HEBREW SCHOOL 2008/2009
Please fill out the following forms and mail to Klal along with a check for the correct amount.
Hebrew School Registration Form Volunteer Form
Aleph through Hey classes meet once per week from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. See monthly calendar for the days in which there is no school due to holidays and vacation times.
| Aleph | (Public School Grade 3) | Mondays | 4:00 5:30 PM |
| Bet | (Public School Grade 4) | Tuesdays | 4:00 5:30 PM |
| Gimmel | (Public School Grade 5) | Wednesdays | 4:00 5:30 PM |
| Dalet | (Public School Grade 6) | Thursdays | 4:00 5:30 PM |
| Hey | (Public School Grade 7) | Tuesdays | 4:00 5:30 PM |
Click here for religious school fees
Hebrew | Text The New Hebrew Primer: Practice, Drill and Review for Reading Hebrew |
Students will be taught decoding skills from key cultural words and concepts. An example of this is that students learn that the letters shin, bet, and taf form the word Shabbat. The vowel sounds are systematically introduced in small and manageable increments and confusing look-alike letters are introduced separately. Students will be taught how to print their Hebrew letters. They will learn selected parts of the Shema, Barchu and the Four Questions.
Parents will receive handouts so that they can DAILY reinforce their children's Hebrew reading and learn the letters and vowels themselves. These include transliterated reading exercises for the parents, Jewish cultural tidbits, and activities for the family to complete together. This year: Congregation Klal Yisrael is delighted to announce that we are continuing to use an innovative method of introducing the alphabet to our students which we successfully pilot tested in 2006-07. All students will love it, but it will especially benefit those with special needs. This Hebrew Curriculum that supports special education is a collaborative project of Congregation Klal Yisrael and the Bureau of Jewish Education's Special Education Services and is funded in part by a grant from the Combined Jewish Philanthropies through the BJE.
| Shema | Hanukkah candle blessing |
| Blessing over wine | Shehecheyanu |
| Motzi | Manishtanah / Four Questions |
| Shabbat candle blessing | Dayeinu |
Each class will devote approximately 60 minutes to learning Hebrew. Students will lead portions of the Chanukah service on Friday, December 19, and of a Shabbat Evening service on Friday, March 6, 2009.
Bible | Text Being Torah |
Much of the Torah's depth comes from the way that its stories were told. Students will look closely at the stories and find that there are specific patterns with words reused and that there is significant insight being communicated through subtle word changes. They will be exposed to words and word-echoes in each story. The emphasis will be on the books of Genesis and Exodus.
Each class will devote approximately 15 minutes to studying Bible. Join us for our weekly "Story in the Sanctuary" at 5:15 PM.
Holidays | Text Torah Aura "Whole School Holiday Curriculum" |
Students will learn about the major feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year. We will emphasize hands-on learning! Each class will devote time as appropriate during the year to learning about upcoming holidays.
Israel |
We are researching a new curriculum to teach students in every grade about the history and people and life of Israel. More details will be published in the fall. Each class will devote time as appropriate to studying about Israel throughout the year.
Hebrew | Text Hineni 1: The New Hebrew Through Prayer Book 1 |
Beginning with the opening prayers in the Shabbat Morning Service, students use their growing skills to learn the meaning of the prayers. They continue with prayers and blessings for the home, including Shabbat and the holidays. Students will examine the themes of the prayers and their links to Jewish values. An example of this is when they study word roots, they will learn that the letters koof, dalet, and shin mean holy. This book illustrates several prayers in their original context - the actual page from the Torah is shown.
| Barechu | Blessings for Passover (Matzah, bitter herbs, green vegetable) |
| Ma'ariv Aravim/Yotzer Or | Blessing over wine, matzah |
| Shema | Birkat Ha-mazon |
| Ve'ahavta | Blessing over a lulav |
| Mi Chamochah | Blessing before studying Torah |
| Blessing over Shabbat Candle | Blessing over holiday candles |
| Chanukah Candle Blessing | Full Shabbat Kiddush |
| Havdalah Blessings |
Each class will devote approximately 50 minutes to learning Hebrew. Students will lead portions of Shabbat Evening services on Friday, January 9, 2009 and Friday, April 10, 2009.
Life Cycles | Text Journey of a Lifetime |
This book takes the student on a tour through the most significant milestones in a Jewish person's life. It begins with the brit milah and brit bat after a child's birth and follows a person's life through his/her bar and bat mitzvah, wedding, and finally to the funeral and rituals of mourning. Key words are taught in each chapter and there are exercises in which the student learns about his/her own family history.
Each class will devote approximately 10 minutes to studying life cycles.
Ethics | Text Partners with God |
This book presents a clear and comfortable way to introduce concepts of God to children. The book uses stories from our traditions, modern photographs, illustrations and activities for children to explore ideas of God and holiness.
Each class will devote approximately 10 minutes to studying this text.
Bible |
Students will learn bible stories throughout the year. Join us for our weekly "Story in the Sanctuary" at 5:15 PM.
Holidays | Text Torah Aura "Whole School Holiday Curriculum" |
Students will learn about the major feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year. We will emphasize hands-on learning! Each class will devote time as appropriate during the year to learning about upcoming holidays.
Israel |
We are researching a new curriculum to teach students in every grade about the history and people and life of Israel. More details will be published in the fall. Each class will devote time as appropriate to studying about Israel throughout the year.
Hebrew | Text Hineni 2: The New Hebrew Through Prayer Book 2; Hineni 2: The New Hebrew Through Prayer Workbook 2 |
This is a continuation of the Hebrew series which was started in Bet. Students will learn the major prayers in the Siddur. Each chapter focuses on a specific prayer and explains its meaning, if it comes from the Torah, and any specific physical actions associated with the prayer. An example of this is when Vezot HaTorah is sung, the Torah is raised for the congregation to see. The text continues to build on roots, prefixes and suffixes. Students will lead portions of a Shabbat Evening service on Friday, November 14, 2008 and of a Shabbat Morning service on Saturday, March 28, 2009.
| Avot/emahot | Sim Shalom |
| Gvurot | Oseh Shalom |
| Kdushah | Lecha Dodi |
| Hoda/ah | Veshamru |
| Shalom Rav | Shalom Aleichem |
Each class will devote approximately 50 minutes to studying Hebrew.
Ethics | Text Living as Partners with God |
This book builds on the concepts and vocabulary introduced in Partners with God. The second volume brings the student to an understanding of community and the Jewish people's covenantal relationship with God.
Each class will devote approximately 15 minutes to studying this text.
Bible |
Students will learn bible stories throughout the year. Join us for our weekly "Story in the Sanctuary" at 5:15 PM.
Holidays | Text Torah Aura "Whole School Holiday Curriculum" |
Students will learn about the major feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year. We will emphasize hands-on learning! Each class will devote time as appropriate during the year to learning about upcoming holidays.
Israel |
We are researching a new curriculum to teach students in every grade about the history and people and life of Israel. More details will be published in the fall. Each class will devote time as appropriate to studying about Israel throughout the year.
Hebrew | Text Hineni 3: The New Hebrew Through Prayer Book 3; Hineni 3: The New Hebrew Through Prayer Workbook 3 |
This is the last book in the Hebrew series which was started in Bet. Students will continue to learn the major prayers in the Siddur Each chapter focuses on a specific prayer and explains its meaning, if it comes from the Torah, and any specific physical actions associated with the prayer. This year our students' basic grammar skills will be refined and they will be challenged to think deeply about the thematic relevance of the prayers.
The prayers students will learn comprise the majority of what they will be asked to lead on the day of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Students will attend a series of special meetings with the Rabbi and Cantorial Soloist / Director of Education to learn about and prepare for the Bar / Bat Mitzvah experience. See the Calendar for dates / times, beginning with Saturday November 1, 2008.
| Ein Kamocha | Al Sh'loshah D'varim |
| Av Harachamim | Aleinu |
| Ki Mitziyon | Kaddish |
| L'cha Adonai | Ein Keloheinu |
| Birchot HaHaftarah | Hashkiveinu |
| V'zot Hatorah | Modeh Ani |
| Eitz Hayyim Hi |
Each class will devote approximately 50 minutes to studying Hebrew. Students will lead portions of Shabbat Evening services on Friday, October 2, 2008 and Friday, February 6, 2009.
Bible |
Students will learn bible stories throughout the year. Join us for our weekly "Story in the Sanctuary" at 5:15 PM.
Holidays | Text Torah Aura "Whole School Holiday Curriculum" |
Students will learn about the major feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year. We will emphasize hands-on learning! Each class will devote time as appropriate during the year to learning about upcoming holidays.
Israel |
We are researching a new curriculum to teach students in every grade about the history and people and life of Israel. More details will be published in the fall. Each class will devote time as appropriate to studying about Israel throughout the year.
Hebrew | Text Mishkan Tefillah |
Students will continue to work on developing a deeper knowledge of the Shabbat evening and morning service using the Reform Siddur. The focus will be on mastering all the prayers of the Friday evening liturgy which they will lead during the Friday night of their graduation.
Each class will devote approximately 30 minutes to studying Hebrew. Evening service on Friday, September 26, 2008 and the entire service of their graduation Friday, May 22, 2009.
Ethics | Text Why Be Different |
Students will learn that being Jewish can mean being different from other people They will discuss some difficult questions like:
Each class will devote approximately 20 minutes to studying Ethics.
Holocaust | Text The Holocaust: A History of Courage and Resistance and many novels, source materials and films |
Students will study the historical context of Hitler's rise to power and the devastation of the Holocaust. The text which is used in class presents the material in a manner which is not frightening or threatening to our students. There are thoughtful discussion questions presented at the end of each chapter which will set the stage for our students to present their thoughts on this subject. Other materials including films and speakers will be brought into the class when appropriate. Students will read some original source materials, and write extensively in a journal in which they put themselves in the place of young people who lived during the time of the Holocaust.
Each class will devote approximately 30 minutes to studying the Holocaust.
Bible |
Students will learn bible stories throughout the year. Join us for our weekly "Story in the Sanctuary" at 5:15 PM.
Holidays | Text Torah Aura "Whole School Holiday Curriculum" |
Students will learn about the major feasts, fasts, and festivals that mark the Jewish year. We will emphasize hands-on learning! Each class will devote time as appropriate during the year to learning about upcoming holidays.
Israel |
We are researching a new curriculum to teach students in every grade about the history and people and life of Israel. More details will be published in the fall. Each class will devote time as appropriate to studying about Israel throughout the year.