The Community Synagogue

The Community Synagogue's curriculum uses a value-based approach to Jewish education. In addition to the components of teaching Jewish festivals and Hebrew, Jewish studies are organized in order to enable our students to embrace seven key values that we see as central to Judaism. These key values are:

We want our children to grow up with a sense of what it means to be a Jew and to have positive feelings about their Jewish identity. Therefore, in each grade, we seek to introduce students to new concepts and challenge them to explore their Judaism in new ways. Our curriculum has been designed with our school goals in mind, so as to provide each child with a well-rounded, engaging Jewish education. Each grade has a specific curricular focus for their yearly studies. In addition, Hebrew language and learning about the holidays are built into each grade’s curriculum. The themes & topics for each grade are as follows (more specific Curricular Pages available for each grade):

Kindergarten	L'Chaim – To Life Jewish Time - Introduction to Shabbat, holidays and synagogue
Grade 1	*Bereshit Bara Elohim* - In the Beginning God Created Jewish Living – Investigation of Jewish practices, beliefs and holidays
Grade 2	*Im Tirtzu Ein Zo Agada* - If You Will it, It is No Dream Jewish World- Introduction to People & Land of Israel and Exploration of Jewish values
Grade 3	*Eitz Chaim Hi L'mahazikim Bah* - It is a Tree of Life to Those Who Hold It Fast Jewish Revelation - Examining the stories of the Torah and our relationship with God
Grade 4	*Klal Yisrael* – The Jewish People/The Community of Israel Jewish People - Introduction to life cycle traditions and study of Israel
Grade 5	*Am Yisrael Chai* - The Jewish People Live Jewish Identity – Study of Jewish history and deeper exploration of Torah
Grade 6	*Ani V'atah N'shaneh et Ha-olam* - You and I Will Change the World Jewish Response – Study of Reform Judaism, Jewish questions and Holocaust
Grade 7	*Al Ha-Torah, V'al Ha-Avodah, V'al Gemilut Chasdim* Exploration of the three pillars of Jewish life: Torah, Worship and Acts of Loving Kindness

Hebrew Program

Our Hebrew curriculum ensures that our young people understand and feel comfortable with our liturgy and prayer service, so that they may participate meaningfully in services throughout their lives & anywhere in the worldwide community of Reform Jews. An appreciation of Hebrew as a living language is also our goal.

The Hebrew program teaches students the structure and meaning of Jewish prayer. Hebrew letter shapes and names are first introduced in kindergarten; in first grade students begin writing the letters; students begin to read phonetically in the second grade; and by third grade, the students have solidified rudimentary reading skills. The program for students in the fourth through sixth grades ensures that synagogue fluency in achieved, enabling students to read and comprehend the basic prayers of our worship services with ease. Students will also learn key vocabulary and grammatical concepts of the Hebrew language.

Religious School Goals

• By understanding our covenantal relationship with God within a Reform context, our students will learn to describe their sense of what is sacred or holy. They will respond to the miracles and mysteries of our world with an awareness of the presence of God in our lives.

• Our students will identify themselves as Jews deeply rooted in the shared values of family and community and the close partnership that exists between them.

• Our students will learn the historical experience of the Jewish people and how to apply it to their lives today.

• Our students will value participating in a life-time of learning and living Judaism.

• Our students will identify the range and diversity that exists within the Jewish world, while demonstrating a connectedness to Jews in all countries and of all beliefs and practices.

• Our students will express a love of Israel (her land and her people), appreciating how Zionism and the Jewish homeland are central for Jewish life today.

• Our students will apply Torah as lived through the Reform Jewish experience to every aspect of their lives, leading to a commitment to the ethical teachings of our tradition.

• Our students will learn about and observe the ritual mitzvot related to Shabbat, holidays, life-cycle and prayer, knowing what is required in order to respond appropriately within a Reform context.

• Our students will feel comfortable with and will achieve a level of competence in Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people. Students will be able to read prayer book and biblical Hebrew, demonstrating “key word” comprehension, and they will appreciate that Hebrew is a living language, the vocabulary of Jewish life.