Our students encounter the riches and complexities of Judaism through an analysis of the primary texts of our tradition. The focus of the curriculum is on teaching meaningful and relevant topics and themes in Judaism with practical moral or philosophical lessons via rigorous and intensive text study. All students learn the core program described below. Studies of holidays and prayer are interspersed throughout the core program. The curriculum features an integrated approach to teaching about Judaism--each year weaves together Bible, Rabbinics, ancient and modern history, ethics, Israel, lifecycle events, Holocaust, holidays, and prayer, as opposed to teaching each discipline as a separate class.

Kindergarten
Children use “A Child's Garden of Torah” as a way to bring Torah stories to life. For example, in the story of the Tower of Babel they learn, “I have the power to use my words to build, or tear down”.  We teach our students that Judaism is about wondering, and being amazed at the world.  Holiday study and celebration is a centerpiece of the Kindergarten year, and students continually learn how to apply the lessons of Judaism to their own lives.  For example, during Rosh HaShanah students learn that the years repeat (e.g. we go to school every year) because there’s always something new to learn—we never stop learning.  Students have units such as Being a Mensch (“I can make the world a better place!”) and Mitzvah (“Doing Jewish” means “doing good”).  Kindergarteners have a special Shma Pillowcase celebration with parents.

Grade 1
Bible study in Grades 1-3 is incorporated primarily within the study of holidays.  For example, when the students learn about Passover, they study the story of the Exodus.  Starting in 1st grade, students also learn what the Parshah (Torah portion of the week) is, its basic plot, and at least one significant and relevant idea.  For example, in their lessons on Joseph, students learn about how to deal with sibling rivalry.  While studying about the Garden of Eden, they learn that rules help us keep safe.  Students have major units on prayer and Shabbat.  Students also celebrate a special Shabbat Box ceremony with parents.

Grade 2
Continuing their studies from Grade 1, students learn the Torah portion of the week such as Parashat Sh'mot-Finding God in Small Places; Parashat Bo: Marking Our Freedom; and Parashat B'shalach: Brave Nachshon Comes to Visit.  Students also learn about the synagogue and how the makeup of our physical environment effects us mentally and spiritually; family history, that their family tree is part of a larger Jewish People family tree, indicating the shared roots of all Jewish families; Tzedakah/Gemilut Chasidim, that we all have an obligation to take care of each other; as well as holiday and prayer studies such as units on Birkat HaMazon (Blessing after Meals); Shma U’Virchoteha; Kashrut; and more.  Second graders also have a special Siddur ceremony with parents in which they receive their own Siddurim.

Grade 3
Students learn a great deal this year about Israel, such as Torah stories focusing on Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, and the B'rit (covenant).  Sample units include Am Yisrael: All Jews are Members of Am Yisrael (the Nation of Israel); It Takes Twelve Tribes to Create a People; Israel: The Physical Land; Israel: The Land for Our Souls; and other related units.  Holiday units abound, as well as prayer units such as the Torah Service; geography of Siddur; and the Amidah (including ideas such as “asking things of God is an important way to raise our awareness level of what others lack”).  Third graders also have a special Tanach ceremony with parents in which they receive their own Tanachim.

Grade 4
Students use the book “Being Torah” and are invited to become biblical commentators. The book works with words. Based on a real translation of the biblical text that was crafted specifically for students this age, students are drawn into the words of Torah. Using colored clues, they focus on the number of times given words are used in a story, the changes between what one person says and what another person says that first said, and into the parallel words that link one story to another. For the first time in Lower School, students do not study from a book about Torah. It is actual Torah study made accessible and age appropriate. In their studies focusing on the Books of Genesis and Exodus, students learn that Torah makes an impact on even the ordinary details of their lives, their very being.