconciliation.
Exodus and the Giving of the Torah: More detailed study of the Exodus narrative. Learn about the Ten Commandments and their significance.

Prayer (Tefillah):

Structured Prayer Service: Learn the order of the morning prayer service (Shacharit). Practice saying blessings with proper pronunciation and melody.
Key Prayers: Learn to recite and understand the meaning of Barechu, Shema, Amidah (introductory blessings), and Aleinu
Individual Prayer: Introduce the idea of personal prayer and reflection.

Mitzvot (Commandments) & Values:

Respect for Elders and Teachers: Discuss the importance of showing respect to those who have wisdom and knowledge.
Laws of Kashrut: Learn the basic principles of keeping kosher, including separate meat and dairy.
Tzedakah and Social Justice: Understand that tzedakah is not just a donation but an act of justice. Discuss ways to help the less fortunate in the community.
The Sanctity of Life (Pikuach Nefesh): Introduce the concept that saving a life takes precedence over almost all other mitzvot.

Holidays (Chagim):

Deeper Meaning of Holidays: Study the historical and theological reasons behind each holiday.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Understand the concepts of personal accountability and communal repentance.
Seder Plate Symbolism: In-depth study of the symbolic items on the seder plate.
Shavuot: Learn the story of the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Hebrew Reading: Begin formal Hebrew reading instruction, use prayers as a learning tool

Group 3: 5-6 (Bar & Bat Mitzvah Age) “I am a Role Model and Leader of my Community”

Goals: Prepare students for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremonies and for a lifetime of Jewish learning. The curriculum is more rigorous and includes a deeper dive into Jewish law, ethics, and history.

Torah:

In-Depth Parsha (Weekly Torah Portion) Study: Each student studies their specific Parsha for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Commentary and Interpretation: Introduce students to basic Torah commentary (Rashi or other classical commentators) and encourage them to form their own interpretations.
Legal and Ethical Issues: Examine the legal and ethical dilemmas within the Torah stories (e.g., the story of Abraham and Isaac, the laws of justice in Deuteronomy).

Prayer (Tefillah):

Mastering the Service: Students should be able to navigate the Shabbat morning service with ease.
Learning Tropp (Cantillation): For students preparing to read from the Torah, this is a central component.
Understanding the Structure of Prayer: Deconstruct the Amidah and other central prayers to understand their structure and content.
Spiritual Practice: Encourage students to view prayer not just as a ritual but as a form of personal communication with God.

Mitzvot (Commandments) & Jewish Ethics:

Bar/Bat Mitzvah as a Milestone: Understand that becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is not an end but a beginning of a greater responsibility to fulfill mitzvot.
The Mitzvah of Tefillin (for boys): Learn the laws and symbolism of laying tefillin.
The Mitzvah of Tzitzit (for boys): Understand the significance of the fringes on the tallis.
Jewish Law (Halacha): Introduce the concept of Halacha and its source in the Torah and rabbinic tradition.
Jewish Ethics (Mussar): Discuss core ethical principles like treating others with dignity (kavod ha’beriyot), avoiding gossip (lashon hara), and the importance of integrity.

Holidays (Chagim):

Holiday Observance: Focus on the practical laws of each holiday, such as preparing for Passover, the laws of building a sukkah, and the proper way to light the Chanukah menorah.
Historical Context: Study the historical development of each holiday and its modern significance.
Fasting: Discuss the meaning and purpose of fasting on Yom Kippur and other fast days.
Shabbat Deep Dive: In-depth study of the mitzvot of Shabbat and how they create a special and holy atmosphere.

Hebrew Reading: Emphasis on learning Hebrew vocabulary and grammar, confidence in Hebrew reading accuracy as well as fluency in prayers