IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
About Our School
Temple B'nai Tikvah's Shabbat School holds classes for students age 3 - 15. The school's aim is to help children build a sense of their Jewish identity through learning, celebration, community and caring for others.
Students in grades kindergarten to grade six meet on Shabbat mornings from 9:30 - 12. The Chai curriculum we use for the school program has been developed by the Union of Reform Judaism specifically for supplementary programs like ours. It focuses on the three major tenets of Judaism; Torah, avodah, and g'milut Chasidim - Torah study, prayer and deeds of loving kindness. The curriculum is age appropriate and interactive. We find that the students are strongly engaged in the topics and issues brought forward by the program. Using stories, songs, and hands-on activities, our staff of trained teachers transmits the joy in Jewish tradition and beliefs to the students.
As the language of prayer and the Jewish people, Hebrew is an important part of the Jewish tradition and learning. Our students begin learning Hebrew using songs and games in kindergarten and progress to decoding and basic understanding of prayer vocabulary and concepts as they mature. W use a self-directed Hebrew program that allows for different levels of progress once the students have learned the alep bet. Hebrew is taught as part of the Shabbat morning program and during optional midweek sessions.
As a school we join in short services each Shabbat morning. In addition, the students have an opportunity to participate in a number of activities together which foster a sense of community. They work together on a number of tzedakah projects. They meet for special havdalah services and they help lead services once each year, taking roles that are appropriate to their age and ability.
We also offer a strong B'nai Mitzvah preparation program. This program is mandatory for any child who wishes to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at our synagogue. During this preparatory year, students acquire the skills needed to lead a service, but the class does much more. Our B'nai Mitzvah students spend this year deepening their understanding of what it means to be a Jewish adult. They also develop friendships with their Jewish peers, all of which creates a full year of growth and celebration.
There is still more. Our monthly pre-school program gently introduces young children to Jewish songs, prayers and traditions. Finally, our post B'nai Mitzvah programs extends the learning that has taken place and consolidates Jewish values and identity by discussing issues relevant to teenagers within a Jewish context.