Our Judaic Studies curriculum has four components: Haggim (Holidays), Humash (Torah study), Ivrit (Hebrew language), and Tefillah (Prayer).
The overarching goal of our Haggim curriculum is that students gain knowledge of the Jewish holidays while experiencing joy and community in their celebration. Students learn about the range of observance of the various holidays, while gaining an appreciation of their own connection to Jews around the world and in Israel.
Our Humash curriculum begins with the study of Parashat HaShavua (weekly Torah portion) in Pre-K, Kindergarten and Grade One and grows into high-level text study in our upper grades. The curriculum is called Matok, and we are sensitive to the fact that our families have varying perspectives on the connection between God and Torah. We strive to instill in our students a sense of respect for one another and for the text, encouraging them to ask questions and create their own meaningful connections to the Torah.
Ivrit, or the study of Hebrew, is a tool that will help our students connect with other Jews worldwide and with the land of Israel. Because we view Hebrew as a living language, our program emphasizes proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Since Hebrew is also the key to understanding traditional Jewish texts, it provides connections to the core concepts and ideals of Judaism, helping students to gain access to the Torah and other historical texts for themselves.
Prayer is a language shared by all Jews, through which we may connect with God, ourselves, our community, our heritage, and our humanity. Through Tefillah, students are given an opportunity to create personal meaning from the liturgy and to create a communal atmosphere during prayer. Tefillah is also a time for self-reflection and exploring the values that make us ethical Jews and human beings.