Mission and Goals Hours Curriculum Overview Family Involvement
Mission Top
Congregation Gesher Shalom believes that any Jewish child is entitled to a Jewish education.
To that end, we offer many educational opportunities.
No matter what abilities a child may have or at what age he/she may be, Congregation Gesher Shalom strives to meet their educational needs.
Hebrew School Goals Top
The Hebrew School at Congregation Gesher Shalom promotes…
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A love of Judaism
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A strong connection to the nation of Israel and to
Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people as a whole
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Development of skills in becoming actively connected with synagogue life.
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Hebrew and Prayer literacy
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Instilling pride in Jewish Heritage.
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Exploration of the students’ relationship with God
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Creating life-long Jewish learners
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Knowledge of our Jewish history, traditions, and customs.
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The ability to celebrate our Jewish holidays meaningfully
Hebrew School Hours Top
One-Day Program
Sundays:
9:00 am to
12:00 pm
Two-Day Program
Sundays: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesdays: 3:45 pm to 6:15 pm (Grades 2-7)
New Beginners (Matchilim)Program
Mondays:
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursdays:
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Alternative Track Opportunities
We offer the ability to create unique learning opportunities for any child. The times of these programs are based
on the needs of the students and their respective families.
Hebrew School Curriculum Overview Top
Our Hebrew School offers a full supplementary, Conservative Jewish educational program for students entering Pre-K, through grade 7 with challenging and relevant subjects. Our teaching formal and non-formal methods include much more than just classroom instruction--bringing in art, music, and experiential learning. Because each families needs
are different, we offer flexible options including a One-Day program,
a Two Day program, Alternative Programs, and New Beginners
for the student who wants to catch up.
Family programs integrate holiday fun with education that is stimulating for both the adult and student learner. Shul and School programs provide multi-generational opportunity for our school-age students and congregational families to learn together.
Students progress from learning the rudimentary beginnings of the Hebrew alphabet to full and active participation in prayer services and Jewish life cycle events; from singing the Alef-Bet song in Kindergarten to delivering a D’var Torah and chanting the Haftarah at their bar/bat mitzvah.
Hebrew School Curriculum by Grade Top
Each grade has much of the same subjects but our teachers provide a different perspective on each topic in order to reinforce the learning and to add to the students’ knowledge base. Below are the basic subjects by grade. Please open the parent handbook for more specific academic objectives for each subject so you can see for yourself the growth that will take place.
One-Day Program
Kindergarten-First Grade
Hebrew Alphabet, Love of Israel, Torah Stories, Tefillah—basic blessings, Holidays/Customs
Second Grade-Seventh—Each
Grade contains the following teaching tracks:
Hebrew Language (prayerbook Hebrew only), Jewish Holidays and Values, Jewish
Text (Torah and Bible, and selected Rabbinic literature), and Prayer.
Two-Day Program
Second Grade—Hebrew
Language reading and printing, Tefillah-Friday night and beyond, Shabbat and Holidays, Jewish Ethics and Values, Israel, Weekly Torah Portion (Parashat
HaShavua)
Third Grade--
Hebrew Language, Tefillah—pulling together the service, Jewish Holidays throughout the year, Jewish Ethics and Values, Israel, Torah—The Book of Genesis
Fourth Grade—Hebrew
Language, Tefillah—Kabbalat Shabbat, Torah and Bible—Exodus and beyond, Ethics and Values—doing Mitzvot, Israel, Shabbat and Holidays
Fifth Grade—Hebrew
Language—Modern and Prayerbook, Torah—Critical View of Genesis, Tefillah—Focus on Havdalah, Ethics and Values, Israel, Jewish History
Six Grade--
Hebrew Language—Modern and Prayerbook, Torah—Critical View of Exodus, Tefillah—Focus on Torah Service, Jewish History--History of Modern Israel.
Seventh Grade—Hebrew
Language—General review of Prayers, Torah—Critical View of Exodus, Tefillah—Praying throughout the day, Ethical and Value dilemmas, Jewish History until destruction of second Temple
Additional Educational Programs for Children and Families
- Friday Night Musical
Shabbat Service (the
first Friday of the Month)
- Junior Congregation/Family
Service (11:00 – noon, twice monthly)
- Tot Shabbat (11:00 – noon)
- Shul-n-School Programs
- Matchilim (New
Beginners – a program for students who begin Hebrew school after grade 3)
- Student-Led Services by Grade in conjunction with
Junior Congregations
- Alternative
Track Hebrew School
- Kibbutz Mishpacha
(Family Education)
Madrichim (student aide program-post 7th grade)
Program
Family Involvement Top
• Friday Night Musical Shabbat Service (the first Friday of the Month)
• Junior Congregation (10:30 – noon, twice monthly)
• Tot Shabbat (11:00 – noon)
• Shul-n-School Programs
• Matchilim (New Beginners – a program for students who begin Hebrew school after grade 3)
• Student-Led Services by Grade
• Alternative Track Hebrew School
• Kibbutz Mishpacha (Family Education)
• Madrichim (student aide program-post 7th grade) Program