RELIGIOUS SCHOOL | CURRICULUM

Below are the themes for each grades’ curriculum. A full description of the curriculum for all grades is contained in the Youth and Religious School Parents’ Guide. Click here for the Guide.

Kindergarten and First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade
Eighth and Ninth Grade
Tenth Grade

Kindergarten and First Grade: An Introduction to Jewish Holidays

Kindergarten and First Grade: An Introduction to Jewish Holidays
Jewish holidays are the most tangible subjects in Religious School. They are filled with symbols and rituals, food, and stories. We begin our study with holidays because it grounds our students and parents in the rhythm of Jewish life.

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Second Grade: Jewish Values

The study of Jewish values provides our students with wisdom and life lessons from the Jewish tradition. Through biblical, rabbinic, Hasidic and folk stories, students learn the important values that influence their religious and secular lives.

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Third Grade: God Talk

Children have profound questions about God, a most intangible and personal subject. Our third graders participate in open and thoughtful discussions concerning their belief in and relationship with God.

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Fourth Grade: Genesis

Our students begin the school year with the study of Genesis, focusing on the larger questions: What is God’s role in the world? What is humanity’s role? How should we wisely use our human powers for good? The students develop their own answers to these questions.

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Fifth Grade: Genesis (continued) and Exodus

The story of Genesis continues and then we move into the Book of Exodus where we study the role of Torah as an instruction guide for life.

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Sixth Grade: Temple, Torah and Tefilah

We prepare for our roles as active adults (Bar and Bat Mitzvah) in Jewish communal prayer by exploring sections of our worship service and by developing the skills to write and deliver a D’var Torah (interpretive Torah speech).

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Seventh and Eighth Grade: Tichon

Tichon, the Hebrew word meaning “middle,” is an elective-based program for our seventh and eighth grade learners that takes into consideration the different needs of this group of learners. Students in the Tichon program will have the opportunity to engage in a total of six courses of study over the period of their seventh and eighth grade years. Once during the year, there will be a special learning opportunity for all of our Tichon students to engage in together.

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Ninth Grade – Love and Jewish Values

Our ninth grade curriculum, “Love and Jewish Values,” focuses on issues teens face as they navigate the world in which they live. “Love and Jewish Values” engages students with Jewish teachings about “issues of the age,” such as relationships, drunk driving, piercing and tattooing, family and many more. With a variety of interactive learning activities and guest speakers, our students will have a chance to apply Jewish tradition to the tough issues teenagers face.

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Tenth Grade: Confirmation:

Confirmation is a year of in-depth study and community building. Confirmation provides an opportunity for tenth graders to learn with our rabbis and other sophisticated teachers. Our students address real-world problems as a vehicle to explore the nature of our Reform Jewish community, God's role in our lives, and Jewish ethics.

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