Religious School and Shabbat B'Yachad Calendar 2010-2011
Hebrew School Calendar 2010-2011
Tichon and Other Family Programming 2010-2011

This is a brief outline of the changes that will take place for Religious/Hebrew school for the 2008/2009 School Year.

1. 7th graders will complete the 7th grade year of Hebrew school even if their Bar/Bat Mitzvah occurs before the end of the school year.

2. There will continue to be Saturday Shabbat study sessions and families are required to attend 4 out of the 8 scheduled Sat. The Saturday Shabbat sessions will be from 10:15 - 12:30 p.m. The Shabbat morning family education program is designed for parents and students in grades 3-6 with programming for sibs in k-2 and child care for preschoolers.

If you have any questions please contact Larry Kohn at educator@templebethelmadison.org or 238-3123.

Temple Beth El has a well-established religious school, providing religious programming for children from Kindergarten through 7th grade on Sunday morning; Hebrew School for children in 4th through 7th grades and a high school program, Midrasha, for students in 8th through 12th grades

Curriculum of the Religious School

Kindergarten -- basic holiday celebrations, Jewish traditions and basic prayers.
1st Grade -- Bible stories from Genesis and Exodus, the Ten Commandments, holidays, and a special creation unit.
2nd Grade -- Prayer and the synagogue, life cycle ceremonies and Jews around the world.
3rd Grade -- Imaginary trip to Israel to study holidays, geography and culture.
4th Grade -- Jewish calendar, review of holidays and life cycle, Jewish values and biographies.
5th Grade -- Bible; structure, ethics and history. Study of Torah, Prophets and the Writings with an emphasis on the Bible's discussion of ethical concerns, joint study curriculum with an Israeli school.
6th Grade -- Relationship between Jews and major cultures after the biblical period, including Greek and Roman rule, Christianity and Islam, and how Judaism evolved from a religion of priests and sacrifices to rabbis and synagogues. The Rabbi leads a study session for students and parents on Jewish law.
7th Grade -- Immigration to the U.S., Zionism, Shoah, and lessons from the URJ's Chai curriculum on Torah, Avodah, and G'milut Chasadim. Parents are asked to join their children for the 3 sessions on immigration and geneology.

Special programming activities of the Sunday program

This includes Keren Ami collection, a lively weekly vocal music/Israeli dance program for grades K - 5, 20 Minutes Hebrew Program for K through 3rd grade, a mock wedding ceremony in 2nd grade, 4th grade presentation at the community Hanukkah Chagigah, and grade led/participatory Shabbat services during Shabbat Midor Lador in grades 1, 3, 5 and 6. Kindergarten students are consecrated during the Simchat Torah service. Monthly weekday school services are held during Sunday school led by the Rabbi and song leaders. School holiday services are held for Selichot, Sukkot, and Yom Hashoah. Families are encouraged to attend congregational services for Simchat Torah and the Megillah reading and to participate in the community Israeli Independence Day observance of Yom Ha'atzmaut.

Tichon Beit
Please click here to see flyer for the new Tichon Beit program.

Learn about the Jewish holidays and explore the customs and traditions of Reform Jews throughout North America. Union congregations invite you to visit their websites to learn how they weave celebration and tradition into their communities. We are pleased to share this information with you and wish you a chag sameach!

Click here to find out more information from URJ about Jewish Holidays