Religious School
2022-2023
Goals for 2022-2023:
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To create a learning community in which all students, faculty, staff and families feel a sense of belonging.
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To ignite joy in living on Jewish time for our students through meaningful social and educational programming.
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To create shared values and language in our Hevreh Religious School community through music, Hebrew and T’filah during “Boker Tov, Hevreh!” community time, Yachad programming, and Community Shabbats.
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To retain the best of our covid-innovations while returning safely to in-person learning.
Program Overview
Religious School:
Weekly on Sundays from 10:30am-12:30pm
Confirmation Class:
Bi-monthly on Sundays from 9am-10:30am
Madrikhim Program:
by application for 8th-12th grade students able to make a consistent weekly commitment on Sundays and/or Wednesdays.
Hebrew Skills:
Weekly on Wednesdays from 4-5:30pm, or by individual arrangement for 1:1 small group online lessons on Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays.
Key Dates for Opening:
Sun. Sept. 11th:
Faculty & Madrikhim Breakfast and Orientation
Sun. Sept. 18th:
First Day of Religious School & Tiny Talmidim
Wed. Sept. 21st:
First Day of In-Person Hebrew Skills
Sun. Oct. 2nd:
First Day of Pre-Conf and Confirmation
Sun. Oct. 16th:
Consecration & B'nai Mitzvah Class Blessing @ Simchat Torah
Religious School runs through May 21, 2023.
Curriculum Highlights for Religious School:
KindergarteN
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Jewish values of celebration and sharing.
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Shabbat and Jewish holidays through crafts, stories, and music.
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Introduction to Alef- Bet
1ST/2nd/3rd/4TH GRADE
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Blessings for Shabbat and Jewish rituals for holidays.
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Thinking about God
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Key Figures in the Books of Genesis & Exodus
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Alef-Bet
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Shema and Prayer
5tH GRADE
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Mensch Program
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Weekly Torah Portion through the lens of tzedakah and justice
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Jewish Life Cycle
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Blessings
6th/7th GRADE
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Jewish history & important Jewish figures in history
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Israel
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Holocaust history
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B’nai Mitzvah
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Israel & Current Events
Curriculum Outline for Hebrew Skills
Kitah Aleph (~3rd/4th grade)
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Review/reinforcing the Alef Bet
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Learning the vowels
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Intro to reading and decoding Hebrew
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Decoding and reading skills
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The “Blessing” formula
(comprehension)
Kitah Bet
(~5th/6th grade)
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Advanced reading skills
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Reading & comprehension for Shabbat liturgy
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Introduction to Trope (Torah, then Haftarah)
Kitah Gimel (~6th/7th grade)
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Shabbat morning liturgy
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Torah & Haftarah trope
Teen Programming Overview
Pre-Confirmation
Pre-Confirmation’s curriculum will focus on autobiographical theology and spirituality. Rabbi Hirsch will teach Pre-Confirmation in the Fall.
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Special programming will include a New York City Shabbaton trip in December 2021 and running the Purim Carnival.
Confirmation
Confirmation’s two part curriculum will focus on practical Jewish living through the voices of Pirke Avot and an “Ask Big Questions”
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Special programing will include a Ski Shabbaton in VT in February 2022 and writing and performing the Purimshpeil. Rabbi Hirsch and Dan are coordinating the Ski Shabbaton.
Madrikhim
Madrikhim is a leadership development opportunity available to all 8th-12th graders by application. This program will feature 2 special leadership training events designed and implemented by Dan Reichenbach. Madrikhim will make a weekly commitment to be here on Sundays and/or Wednesdays.
HOTY
HOTY is Hevreh’s youth group, open to all 8th-12th grade students. Throughout the year, HOTY’s advisor, Dan Reichenbach will work with teen leaders to create and implement social and Jewish educational programming.
Yachad Programming
Yachad is Hevreh’s signature family education program. Since 2014, with funding from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, families with children in grades K-7 have had 5-7 opportunities each year to come together around Jewish holidays for hands-on experiential learning and celebration. This year, Yachad will be one of the key projects for our rabbinic intern, Dan Reichenbach, with guidance and support from the Hevreh Education team.
Dates for Yachad 2022-2023 include:
Yachad Sukkot: Sunday, October 9, 2022
Yachad Chanukah: Sunday, December 18, 2022
Yachad Tu B'Shevat: Sunday, February 5, 2023
Yachad Passover: Sunday, April 2, 2023
Yachad Day of Service: Sunday, May 7, 2023
This year we will have four Shabbatot over the winter months that will be led (or feature participation by, as appropriate) by each class.
Yachad Shabbat K/1/2: Friday, November 11, 2022
Yachad Shabbat 3: Friday, December 9, 2022
Yachad Shabbat 4/5: Friday, January 13, 2023
Yachad Shabbat 6/7: Saturday, February 10, 2023
Roles and Team:
Rabbi Gordon:
Director of Education
Joan Goldberg Munch:
Youth and Family Programs & B’nai Mitzvah Coordinator
Daniel Reichenbach:
Rabbinic Intern (Music & T’fillah Specialist, HoTY/Madrikhim advisor)