Gan and Aleph -- Grades K & 1
Our youngest students are drawn to the excitement of finding out about Judaism through hands-on exploration of holidays, Shabbat, and special days. Children learn songs, games, and create arts and crafts as they start to develop connections to Jewish heritage, holiday traditions, and Mitzvot. We also introduce simple Hebrew words, blessings, and a basic concept of God.

Bet – Grade 2
Students add to their vocabulary of Hebrew and reading skills through a phonetic approach that helps to decode written Hebrew. They begin to study the meaning of specific blessings, prayers, and songs, and learn about Shabbat and the practice of Tikkun Olam. In the spring of second grade, students receive their first Hebrew reader (Siyum HaSefer) at a special Shabbat morning service in the sanctuary.

Gimel – Grade 3
Students are ready to learn about the different aspects of Jewish life, the role of the Torah, the rhythm of the daily prayers, and how the Jewish calendar unfolds. They continue practicing both written and spoken Hebrew. They are expected to achieve fluency reading the Shabbat prayers and singing Zemirot (Shabbat songs the family sings at the dinner table). Learning culminates in the spring when the students receive a personal siddur (Chagigat Hasiddur) at a special family service.

Daled – Grade 4
Jewish history takes center stage as our students begin to develop an understanding of the Jewish historical timeline, from ancient Israel to the modern state of Israel. They also become familiar with the structure of the daily, Shabbat, and festival services, and explore the different traditions that make the Jewish people unique. They are introduced to the weekly Parsha, as well as to how Jews understand such concepts as justice, fairness, and honesty.

Hay – Grade 5
At this stage students become knowledgeable about different Jewish traditions – from daily Minyan to the celebration of festivals, holidays, and Shabbat. In particular, students learn the geography of the siddur and achieve a comfort level when using it. A primary goal is to fluently read the prayers and understand their structure. Students learn how synagogue practice connects with family rituals in the Jewish home, examine blessings in the Siddur and the Torah that can be brought into their own lives, and learn the laws of Kashrut and its relevance to Conservative Jews today.