Youth Education: Curriculum

Overview

Although children may start in our school at any age, we offer an introduction to Jewish life to children as young as preschool, based on the idea that Judaism is an identity and a way of life that infuses and enlivens play, music, and other creative activities we do together.

From our pre-K "Sprouts" program through the 7th grade, children are introduced in age-appropriate ways to six interrelated topics that are the basis of our curriculum, explained below. In addition, each grade level focuses on one or two core themes:

Sprouts and kindergarten: “A taste of everything,” including activities related to all six curricular fields
1st: Shabbat
2nd: Torah stories and Israel
3rd: Being God’s partners
4th: Lifecycle events
5th: Exploring our roots
6th: Israel and Becoming a Mensch (“a person of integrity and honor”)
7th: World Jewry and the Holocaust

Although children are introduced to Hebrew letters and basic words in pre-K through 3rd grade, formal Hebrew study begins in the 4th grade. The goal for our Hebrew study is to read, understand, and recite the major prayers of Shabbat in preparation to lead the congregation as a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.

Our post-b'nai mitzvah programs includes Kesher (8th and 9th grades), Confirmation (10th grade), and Bogrim (11th and 12th grades).

Topics

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.

Temple Sinai and Teens!

Temple Sinai School of Jewish Life & Learning (SJLL) students in 8th through 12th grades continue to grow as Jews through our Kesher, Confirmation and Bogrim (KCB) educational programs; madrichim classroom program; and SAWCY/RATSY youth groups.

Whereas KCB and the madrichim program take place Sunday mornings during SJLL, the youth groups meet outside school hours.

One must enroll in KCB in order to participate in the madrichim program. One needn't be enrolled in either KCB or the madrichim program in order to participate in SAWCY/RATSY activities.

Kesher (8th and 9th grades; weekly)

Over the two years, students encounter world religions (with field trips to Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and Sikh houses of worship); modern Jewish history, including the evolution of Jewish denominations (eg, Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionism, Secular Humanism); and Jewish ethical values and mitzvot (discovered through texts ranging from TANAKH and Pirkei Avot to "The Good Place").

Confirmation (10th grade; weekly)

During the Confirmation year, students learn about Reform Judaism in greater depth, including its history and values. The year comprises a combination of study and action, with a focus on making change at the local and national levels.

At the end of the year, students help lead the erev Shavuot service, celebrating the giving of Torah and affirming their on-going engagement with Judaism. Additionally, they have the opportunity to travel to DC to participate in The Bernard and Audre Rapoport L'Taken Social Justice Seminar through the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Bogrim (11th and 12th grades; monthly)

Over the two years, students continue their Jewish education by meeting more casually with clergy. Whereas the curricula of Kesher and Confirmation are fairly set, the "curriculum" of Bogrim is much more malleable. The students and clergy decide together what to discuss, whether driven by current needs and/or events or by topics found in teen-focused books (eg, "Teaching Hot Topics: Jewish Values, Resources, and Activities," "10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College: An Illustrated Guide").

Bogrim offers an opportunity for teens to nurture relationships not only with each other, but with Temple Sinai clergy. Discussions span the gamut between public issues, private lives and the ways that Jewish identities and values intersect both.

Madrichim Program (8th through 12th grades; weekly)

Students enrolled in KCB are invited to additionally participate in the very popular madrichim program. The word madrich/madricha/madrichol (in its various gendered and ungendered forms) means "guide," "leader" or "teacher" (think: "derech," meaning "path or way"). Teens who serve as madrichim act as role models, assistants to teachers, and educators for younger students. They literally show the younger students the way! Most are assigned particular classrooms, though some are instead assigned particular duties (eg, assisting with music or cooking, photographing school events).

Youth Groups (SAWCY in 6th & 7th grades; RATSY in 8th-12th grades)

See Youth Education main page for Youth Engagement Leader contact information. They can give you all the relevant details about Temple Sinai-specific (whether on- or off-campus) and community collaborative (involving Temple Beth El and Temple B'rith Kodesh) engagement opportunities!