Religious School
2026-2027
Goals
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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.
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:
September 9 • Madrikhim Ice Cream and Orientation
September 16 • First Day of In-Person Hebrew Skills
September 23 • First Day of Religious School
October 2 • Consecration & B’nai Mitzvah Class Blessing @ Simchat Torah
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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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 grade) and kitah bet (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 gimel
(~5th grade)
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Advanced reading skills
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Reading & comprehension for Shabbat liturgy
Kitah dalet (~6th/7th grade)
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Shabbat morning liturgy
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Torah & Haftarah trope
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Continuing practice in reading
Teen Programming Overview
Pre-Confirmation
Pre-Confirmation’s curriculum will focus on autobiographical theology and spirituality.
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Special programming will include a New York City trip in November to the Holocaust Museum. In the spring, students plan and run the Purim Carnival. And, finally, students will travel with Rabbi Gordon to Israel in April, a highlight of their Pre-Confirmation year.
Confirmation
Confirmation class is an up-close learning experience taught by Rabbi Gordon. Together with the students, Rabbi Gordon creates a year long course of study based on the questions most compelling to them.
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Special programming will include participation in writing and performing the Purimspiel. Additionally, this year’s class trip will take place February 21-24, 2025 in Washington, DC where we will be attending the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar in partnership with RAC (Religious Action Center) in Washington D.C, along with Jewish teens from Reform congregations across the country. We will be in DC just a few weeks after the presidential inauguration, and in the beginning of the new presidential term, making this year's seminar especially impactful in terms of the advocacy.
Madrikhim
Madrikhim is a leadership development opportunity available to all 8th-12th graders by application. This program will feature 2 special leadership training events. Madrikhim make a weekly commitment to be here on Sundays and/or Wednesdays.
HOTY
HOTY is Hevreh’s youth group, open to all 9th-12th grade students.
Scooby
SCOOBY is our junior youth group, open to students in 6th-8th grades.
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.
We have four Community Shabbats over the winter months that will be led (or feature participation by, as appropriate) each class.
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Community Shabbat, November 20, Kitanim (K-1)
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Community Shabbat, January 29, Bonim (2-3)
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Community Shabbat, March 19, Chalutzim + Chaverim (4-5)
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Community Morning Shabbat, April 10, Olim (6-7)
SHABBATON at URJ Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA
February 5-6, 2027
Religious School families spend an overnight Shabbaton at Eisner Camp in Great Barrington. This popular event involves a night away at camp together with the Hevreh community. This is an all-inclusive overnight immersive Shabbat experience with family-style meals, camp-style Shabbat services, outdoor fun, and high quality programming led by our professional team.
Roles and Team:
Religious School Director
Cantor Sarina Elenbogen-Siegel
Cantor Educator & Religious School Director