Curriculum

Kindergarten: Jewish Stories and Values

We begin the formal study of Torah in the third grade. However, a great deal of Jewish values are conveyed in different sources, such as Talmudic stories and folktales; think of Hillel standing on one foot, or King Solomon and the Bee. In kindergarten, we work with some basic Jewish vocabulary and prayers (such as the Shema), learn about the Jewish holidays, along with the important values gained from these Jewish “master stories.”

Grade 1: Jewish Values from Alef to Tav

Our first grade is learning about a specific set of 8-10 Jewish values, such as derekh eretz (right behavior towards other people), tzedakah (righteous action), kibud av va’em (honoring parents and elders), bikur holim (visiting the sick), and more. These students learn through hands-on activities and projects as well as with guest speakers from various local service organizations.

Grade 2: Jewish Holidays/“Thinking About God”

Children at this age already have a curiosity about theological matters. “Where did Grandpa go when he died?” Our goal is to engage each child in this conversation, giving them a spiritual vocabulary appropriate to their age, while resisting the temptation to “explain” or to impose a single idea about God. We also work to deepen their understanding of the Jewish holidays as they take place throughout the year. In the second grade, letter recognition of the Alef-Bet is part of the curriculum.

Grade 3: Torah Stories

In third grade, we focus on teaching students the importance of Torah to the Jewish people. We delve into the stories from the Torah in great detail by using art, drama, movement, debate, and other hands-on methods to make the stories come alive. At the end of the year, students present “Torah Alive,” a live action drama presentation about their favorite stories from the Torah.

Grade 4: Biblical Heroes and The Jewish Lifecycle

The fourth grade continues learning Torah stories, with an eye towards what these stories teach about leadership. They also learn about major milestones in the Jewish lifecycle, from birth through b'nei mitzvah, marriage, family, and death. A highlight of this year is the class planning of a Jewish mock “wedding” for one set of class parents.

Grade 5: Israel

The fifth grade studies about the land and people of Israel. This includes geography, ancient and modern history, the story of Zionism, as well as the various ethnic and religious groups which make up the mosaic of modern Israel. Israeli music and culture are also included. Our goal is to cultivate a love of Israel, while also beginning to explore its complexities.

Grade 6: Jewish History

The sixth grade studies Jewish history from ancient to modern times. By learning about Jewish life in the shtetl to immersing themselves in a Shabbat experience during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, students get a year-long glimpse into the history of the Jewish people.

Grade 7: Jewish Ethics/Holocaust

In the fall semester on Wednesday evenings, students contemplate complicated Jewish ethical issues such as those in medicine, the legal system, and current events. The second semester is spent studying the rise of anti-Semitism in Germany though the end of the Holocaust. The class culminates with a trip to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

Grade 8: Madrichim-in-Training

In 8th grade, students prepare to become madrichim (helpers) in our Shorashim classrooms. Part of the time, they will help out in Sunday and/or Wednesday night classrooms and other times are spent on classes in leadership training, classroom management activities, role playing, and more.

Hebrew/Prayer (Grades 4-7)

Formal Hebrew language study begins in fourth grade. On Wednesday nights, students study Hebrew, learn prayers, explore and discuss these prayers in an interactive way, and engage in other Judaic studies.

By seventh grade, our students are able to read (and possibly chant) from the Torah, and chant a Haftarah on the occasion of their becoming a Bar/Bat/B’nai Mitzvah. They have also mastered the basic blessings for Shabbat and other holidays that enable them to be participants in ritual life in a Jewish home, and they will have an understanding about the meaning of these prayers and rituals.

Chug (Electives) (Grades K-6)

In addition to the core curriculum, kindergarten through sixth grade students have the opportunity to participate in activities in a wide variety of subjects, taught with a hands-on approach.

A sample of chugim include Jewish cooking, Jewish sportsmanship, Jewish art, Jewish Yoga, To Save a Life, Tikkun Olam, Bibliodrama, and much more! This is a fun way to bring informal Jewish education into classrooms.

Hebrew High School is a learning environment for the entire high school community.

Our curriculum covers different aspects of Jewish living, Jewish history, and contemporary issues, including but not limited to, social justice. We bring in guest teachers so students can meet some of the interesting people who are a part of the CBI community to learn from their personal experiences. Popular Israeli and American television episodes are frequently used as a jumping off point for Jewish conversation.