CLAL Religious School

Our Curriculum:
The role of Jewish education is to educate and inspire individuals who will be committed, proud, practicing members of the Jewish community. Our curriculum seeks to explore concepts and address basic questions that recur throughout our lifetimes. Appropriately addressing each of these issues from a Jewish perspective at each developmental stage fosters both a strong personal Jewish identity and a sense of connection and shared destiny with the Jewish people worldwide. Questions and concerns that repeat throughout our program include:

Who am I? To what group do I belong? What binds us together?
What does being a "Jew" mean? What skills do I need? What is required of me?
Who/What is God?

What is my personal relationship with God (and what do I personally believe about God)?
What is the role/meaning of good and evil, life and death?

What can I do to foster life and bring about good?
Where can I get guidance in my life? On what ideology can I base my decisions?
What is my responsibility, as a Jew, to take care of the world around me?

How does the imperative to heal the world (tikkun olam) apply to me?

It is clear that many of these questions have no definitive answers. However, it is certain that grappling with these issues and feeling competent at Jewish ritual at each life stage is crucial. In this way we hope to prepare children and families to practice Judaism out of respect and love for Jewish tradition as well as out of knowledge of our history, practices, and ideals.

The Jewish Studies curriculum described on subsequent pages has been created to correlate with the history and social studies programs of the various public and private schools our students attend. Similar concepts will be explored from the particular perspective of Jewish history, Israel, and the Jewish community today. Teachers will address the subjects of God and Jewish holidays each year, incorporating students' previous knowledge with new material. The Hebrew program stresses prayer and ritual Hebrew, integrating classroom study with the regular practice of weekly services.

We also firmly believe in the essential role of the family in a child's Jewish education. To that end, we have provided a suggested bibliography (included below) for parents with books that correspond to the grade level curricula.

KINDERGARTEN
JEWISH TIME AND JEWISH LIFE
Judaism stresses the concept of sacred time.  Celebrating important moments in a Jewish context brings an order and holiness to our lives.  Through an interactive curriculum that includes art, music, cooking and play, our Kindergarten students focus on holidays, Torah, Jewish identity and ritual.

HEBREW
Hebrew plays an integral part of the aural and oral experiences of the students. Using singing, prayer, and ritual vocabulary, students become accustomed to hearing the language. Over the course of the year, our Kindergarten students are introduced to the Hebrew alphabet.

Suggested bibliography for kindergarten parents:
A Year of Jewish Stories

by Grace Maisel and Samantha Shubert
The Jewish Holiday Home Companion: A Parent's Guide to Family Celebration

by Nicolas D. Mandelkern

Becoming a Jewish Parent: How to Explore Spirituality and Tradition with Your Children

by Daniel Gordis

FIRST GRADE
JEWISH COMMUNITY AND JEWISH SPACE
Ritual and intention imbues the ordinary with holiness and turns common places into sacred spaces. First graders will find that ceremonies of Jewish living bring holiness into our homes and communities. They will see a variety of aspects of their own Jewish lives and build a sense of connection to all Jews as they explore their homes, families, synagogue and Torah, Jewish community, and the state of Israel as sources of Jewish identity and Jewish pride.

HEBREW
The Hebrew Alef Bet (alphabet) is re-introduced. Students will become familiar with the look, sounds, names and direction of the Hebrew alphabet. Listening and Hebrew vocabulary continue to be important in developing readiness for reading.

Suggested bibliography for first grade parents:
The Jewish Home: A Guide for Jewish Living by Daniel Syme
The Shabbat Seder by Ron Wolfson
The Chocolate Chip Challah Cookbook by Lisa Rauchwerger

SECOND GRADE
MAKING A DIFFERENCE - IMPORTANT PEOPLE THEN AND NOW
Role models and symbols help children understand who they are and what they can be.  By joining their families to the long line of the Jewish people they will bind themselves to the generations before and after them.  Students will learn about mitzvot, will read stories about the weekly Torah portion and begin their first steps toward exploring Israel’s cities and culture.

HEBREW
Reading readiness text develops surety of Hebrew alphabet and reading direction as our students begin our formal Hebrew curriculum.  Music, prayer and ritual vocabulary broaden.

Suggested bibliography for second grade parents:
It's a Mitzvah by Bradley Shavit Artson
The Bedside Torah by Bradley Shavit Artson

THIRD GRADE
PEOPLE AND THE LAND OF ISRAEL - BECOMING A NATION
Sharing common memories and cherishing collective events and values forms a people. The exodus from Egypt, receiving of the Torah, and struggles to enter the Promised Land are those moments for the Jewish people. Our third grade students study the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. They learn to differentiate between Midrash and Torah Text, and to appreciate the system of reinterpretation that continually invigorates Torah study. They will also look at the varied ways that the Jewish people connect through the concepts of Israel (the land, the nation, and the people) and God. Consecration in May brings their first "real" year of study to a close with a celebration of learning.

HEBREW
Formal reading is mastered by the end of the school year. Students begin to attend weekly Tefillah (services) during class time. Familiarity with prayers contributes to their involvement with the language and comfort with the Hebrew.

Suggested bibliography for third grade parents:
Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults by Linda Motzkin
The Five Books of Moses by Everett Fox
The Seven Species by Matt Biers-Ariel
When Children Ask about God: A Guide for Parents Who Don't Always Have All the Answers by Harold Kushner
Teaching Your Children About God: A Modern Jewish Approach by David Wolpe

FOURTH GRADE
CONTINUITY: THE NATION AND WORSHIP - THEN AND NOW
Our continued connection with our ancient ancestors is evident in our symbols, in our prayer and study, in our shared homeland, and in our expressions of faith and Jewish living.  Fourth graders will learn about the contributions and teachings of the judges, prophets and kings of early Israel.  Through their study of the books of the Prophets and Writings (Nevi’im  and Ketuvim) they investigate what we know about our ancient past and compare the lives of the Israelites with their own.  Areas to explore include methods of worship and theology, culture and life style in the land of Israel, and how archeology helps us learn about our past. 

HEBREW
After a few weeks reviewing reading skills, students embark on a thorough study of prayers.  Students practice for fluency of reading and chanting.  They also learn elements of grammar and vocabulary that develop a sense for the meaning of our religious texts.  This year students master reading and writing Hebrew script.  Students will also begin to learn modern Hebrew for basic conversations.

Suggested bibliography for fourth grade parents:
The Jewish Prophet: Visionary Words from Moses and Miriam to Henrietta Szold and A.J. Heschel by Michael J. Shire


FIFTH GRADE
LEARNING ABOUT THE JEWISH LIFE CYCLE
Our fifth grade students will spend the year exploring the Jewish life cycle-  brit (circumcision, bar or bat mitzvah, weddings, and death. Students will create an avatar who will move through the stages of life and students will learn about the rituals involved.  In addition, fifth graders will learn about the Jewish communities of America and investigate their own personal family histories.

HEBREW
After a few weeks reviewing reading skills, students continue their study of prayers.    Students practice for fluency of reading and chanting.  They also learn elements of grammar and vocabulary that develop a sense for the meaning of our religious texts.  Participation in weekly Tefillah (prayer) encourages the use of information and skills developed in the classroom. Students will also continue to learn modern Hebrew for basic conversations.

Suggested bibliography for fifth grade parents:
The Rhythm of Jewish Time by Vicki L. Weber
Sacred Moments: Tales from the Jewish Life Cycle by Ronald H. Isaacs and Kerry Olitzky

SIXTH GRADE
MIGRATIONS AND ACCOMMODATION -

CHANGE AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Students are developmentally ready to put everything they know about Judaism and our ancestors into historical perspective. They will compare what they know of other ancient peoples to our own beginnings. Through their study of some of the struggles and crises that the Israelites endured, they will come to appreciate how our people found ways to adapt the religion and lifestyle of Judaism in order to preserve the law and the spirit despite challenging circumstances. Units will concentrate on the history of the Jewish people from ancient days through the early Middle Ages, the development of Jewish legal literature (the Mishna and the Talmud), and the role of God and theology in faith, accommodation, and endurance.

HEBREW
Students continue their progression through the self-paced program, Mitkadem, concentrating on mastering reading/chanting, grammatical structures and meaning of prayers. In the spring semester, the class studies the Shabbat Torah service with the Cantor each week. Participation in weekly Tefillah (services) encourages and supports the use of skills developed in the classroom.

Suggested bibliography for sixth grade parents:
A Taste of Text: An Introduction to the Talmud and the Midrash by Ronald H. Isaacs
Tough Questions Jewish Ask: A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life

by Edward Feinstein
Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah by Jeffrey Salkin (also comes in a version for kids)
The JGirls Guide: The Young Jewish Woman's Handbook for Coming of Age

by Penina Adelman

SEVENTH GRADE
CONFLICT, PREJUDICE, AND SURVIVAL - ANTI-SEMITISM, ZIONISM AND ISRAEL
The twentieth century brought two major Jewish issues to a climax - anti-Semitism and Zionism. The history and development of both are important to understand current Jewish theology, sentiment and politics. Seventh grade students will examine prejudice, anti-Semitism that began in the middle ages, and the Zionism and intense faith that sustained the Jewish people through those times. The Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel are viewed as culminations of both of these profound issues. Meeting on Saturdays, rather than Sundays, students observe Shabbat as one of the constants that has preserved our people. Shabbat classes are held on every Saturday morning on which there is religious school that Sunday.

HEBREW
The seventh grade year builds upon the basic prayer literacy students have already achieved. In addition to mastering the Torah service with the Cantor during the first half of the year, they will explore prayers recited on the High Holidays and Passover. Attendance at weekly Shabbat services will raise their level of comfort and expertise with that service. Students are required to attend at least 20 Shabbat services. After Passover, the focus shifts from reading to speaking Hebrew.

SIYYUM
Seventh graders and their families join together for a "graduation" service and dinner in June to celebrate the completion of the year.

Suggested bibliography for seventh grade parents:
The Book of Miracles: A Young Person's Guide to Spiritual Awareness

by Lawrence Kushner
The Tapestry of Jewish Time by Nina Beth Cardin