Julia M. and Samuel L. Flom
Religious School
OUR VISION
The basic premise of our curriculum is to think of Jewish education not simply as a matter of communicating facts, but rather as an effort to help young people become proud participating Jews who are confident in their identity.
From early childhood, a youngster learns by experiencing, doing, touching, hearing seeing, tasting, and smelling the richness of our heritage. Our school for Living Judaism is based on the fact, as our sages put it, "it is not the learning that is the essence, but the doing." In reality, whether children or adults, we learn what we do. Our students are given a foundation from which they are encouraged to explore and question their relationship to Judaism.
We, at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, build a warm, comfortable, and positive climate of Jewish experience and Jewish learning for our children. We do not expect to fill the place of the home. The success of our program depends in large part on whether the children receive positive reinforcement of their Jewish education at home.
OUR GOALS
Through our curriculum we strive to provide a program of Jewish education which will enable children, youth, and adults to become:
Jews who affirm their Jewish identity and bind themselves inseparable to their people by word and deed.
Jews who bear witness to the brit (the covenant between God and the Jewish people) by embracing Torah through the study and observance of mitzvot (commandments) as interpreted into the light of historic development and contemporary liberal thought. Jews who affirm their historic bond to Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. Jews who cherish and study Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people. Jews who value and practice tefflah (prayer).
Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom, and peace by pursuing tzedek (righteousness), mishpat (Justice), and chesed (loving deeds).
Jews who celebrate Shabbat and the festivals and observe the Jewish ceremonies, marking the significant occasions in their lives.
Jews who esteem their own person and the person of others; their own family and the family of others; their own community and the community of others.
Jews who express their kinship with K'lal Yisrael (peoplehood of Jews) by actively seeking to better the welfare of Jews throughout the world.
Jews who support and participate in the life of the synagogue. Such Jews will strengthen the fabric of Jewish life, ensure the future of Judaism and the Jewish people, and approach the realization of their divine potential.
OUR TEACHING STAFF
OUR CURRICULUM
Pre-Kindergarten: Our Pre-Kindergarten class begins Religious School with a myriad of hands-on projects from Torah scrolls and kiddush cups to Israeli flags and sanctuary objects. Stories about Bible heroes and how we can be like them add spice to this class.
Kindergarten: This class is introduced to life cycle events. The children make many Jewish artifacts. Weekly grab-bag lessons facilitate imparting knowledge about our Judaic heritage. Mishpacha (family) is another focus of this year's curriculum.
First Grade Shabbat: its rituals and custo ffis are studied in depth. All holidays are addressed with an emphasis placed on the story behind them. Some basic prayers, as well as numbers, are taught orally in Hebrew.
Second Grade: Simcha the Seal is the second grade mascot who leads the children through many valuable stories. Bible heroes become a focus for discussion of personal Jewish values. Videos about these heroes help provide the catalyst for exchanging ideas and opinions. Students create many of their own stories and prayers. They are introduced to Hebrew letters.
Third Grade: These students concentrate on a study of the Temple, the sanctuary, and Jewish books. Creativity in writing a Temple newsletter and dictionary is encouraged. Students learn about Lifeline for the Aged in Israel and then teach their parents about it. Reading Hebrew begins in third grade.
Fourth Grade: Our fourth grade curriculum introduces children to the ways Jews lived in other times. Bible characters come to life by students' presentations. Students also make visits to a nursing home. Hebrew study continues with emphasis on mastering phonetic reading of the Chanukah blessings and the Four Questions.
Fifth Grade: This year we "travel" to modem-day Israel. From obtaining Israeli passports on the first day of school, to hosting a Jewish World's Fair, students study K'Ial Yisrael, the world of Jews. We stress fluency and correct pronunciation of Hebrew with the goal of leading a service from the prayerbook.
Sixth Grade: Conference Plan (The NATE award-winning curriculum created by Rabbi Richard Birnholz) Our sixth graders are involved in a series of hands-on mini-units. The subjects will range from a study of our prophets and Spanish Jewry to anti-Semitism and the Jewish response to poverty. These activities challenge our students to act, based on knowledge of our rich heritage. Students continue to prepare for their B'nai Mitzvah as well as learning life cycle Hebrew they will need to know as adults.
Seventh Grade: Conference Plan (The NATE award-winning, curriculum created by Rabbi Richard Birnholz) The seventh graders participate in a series of different minicourses. Through participatory activities, students are challenged to learn, examine their own beliefs, develop their own informed position, and act on both historical and contemporary situations and topics. Many different media are used in these minicourses. Current opinions and problems are offered using combinations of speakers, panels, videos, films, and field experiences. The topics of these mini-courses include ethical issues, tzedakah, Bible, interfaith programming, and comparative Judaism.
Eighth Grade: Our rabbis teach eighth grade. The format for the eighth grade class is structured so that the students work in the classroom for one or two sessions on developing a basic understanding of the origins, meanings, and expressions of a value. The value units of study include Gemilut Chasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness), Bal Taschit (Waste Not), Mazon (Feed the Hungry), Chesed Shel Emet (Caring for the Dead), and Pidyon Shavuyint (Freeing Captives). Local resource people, videos, and other media are utilized in class to teach these values. Then, they go out into the community to put the value into action. The students' hands-on experiences include delivering food to elderly residents, planting for Tu B' Shevat, and visiting our synagogue's cemetery.
Ninth Grade Confirmation: This class is designed to help our students understandwhat Confirmation means in terms of the basic tenets of our faith. Jewish Assertiveness Training and learning to cope with life's challenges are highlights of this year. Community service projects and an overnight canoe trip add a special bond for our Confirmation class. Our Senior Rabbi and another master teacher teach this class. The class culminates with the creation of a Shavuot Confirmation Service for the entire congregation.
Post Confirmation (Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth grade): Many of our Post Confirmation students work as teaching assistants in our Religious School classrooms. Over 75 % of our Confirmands choose to return to work in the school in both Judaic Studies and Hebrew classes. Our Post Confirmation students are encouraged to attend various adult education workshops.
OTHER LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Throughout the year, several grades participate in Friday night Family Shabbat services. Based on the grade level, students may lead the Hebrew or English parts of the service, add creative prayer, teach the congregation new music, or charm the congregation as a rhythm band.
Tzedakah Project of the Month enables our students to become aware of the many needs of our local, national and international Jewish community. Then, by his/her contributions, each student can develop a sense that "To save a single life is as if one has saved the entire world."
Many grades go on field trips to further enrich in-class learning experiences.
The school families join with the entire congregation in serving our community by participating in our annual Mitzvah Day.
Children's Choir leads the musical parts of our Shabbat Family Services, Children's High Holiday Services and the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
Rock Tefilah is the newest workshop experience we have added to Sunday and Shabbat tefilot. It is directed by the Cantor. Both students and teacher assistants lead the singing and play musical instruments.
Gesher L'Mishpachah is a family project that enhances and strengthens Jewish identity while working together and having a great deal of Jewish family fun!
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