Sunday School

Temple Beth-El’s school strives to provide our students with the best possible Jewish education, consisting of a strong foundation of Jewish knowledge and literacy.

We wish to foster a positive attitude towards Jewish learning and Jewish life, and instill a strong sense of identity with the Jewish people. These goals impact cognitive, affective and moral development of its students. Temple Beth-El's is not only an academic program, but also involves Shabbat and holiday worship, experiential learning, art, music, and family involvement. Parents are vital partners and foster an environment which Jewish education and practice are valued.

Our Judaic education is based on the three pillars of Jewish living formulated in Pirke Avot, which is the basis of the Chai Curriculum for Jewish Living:

• Torah – learning our sacred text, history, customs and traditions
• Avodah – worship; the development of a relationship with God and a spiritual sense of being.
• G’milut Chasadim – deed of love and kindness; the cultivation of responsibility towards others and the need to engage in Tikkun Olam, repair to our world.

To accomplish our goals the school must continue to provide significant Jewish learning. This requires attendance and achievement standards. The Temple’s Judaic studies offers a program from kindergarten through high school.

Introduction to Gimel, Dalet, Hey and Vav
(3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Grade)

The Chai Curriculum has been developed by the Union for Reform Judaism, following the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). The model is known as “Understanding by Design”. This approach ensures that students learning will go beyond specific classroom activities and will lead to deeper, enduring understanding, which will establish the basis for later Jewish learning and living.

The Jewish sages teach us that “the world stands on three things - Torah, Avodah and G’milut Chasadim (Pirke: Avot 1:2). These pursuits—study, worship and deeds of loving kindness provide the framework within which Jews build relationship with God and each other.