The Temple Beth-El Slavin-Malkin School is committed to providing a developmentally appropriate Jewish educational program, within a nurturing and friendly environment. Our goals are to help create within our students, a strong, positive Jewish identity, to transmit Jewish values, knowledge and beliefs and to implant within them a lifelong love for and commitment to Jewish education, Klal Yisrael, synagogue, and prayer. We consider the home and Temple to be partners in the educational process of the students.

Goals of Reform Jewish Education
The stated goal of Jewish education within the Reform Movement is the deepening of Jewish experience and knowledge for all Jews, in order to strengthen faith in God, love of Torah, and identification with the Jewish people through involvement in the synagogue and all facets of Jewish life.
The Commission on Jewish Education of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) provides a program of Jewish education which will enable children, youth and adults to become:

• Jews who affirm their Jewish identity and bind themselves inseparably to their people by word and deed.
• Jews who bear witness to the Brit (the covenant between God and the Jewish people) through the practice of Mitzvot and the study of Torah.
• Jews who will affirm their historic bond to Eretz-Yisrael, the Land of Israel.
• Jews who cherish and study Hebrew, the language of the Jewish people.
• Jews who value and practice Tefilah (prayer).
• Jews who further the causes of justice, freedom, and peace by pursuing Tzedakah (righteousness) Mispat (justice) and Chesed (loving deeds).
• Jews who celebrate Shabbat and festivals, and who observe the Jewish ceremonies marking the significant occasions in their lives.
• Jews who esteem their own person and the person of others, their own family and the family of others, their own community and the community of others.
• Jews who express their kinship with Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people, by actively seeking the welfare of Jews throughout the world.
• Jews who support and participate in the life of the synagogue.

Such Jews will strengthen the fabric of Jewish life, ensure the future of Judaism and the Jewish people, and approach the realization of their divine potential.

Guiding Principles

TIKUN OLAM We see ourselves as God’s partners in making the world a better place. Learning about the earth, pursuing social justice, and caring for the disadvantaged are just a few of the principles that we must all pursue.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT The commitment of the family is imperative to the goals and principles for which our school strives. Your participation in Jewish life will strengthen the bonds between you and your child as well as between your child and the Jewish Community.

TZEDAKAH Although many interpret "Tzedakah" as charity, the translation implies performing righteous acts. Students are encouraged to bring contributions of money for Tzedakah to Religious School and individual classes will adopt several projects during the year.

HEBREW Hebrew, as it is taught at Temple Beth-El, serves as the language of prayer (Lashon Kodesh) and the language of the Torah. The Hebrew language unifies us to Israel and the entire Jewish people all over the world. The curriculum focuses on teaching our children prayers, rituals and values, while familiarizing them with basic speech patterns.

ISRAEL Our generation has witnessed the miracle of Israel’s birth and we celebrate that miracle throughout the curriculum. The students study the meaning of the State of Israel (Medinat Yisrael) through lessons in history, geography and current events.

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Children's Programming
Temple Beth-El has a number of programs for our children.

Preschool at Temple Beth-El offered by the Board of Jewish Education
Founded as a lab school, the Board of Jewish Education Early Childhood Center (BJE-ECC)has the ongoing objective of integrating the leading research on children’s social, emotional & intellectual development into a Judaic-based curriculum. Five schools are located within synagogues. BJE-ECC in Northbrook is located at Temple Beth-El, providing preschool for children ages 18 months to 5 years. For more information, contact Sharon Gross, on-site director 847-272-4455

Tot Shabbat (click for schedule)
This service is an enjoyable introduction to temple for children ages two through 1st grade.

Summer F.U.N.
Pre-school Camp Adventure

Gan Tinok
Pre-school Shabbat activity program

Kindergarten Enrichment
Shabbat program for children in Kindergarten

BJE
The Board of Jewish Education leases space in our building for an extensive and rewarding pre-school program.
Call for current class information 847-272-4455.