Religious School

The Congregation Beth Shalom Religious School was voted "Best Supplementary School" by the readers of the JT News in 2010.  We strive to provide our students with a strong foundation in Jewish knowledge, a love of Jewish learning, and a strong Jewish identity. Our program operates on a spiral curriculum, with students building upon their knowledge as they advance from year to year.

To learn more about our Religious School, please contact Irit Eliav, Director of Education at (206) 524-0075 or contact us.

For the 2011-2012 - 5772 Religious School Year

Click here for the 5772 (2011-2012) calendar!

Download Religious School Forms Now!

Click here to read the Welcome Letter from Irit Eliav, Director of Education. Click Here for the Registration Form. Click Here for the Payment Form.

Click Here to read the Parent Handbook for 5772 School Year.  View our visiting friend policy. Click Here

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

HALUTZIM - PRESCHOOL, AGES 3-5

Students begin learning about Jewish holidays and customs through stories, art projects, and songs. Students are introduced to key characters in the Torah and within Jewish history. Students begin using basic Hebrew words, identifying Jewish ritual objects and learn how to say a few Brachot (blessings). Because these are the youngest students in the CBS Religious School, this program begins at 10:30 (not 9:15) to create a shorter two-hour class period.

GAN - KINDERGARTEN

Students are introduced to Torah stories as the key to beginning their Jewish Education. They celebrate the wonder of being alive and discovering the joys of Jewish living through the use of the senses, and the uniqueness of participating in holiday rituals. Students are introduced to the Midot of caring for classmates, families, and friends. Students are introduced to the Alef-bet and vowels and learn some receptive vocabulary works. Students are introduced to Israel as a country where Jews live. Students will become comfortable in reciting Brachot (blessings) and the Shema. Students will participate in Tefillah.

ALEF - FIRST GRADE

Students continue to explore their Jewish identity through study of Torah stories and the values found within them. Special focus on Tzedakah and mitzvot are included at this grade level. In addition, students become familiar with the symbols and objects in the synagogue, thus enhancing their growing experiences in the Synagogue. Students continue their study of Hebrew vocabulary and learn greetings for holidays. Students learn about holidays and the ritual objects used for each. In the study of Israel, they learn about places special to Jews in Israel such as the Western Wall. Students become comfortable in singing Jewish songs. Students will participate in Tefillah.

BET - SECOND GRADE

Students continue to examine the characters and events that shaped the history of the Jewish people beginning with the lessons and stories found in the Torah in the books of Genesis and Exodus. Through this study, students begin building an awareness of the significance of the Torah in Judaism. Students continue their study of ethics and values (Midot) by learning about Rahamim (mercy) emunah (faith) Brit (covenant), and others. Students enrich their Hebrew vocabulary and continue to reinforce their reading and decoding skills. Students continue to study all of the holidays. On a map students will be able to locate the major cities in Israel. Students continue reviewing prayers previous learned and will learn to recite the Barechu and Modeh Ani. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah with older students.

GIMEL - THIRD GRADE

Students continue their study of biblical history by studying the lessons from the Neviim and Ketuvim (prophets and writings). Material will also apply historical, moral, and spiritual lessons to modern concerns. In addition, students expand their knowledge of Jewish holidays by examining the reasons for rituals and traditions found in Judaism. In Hebrew they continue with reading skills and develop a receptive vocabulary that includes body parts, days of the week, months in the Jewish calendar, and other common words. Students will be able to describe the major landmarks in Israel. In Tefillah they will continue reviewing the prayers they previously learned and learn the Shehecheyanu, Mi Chamocha, Shalom Rav, Hatikvah and Havdallah. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah with older students.

DALET - FOURTH GRADE

Students build upon the knowledge of Jewish life formed in the earlier grades by focusing on the events in the Jewish Lifecycle and Jewish Identity (Birth, Selection of Name, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Love, Family, Death, and Mourning). They also focus on the values and ethics that are the basic concepts of Judaism and an important part of daily life learning about Gemilut Hassidim, Derech Eretz, Kevod Habriot and others. In Hebrew language they review the material previously learning and begin learning grammatical concepts for present tense noun verb sentences. They will develop a vocabulary of 75 words. They discover the important of the concept of Am Yisrael as inclusive of Jews from every country. In Tefillah they study new prayers including Shalom Aleichem and Ein Keloheynu. They begin to examine the Torah service through a detailed study of Brachot. They participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

HEY - FIFTH GRADE

Students integrate ethics into a historical context that enables them to see the development of our people's ethical behavior guidelines as they evolved from the early traditional values/priorities to modern Western beliefs. Student continue with the study of Tanakh with Neviim, Proverbs and Psalms. Students continue their study of basic Jewish concepts, focusing on how they relate to the Torah. In Hebrew, students continue acquisition of grammatical concepts and reading fluency. They participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

VAV - SIXTH GRADE

Students complete mastery requirements for Trope, D'var Torah, and service leading skills. Students participate in Prozdor with core classes by grade and elective enrichment classes by interest. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

ZAYIN - SEVENTH GRADE

Attention is given to instilling a sense of identity both as a people and as part of a community. Students study in core classes, the values and ethics found in Pirke Avot. They also study about the Holocaust. Students participate in Prozdor with core classes by grade and elective enrichment classes by interest. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

CHET - EIGHTH GRADE

Students examine the reasons for Jewish beliefs and behavior. Particular attention is placed on why, in many cases, Jews uphold values and beliefs different from those of the society in where we live. The material is presented in a way that helps to frame the issues in a Jewish context and suggests possible ways to find ethical answers. Students participate in Prozdor with core classes by grade and elective enrichment classes by interest. They are invited to participate in the Youth Minyan on a regular basis, or become part of the regular adult worship rotation.

Prozdor Middle School

Prozdor, a program for 6th-8th graders, provides students with an opportunity to delve deeper into various subjects within Judaism. Students participate in two classes per semester, with core classes by grade and elective enrichment classes by interest. Subjects include Talmud, Trope, Holocaust, Israel, and much more! Prozdor also includes a chance for students to meet and socialize during recess, over snack. Students from both secular and Jewish day schools join together to connect to the larger Beth Shalom community. Our Prozdor program includes some of the finest educators in the Seattle Jewish community. Participation in Prozdor is a requirement of our B'nai Mitzvah program.