Our Curriculum

KINDERGARTEN is a joyous year where students receive their introduction to our school and synagogue life. The holidays come alive with celebrations, music, food, arts and crafts and prayer. An oral Hebrew vocabulary is formed which includes holiday, prayer and every day words. The students realize that they can make the world a better place by contributing to our many tzedakah projects and by performing mitzvot. An exploration of the synagogue and its place in Jewish life, in addition to the concept of G-d, rounds out an exceptional learning experience.

FIRST GRADERS continue their studies of the holidays using the text "Let's Celebrate" provifing them a deeper understanding of our customs and ceremonies and their place in a Jew's life. They discover basic prayers to communicate with G-d in the synagogue, in home celebrations, in the classroom and in their personal lives. The concepts of mitzvot and tzedakah continue to be a part of their studies, while they futher explore Gemilut Chasadim and Israel.

SECOND GRADERS focus on the early Bible stories of Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, The Tower of Babel, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, and Joseph. Through art, music and role-playing, the personalities come alive and become memorable. The students continue with holiday observances, mitzvot, and tzedakah. Hebrew letter recognition and vocabulary prepare the students for the following year's formal introduction to Hebrew. In addition, a special library program is added to the curriculum to help create Jewish memories.

THIRD GRADERS become Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) for the year. Their year begins with the creation of their Tzofimt-shirt and a candlelighting induction ceremony where they begin their quest for badges in the areas of Synagogue, Torah, Prayer, Helping Hands, Israel, Bible, Jewish Books, Holidays, and Shabbat. Students begin the ALEF level of the Hebrew where they will learn the names and sounds of letters and vowels, and how to read Hebrew. They will learn to read simple prayers and increase their Hebrew vocabulary.

FOURTH GRADERS concentrate on the Jewish Life Cycle. During the year the students will receive their Hebrew name at a special Naming Ceremony. They explore the educational components of Consecration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, marriage and death. BET level Hebrew introduces the students to the concept of prayer, reading prayers with fluency and accuracy, and holiday and prayer vocabulary.

FIFTH GRADERS explore the State of Israel, its past and present. The format for the year will involve the students taking a "tour" of modern Israel where they will visit and experience the major cities and sites, meet the builders of the country and confront the highs and lows of its history. Holidays are observed as though in Israel. Current events are an integral part of the program. GIMEL Level Hebrew continues with the prayer curriculum, focusing on the Shabbat evening prayers.

SIXTH GRADERS explore our Tanakh (Bible). They will learn why we are called the "People of the Book" as they become familiar with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel and Leah, Joseph and Moses. Exciting activities include an Exodus Walk, Faith in Darkness Exercise, a Biblical Treasure Hunt and dramatic visits by Heroes of the Bible. Dalet level Hebrew continues with an in-depth prayer curriculum focusing on Shabbat morning prayers. The year culminates with a unique Hadragah (moving up to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah level) ceremony written and led by our students.

UPPER SCHOOL/TEEN STUDIES 

Our upper school meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm and offers 7th-10th Graders dynamic courses of high interest, which include text study, cooperative learning, media, guest speakers, field trips, retreats and hands-on learning experiences.  Teens take two courses each week with a social break in between.  Each course lasts for 10 weeks so teens have the opportunity to engage in 6 classes a year.  Students take one core class for their grade level and one elective course with a mixture of 7th-10th graders learning together. 

Our upper school staff is comprised of highly experienced teachers which include our rabbis, cantors, school directors, youth director and other specially hand-picked educators who work well with our teens. 

Some of the core classes incorporated into the curriculum may include:

                Chasidic Stories

                Parashat HaShavua (Portion of the Week)

                Holocaust

                Prophets

                Anti-Semitism

                Why Be Good?

                Pirke Avot (Sayings of our Ancestors)

                Exploring God

                Exploring Israel

 Some of the elective classes incorporated into the curriculum may include:

                Rock, Rap & Religion

                Judaism in South Park

                Jews and the News

                Madrikhim Training (Teaching Assistants)

                Art

                Music

                Martial Arts and the Mind-State of Judaism

Tenth grade culminates with Confirmation.  The Confirmands help to lead the service on Shavuot, the holiday which commemorates God giving the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.  Following Confirmation, we take the 10th graders on a summer trip to Israel for 3 weeks.

Eleventh and Twelfth graders return for our Bar/Bat Yisrael Program.  This two-year program, meaning Son/Daughter of Israel, provides the students with the opportunity to study with our rabbis once a month on a Sunday morning.  This creates a further bond with the rabbis and a further connection with Congregation B'nai Israel.  The curriculum includes one year of Jewish Roots in America with a visit to New York City and one year of Advocacy for Jewish Causes with a trip to Washington, DC.  A formal graduation for seniors at the end of the year celebrates the accomplishments of our students. 

Mark S. Bertuch Make-a-Difference Program