Religious School Curriculum

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:

Kedushah               Holiness                   

Talmud Torah         Importance of Study

Kehillah                  Community

Mispacha                Family

Tikkun Olam           Repairing our World

Ahavat Olam           Love of Israel

Klal Yisrael              Unity of the Jewish People

Ivrit                            Hebrew Language and Prayer

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
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:45 am           

Grade 1- Bereshit Bara Elohim - In the Beginning God Created
Jewish Living – Investigation of Jewish practices, beliefs & holidays
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:45 am

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
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:45 am AND Thursday, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

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
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:45 am AND Thursday, 4:00 – 5:30 pm​​​​​​​

Grade 4 - Klal Yisrael - The Jewish People/The Community of Israel
Jewish People - Introduction to life cycle traditions and study of Israel 
Traditional Track - Sunday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am AND Tuesday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

FLAME Track - Tuesday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm for class and monthly Family Learning Mornings and Social Action Projects.*

* See FLAME Information under Family Education for more information.  

Grade 5 - Talmud Torah - The Study of Torah
Jewish Text – Deeper exploration of Torah and its teachings
Traditional Track - Sunday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am AND Tuesday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

FLAME Track - Tuesday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm for class and monthly Family Learning Mornings and Social Action Projects.*

* See FLAME Information under Family Education for more information.  

Grade 6 - Shorashim - Roots
Jewish Roots – Study of Reform Judaism, Jewish questions & Holocaust
Tuesday, 4:00 - 6:00 pm 
Torah Study - Beginning January 6th Grade students will attend Torah Study on Saturday mornings from 9:00 - 10:15 am.​​​​​​​

Grade 7 - MPOW Experiencing how Jewish values can MPOWer you, your community & your world.  
Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:45 pm

For Grade 7 Students ONLY - Shabbat Torah Study, 9:00 - 10:15 am - 7th Grade students are expected to attend Torah Study on Saturday mornings through December. 

Hebrew Education 

Our Hebrew curriculum seeks to offer students an exciting introduction to the Hebrew language and to actively engage the students in their Hebrew studies.  New this year, we are introducing an innovative and exciting new approach to our Hebrew education.  Our Hebrew curriculum will now include “Hebrew through Movement”, a program through which students learn Hebrew by learning and responding to Hebrew commands.  Hebrew through Movement introduces language in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive link between children and the Hebrew language.  Our Hebrew decoding program, for students in Grades 4-6, has been re-designed to ensure motivation, consistency and focus in learning to decode and read Hebrew.  Students will work in small group settings to provide them with greater teacher attention and a smaller class environment.  Lastly, we are incorporating “Jewish Life Vocabulary” into all classes and programs.  One important way that American Jews connect to the Hebrew language is through key Hebrew words and phrases (such as shalom, mazel tov, tikkun olam and more).  By learning, using and exploring Hebrew terms, our students will experience the world through Jewish values as they develop a greater connection to and understanding for the Hebrew language.

The overarching goals of the Hebrew program are:

1. To provide students with a solid foundation in reading/decoding the Hebrew language.
2. To have students excited about and engaged in their Hebrew studies.
3. For students to see Hebrew as a living language.
4. For students to feel comfortable and able to participate in Jewish prayer.

Please feel free to be in touch with the Director of Education for further information or details about your child’s Hebrew education.