Curriculum Information

 

INTRODUCTION

 

We know that providing our children the best Judaic education possible is a sacred task.  Our “Jewish Pledge of Allegiance” is the Shmah, which is said twice daily.  In the Hebrew verse that begins “V’ahavta”, we are commanded to teach loving God to our children.  In our school, we take this challenge seriously.  Our teachers are devoted to partnering with our parents to teach our collective children love of God, Judaism, and Israel.  Our goal is to instill in our children a solid Jewish foundation and values as well as pride in our heritage.  We know that our efforts will serve them well spiritually as they grow into adulthood.   We hope and pray that we are the planting seeds that will lead to a lifetime of Jewish learning.

 

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD

 

We call our preschoolers “K’tonim” which is the plural for “little” in Hebrew.  Children who are two years old at the beginning of the school year come to class on selected Sunday mornings to explore their Jewish world  with Judaic arts and crafts, stories, games, singing, dancing and snacks with their parents and/or grandparents.

 

Children who are five years old at the beginning of the school year come to class every Sunday morning as they officially begin their Religious School education. They begin to explore their Jewish world and learn about about their place in it. Developmentally, students this age are becoming aware of their identity and we strive to make the Jewish component tangible and meaningful in age appropriate ways. The temple itself is explored, the holidays come to life, and Israel is introduced as a "home away from home." Hebrew words are eased into their vocabulary with games and songs. Jewish values are modeled and incorporated into all aspects of our program. Each Sunday we have a service led by our Rabbi that introduces prayers and concepts into their lives that they can understand at their level.

 

We welcome all new students into our Religious School by having a Consecration ceremony at a Friday night service.  Both young and old enjoy watching them perform for the congregation.  We give each new student a Consecration certificate, as well as a little Torah. We believe that big things come in small packages, so our Early Childhood students are truly cherished members of our school.

 

PRIMARY GRADES

  

Grades K, 1 and 2 meet every Sunday morning from 9:00 –11:30.  During the course of the morning, students learn basic Judaic concepts and values, holidays, Israel, Torah, and beginning Hebrew. Tzedakah is introduced as a prevailing mitzvah.  Each Sunday morning our Rabbi leads a separate prayer service for these grades, using an age appropriate Siddur.  Their morning also includes going to music class each week, and are scheduled for library time each month.  Each Sunday we have a snack of challah and grape juice.

 

In first and second grade, students work with Hebrew consonants in order to recognize them and the sounds they make.  This is valuable because students become comfortable and familiar with them prior to beginning Hebrew School in third grade and are eager to learn more!

 

Beginning in second grade, our students use the Chai Curriculum Core which is an innovative program that was developed by the Union for Reform Judaism. This curriculum fuses three strands of Judaism:  Torah, Avodah (worship), and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness).  Each grade level has its own theme that connects these concepts and reinforces central ideas throughout the year.  Second grade introduces the personal relevance and power of each of these strands to students.

 

We have madrichim (student helpers) in each of these classes.  These are high school students who are enrolled in classes of higher learning in our school.  They are wonderful role models for our students, and indispensable to our teachers.

 

HEBREW SCHOOL

 

Grades 3 – 7 attend Hebrew School on Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 11:30 and Tuesday afternoons from 4:15 – 6:15.  Each day, half of the time is devoted to the study of Hebrew, and the other half to Judaic subjects including holidays, Israel, history, prayer and the Chai Curriculum.  Each Sunday, all students have music and each class has library once per month.  On both Sunday and Tuesday, our Rabbi leads our students in a more advanced prayer service.  We have a Youth Choir that is open to all interested students in these grades.  They meet on Tuesdays for a half hour immediately following school.  Several times during the year their beautiful voices help enhance the Friday night service. We offer grade appropriate extra-curricular activities several times a year through our temple Youth Group JuMTY.

 

Because our third graders are officially beginning Hebrew School, we have a Consecration ceremony that honors their dedication and commitment.  This occurs on a Friday night during Chanukah, a holiday that commemorates rededication.  Students receive a Hebrew/English dictionary as a gift…one that will be used often in the years ahead!  In third grade, students refine their own understanding and definition of k'dushah and apply understanding to ritual objects, symbols and prayer. They learn how our behaviors can make moments and places special, holy and closer to God.

 

The thematic thread in the Chai Fourth Grade Curriculum shows a direct relationship between being a member of a community and our behaviors. They study the relationship between the People and the Land in the Torah, the significance and structure of communal prayer, and acts of g'milut chasidim affecting relationships.

 

In fifth grade, the theme of Reform Judaism and the power of community will connect the strands in the Chai Curriculum. They learn how Reform Judaism is based on the message of the prophets; what the role of the individual is in a community; how our movement dealt with prayers in the siddur; and how we can reach out to those in our community.

 

Chavayah is a highlight in sixth grade.  We participate with other sixth grades from Reform Hebrew schools across the Chicago area for a morning that has  both social and educational components.   It is like a “mini-retreat” while getting to know students from other schools.  Hebrew script is taught in sixth grade.  The Chai Curriculum teaches  Revelation and how we experience it.  Students investigate Biblical texts which relate to the individual’s relationship with G-d, study the components of the Torah service, learn about the role of the sh’liach tzibur (prayer leader), and study g’milut chasadim on a more universal level.

 

Judaic study in the seventh grade includes Jewish identity, heroes and Holocaust as well as our other Judaic subjects. Our Chai Curriculum focuses on personal reflection and improvement. Torah study returns to B'reisheit and commentaries, and focuses on stories of individuals who grow and learn. Avodah concentrates on the relevance of ritual and living a prayerful life. G'milut Chasadim starts with the individual, tikkun middot and repairing ourselves.

 

Each year we have a retreat for grades 3 – 7 at Olin Sang Ruby Institute.  It is a highlight of the year, where learning and fun mix together for a wonderful weekend.  Students bond with each other and with the madrichim as our Retreat leaders guide them through experiencing “living” Judaism.

 

Our eighth grade is also called Kabbalat Mitzvah.   These students come on Sundays only, from 11:30 – 1:00. Their course of study shows matters of importance to teens based on decision making, Jewish values in every day decision making, tikkum olam, Pirket Avot (wisdom of our sages), historical Jewish figures and how the example of their lives can be applied to our lives today, and debates over Jewish law. They learn the relevance of Judaism to their lives as they learn about God, their relationship to God, their relationship to each other, what it means to be "chosen," their relationship to the Promised Land, and where Israel fits in. Students graduate upon completing eight grade.

Grade 8 (Pre-Kabbalat Mitzvah) 2010-2011

***Preliminary calendar- may be changed for final version***

Parents are welcome to join any and all field trips

**Note: 

¨      Classes held at TJM will begin with pizza and a social time with our High School students.  Sunday classes are from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

¨      Classes that are NOT on Sundays are noted in italics and are in lieu of a Sunday class. 

¨      Field trips are indicated with an arrow preceding the date (à)

September

12  Intro to the class and curriculum, then BBQ

à19  Mikvah  (community Mikvah in Wilmette)

26  Wrap-up (including Yom Kippur issues)

 October

3   Part 1:  Reform, Conservative, Orthodox branches; Sephardic practices    

(Blessing of the Animals)

9  Part 2:  Reform, Conservative and Orthodox branches; Sephardic practices      

à16** Saturday Visit Orthodox

à24** Saturday Visit Sephardic

à30** Saturday Visit Conservative

 November

7   Wrap up  (Book/Gift  Fair)

14   NO SCHOOL – Parent teacher conferences

à19** Friday night  TJM (prayer study)

à24  Wednesday night - Thanksgiving Interfaith Service (location TBA)

 December

5   Wrap up;

12  Chanukkah- assimilation/ Jews for Jesus/ Mormon

 January

9   Discuss: Chasidism and Kaballah

15   Wrap up, including all branches of Judaism…including Reconstructionism

23  intro to Islam and Bahai

à30  visit to a mosque

 February

à6   visit Bahai Temple in Wilmette

à13  wrap up and compare Islam and Bahai

à20  intro to Christianity including Catholic, Episcopalian , Lutheran,

     Protestant, etc.   Graduation Essay Assigned

à27  Church visit

 March

à6  Church visit

à13 Church visit

20   Purim- service and carnival at TJM

 April

5 – Tuesday Graduation Essay due via e-mail to tjmschool@aol.com

à  10  Jewish Cemetary visit (Memorial Gardens- Old Orchard)

17   Wrap up year

 May

1   Yom HaShoah –attend service at 10:00 a.m.

6   Graduation

  

 

Rabbi Hillel said:

 

If I am not for me, who will be?

If I am for myself alone, what am I?

If not now, when?

 

CONFIRMATION & HIGH SCHOOL OF JEWISH STUDIES

  

Our Rabbi teaches all of our High School classes.  Kabbalat Torah (Confirmation) receivers of the Torah is for 9th and 10th graders which meets weekly on Sundays from 11:45 am –1:15 pm.  This class studies Bible stories “rated NC-14,” exploring lessons from Jewish texts, which may have learned earlier only at an elementary level.  They explore ethics, making choices, and how to deal with dilemmas in a Jewish way.  These topics provide support and guidance to our students as they learn to navigate their early high school experiences.  They also delve into greater questions and reasons of what leads them to choose Judaism for themselves at this age.  The 11th and 12th graders attend classes once a month and help plan the curriculum to discuss a wide range of topics that are relevant to them as Jewish teenagers in (and heading beyond) High School.  A siyyum (completion) ceremony marks the end of their studies.

 

School Calendar & Activities

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School Contact Information
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School Welcome Page
School Application Forms (Pre-K to 12)
School Supply List
Adult Hebrew Application

 

  TEMPLE JUDEA MIZPAH 8610 Niles Center Road, Skokie, IL  60077-2398, 847-676-1566 www.templejmschool.org