“For I have selected him so that he may instruct his children and his posterity after him to keep God's ways:  to do what is just and right."  (Genesis 18:19)

• Home
• Professional Staff
• Board of Directors
• Calendar
• Education
  • Religious School
  • Adult Education
• Auxiliary Organizations
  • Youth Groups
  • Old Enough To Know Better
  • Sisterhood
  • Men's Club
• Tikkun Olam
• Cemetery
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Donations & Payments
• Beth Sholom News
• Contact Us

BETH SHOLOM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Program Overview

Beth Sholom Religious School (BSRS) provides supplementary Hebrew and Judaic education to students in grades 1 through 12. The program is designed to impart a strong sense of Jewish identity and provide the skills needed to lead a meaningful Jewish life.

In August 2007, Beth Sholom partnered with the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) in providing curriculum for the Religious School. ISJL is a non-denominational organization dedicated to providing educational and rabbinical services to isolated Jewish communities, documenting and preserving the rich history of the southern Jewish experience, and promoting a Jewish cultural presence throughout a twelve state region in the southeast.

ISJL curriculum has content areas including community, culture & symbols, God, Hebrew and prayer, Israel, Jewish history, Jewish holidays, Jewish lifecycle events, mitzvot & Jewish values, and Tanach (Torah, prophets and writings). The curriculum is spiraled so that these core content areas are revisited with increasing sophistication as students progress through the curriculum. Lesson plans are designed to meet the diverse needs of many kinds of learners through visual, auditory and kinesthetic activities.

BSRS teachers, many of whom are professional Judaic teachers or have considerable Judaic teaching experience, use the ISJL curriculum as a base and adapt and expand it to meet conservative Judaic educational goals. Hebrew and tefilah curriculum is specially designed by BSRS staff to meet the more advanced needs of our program.

Based on the student population in a given year, grades are grouped to provide the most efficient learning communities. These grouped classes are exposed to one grade level of ISJL curriculum during each year. The intent is to expose each student to all levels of ISJL curriculum throughout their Jewish education.

1st and 2nd GRADES

Beth Sholom's program for 1st and 2nd graders provides an introduction to Jewish learning to prepare students for more intensive study in the coming years. These students meet on Sunday mornings from 10:00am to 12:30pm. The major content areas in each grade are as follows.

First Grade

• Mitzvot are commandments that impact everyday life.
• God is a central part of Judaism and is explored through a variety of activities and experiences.
• Judaism is filled with many celebrations that are explored through certain mitzvot that are associated with each holiday.
• Hebrew is made up of letters that make different sounds.
• Jewish prayers are introduced through participation in daily and Shabbat services.

Second Grade

• The role of the Jewish community is seen in the synagogue as part of Jewish holidays and life cycle events, and through symbols.
• The Jewish homeland is Israel, which is part of the larger Jewish community.
• Hebrew is deciphered by using Hebrew decoding skills.
• Continued participation in regular tefilah (Jewish prayer).

3rd through 7th GRADES

These students are immersed in Judaism through the study of Hebrew, Judaics, and tefilah. The program is designed to prepare children as B'nai Mitzvah and as young adult leaders in the congregation and the Jewish community. Program hours are Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30pm and Sundays from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Course content is outlined below.

Tefilah and Hebrew

• Learn to read Hebrew and develop basic vocabulary.
• Become comfortable participating in daily and Shabbat prayer services to reinforce Hebrew skills and learn the prayers and flow of each service.
• Study trope with the Hazzan to prepare for Torah and Haftarah chanting.
• Develop skills in prayer and Torah chanting to continue as congregational leaders after B'nai Mitzvah.

Judaics

 3rd Grade:

• Torah study is used to gain insights into its values and messages.
• Jewish holidays are joyously celebrated to increase the student's appreciation and understanding of them.
• Jewish values and concepts of G-d are explored through a personal journey of spirituality.

 4th Grade:

• Continuation of Jewish spiritual exploration by studying the stories of the Prophets and the Writings from the Tanach which have messages that are valued by the Jewish people.
• Through the Brit (sacred convenant/partnership) between the Jewish people and G-d, Jews learn to actualize that partnership in everyday dealings with our community and the world.
• Knowing the origin and history of Jewish holidays helps us understand the values associated with them.

5th Grade:

• Judaism has many values that teach how to live a proud life.
• Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people and has a rich and unique history.
• The Jewish life cycle is filled with special moments that happen in a Jew's life from birth to death.
• There are many Jewish heroes that should serve as role models

6th Grade:

• The Torah is a sacred text that can speak to issues in modern times.
• Rabbinic commentary (what the ancient Rabbis wrote) is studied to learn about Jewish history and beliefs.
• Jewish texts are interpreted to look for the meaning of life in the modern world.
• Exploration of G-d is a central part of Judaism.
• Mitzvot are commandments.

7th Grade:

• The Prophets and Writing of the Tanach are important Jewish texts. Students learn to probe the texts for multiple layers of meaning.
• During Jewish holidays, particular Torah portions are read and the theology that is inherent in the different holidays is studied.
• Jewish people celebrate holidays in a variety of ways throughout the world today. Families can add their own touch to the traditional customs of the holidays to make them unique.

HIGH SCHOOL (Grades 8 through 12)

After years of intensive study of Judaism's timeless traditions and values, students turn their attention to the study of the modern Jewish world in High School. Class meets on Sunday mornings from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Various topics are rotated throughout the five-year High School program as follows.

The Holocaust - This tragic historical period generates many questions, emotions and reactions. History is not inevitable; the Holocaust happened because of individual choices. Through this unit, teens deal with various personal issues such as obedience to authority, the courage to speak out against wrong, making moral choices, and indifference to others.

Creation of the Modern State of Israel - Zionist ideologies had an impact on modern Judaism and Israel. Israeli history is studied from Theodor Herzl to the present.

World Religions - The goal of this unit is to provide an understanding of the five major religions of the world. Understanding the differences between Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism helps give teens the tools to answer questions about their own faith and how it fits into the worldviews of other religions. Visits to a church, mosque and Hindu temple are included in the study.

Jewish Film - A variety of films are explored; some about Jewish topics and some about Jews in the modern world. Films are an excellent format for discussing topics that are relevant to the students today.

Jewish Music - Judaism has a rich history of music; our liturgy, life cycle events, and text are rich with musical content. Students explore the origins of music in Judaism, its three geographical streams, and modern Jewish music. The unit aims to develop appreciation of Jewish music for religious and entertainment purposes.

Jewish Art - Students learn about the anomaly of Jewish art due to the wording of the second Commandment, which prevents Jews from creating anything in the image of G-d. Concepts include Hiddur Mitzvah, exploration of synagogue architecture, examination of the works of prominent Jewish artists, and the creation of individual works of art.

Jewish humor - Humor is an intrinsic and vital aspect of Jewish culture. Jewish entertainers know how to laugh and how to get others to laugh with them. This unit explores humor as both a survival tool and a thriving tool. Humor has not only helped Jewish people survive hardship, but has also helped Jewish people to enjoy the good times in life.

Jewish Food - Eating is an experience often shared with family and friends. The stories of Jewish food tell about Jewish history - the Jewish experience in America, as well as an insight into the lives of Jews before they came to this country. Much fun in the kitchen is had during this unit.

Current Events in the Jewish World - Students scan local, national, and international newspapers and magazines as well as web sites for appropriate articles. Students give short presentations followed by their analysis and opinions. The class debates the issues presented.