Youth Education: Curriculum

We instill in students an appreciation of the Torah as a sacred object and pass on a knowledge and understanding of its stories and lessons. We talk about the Torah in relation to the five other core elements of the curriculum: its story of the formation of the Jewish people; its commandments (mitzvot) and values (middot); the meaning and traditions associated with Jewish holidays; its origination in the land of Israel; and its language, Hebrew.

Students learn about mitzvot (commandments) and middot (virtues) by doing. We incorporate opportunities to carry out mitzvot and teach students about three essential types: Sh’bein Adam L’chavero (between a person and their fellow human beings);Sh’bein Adam La-makom (between a person and God; and environment; and animals); and Sh’bein Adam L’atzmo (between a person and themselves), including mitzvot and middot related to our holidays, Jewish community, and homeland in Israel. Students become familiar with Hebrew words and phrases related to mitzvot and middot.

To the extent possible, we learn about the holidays by celebrating them together as a school. Before our celebrations, we study the origin and customs of each holiday, we and carry out those customs as a school community. We become familiar with the Hebrew words and phrases related to the holiday and, when relevant, we learn about the similarities and differences in the celebration of the holiday in other countries and communities.

We instill an understanding and appreciation of the underlying unity that makes each individual Jew a part of the Jewish people, or Klal Yisrael. We discuss the historical sequence and related events as experienced by our people during ancient times, as told in the Torah, and in modern times in Israel and the global Diaspora.  

We instill in students an understanding and appreciation of the land of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. We learn about the historical events leading to the creation of the modern Jewish State; its government, its topography, and how Jewish peoplehood is manifested there; the similarities and differences between living in Israel and in the Diaspora; our connection and responsibilities to our homeland (mitzvot and middot); Israel as the historical and spiritual origin of Jewish holidays; and the birthplace of the ancient Hebrew language and its modern revival.

We learn the fundamental aspects of the written language (letters and vowels, words, phrases, and sentences); and become proficient in reading, singing, and chanting prayers. We learn the meanings of key words and content of prayers and develop some basic understanding of Modern Hebrew vocabulary and sentences.