Religious School

The Congregation Beth Shalom Religious School strives 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 x3 or Iriteliav@bethshalomseattle.org.

Download the 2008 Religious School Calendar Now!

Click here.

Download Religious School Forms Now!  Click here to read a letter to parents from Irit Eliav.

Click here for the Registration Form.  Click here for the Payment Form.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

 

CHALUTZIM – PRESCHOOL, AGES 3-5

Students will begin learning about Jewish holidays and customs through stories, art projects, and songs. Students will be introduced to key characters in the Torah and within Jewish history. Students will 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 will 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 will be introduced to the Midot of caring for classmates, families, and friends. Students will be introduced to the Alef-bet and vowels and learn some receptive vocabulary works. Students will be 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 will continue to explore their Jewish identity by studying Torah stories and the values found within them. Special focus on Tzedakah and mitzvot are included at this grade level. In addition, students will become familiar with the symbols and objects in the synagogue, thus enhancing their growing experiences in the Synagogue. Students will continue their study of Hebrew vocabulary and learn greetings for holidays. Students will learn about holidays and the ritual objects used for each. In the study of Israel they will learn about places special to Jews in Israel such as the Western Wall. Students will become comfortable in singing Jewish songs. Students will participate in Tefillah.

BET - SECOND GRADE
Students will 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 will begin building an awareness of the significance of the Torah in Judaism. Students will continue their study of ethics and values (Midot) by learning about Rahamim (mercy) emunah (faith) Brit (covenant), and others. Students will enrich their Hebrew vocabulary and continue to reinforce their reading and decoding skills. Students will continue to study all of the holidays. On a map students will be able to locate the major cities in Israel. Students will 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 will 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 will expand their knowledge of Jewish holidays by examining the reasons for rituals and traditions found in Judaism. In Hebrew they will continue with readying 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 that they have 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 will 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 will 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 will 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 will discover the important of the concept of Am Yisrael as inclusive of Jews from every country. In Tefillah they will study new prayers including Shalom Aleichem and Ein Keloheynu. They will begin to examine the Torah service through a detailed study of Brachot. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

HEY - FIFTH GRADE
Students will 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 will continue with the study of Tanakh with Neviim, Proverbs and Psalms. Students will continue their study of basic Jewish concepts, focusing on how they relate to the Torah. In Hebrew, students will continue acquisition of grammatical concepts and reading fluency. They will participate in helping to lead Tefillah.

VAV - SIXTH GRADE
Students will 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 will be 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.