Religious School Class Descriptions

The theme for Kindergarten is “My Jewish Me.” Children learn about how we use “all of ourselves” in celebrating Jewish life. The study of Jewish holidays is a multi-sensory experience, filled with taste, music, learning, fragrance and joy. Each child creates a personal scrapbook, “I’ve Got That Jewish Feeling” as well as a family “Shabbat Box.” Hebrew learning is introduced in Kindergarten through Kashkesh, our immersive Hebrew learning program of Music, Art and Dance.

First Graders focus on the family, “My Jewish Home” and the synagogue. They explore our synagogue building, and learn the meaning and uses of specific ritual objects and important places in our Synagogue and Sanctuary. Our children will share their new knowledge as eachbecomes a “docent,” guiding their parents on a synagogue scavenger hunt.  Continued exploration of the Jewish holidays takes on deeper meaning as our First Graders learn about both synagogue and home celebrations. Hebrew learning is introduced in Kindergarten through Kashkesh, our immersive Hebrew learning program of Music, Art and Dance.

Second Graders begin their journey through the world of the Torah. They study some of the extraordinary stories at the heart of the Jewish people, and discover their messages. They will illustrate and construct their own Torah scroll and create a beautiful handmade Torah cover. They explore “What’s in a Name” with their families and learn the meanings and origins of their Hebrew names.  Together with their families they participate in a beautiful Shabbat Torah ceremony.  Hebrew learning continues through Kashkesh, our immersive Hebrew learning program of Music, Art and Dance.

Third Graders continue study of our Jewish Bible and Hebrew while learning in-depth about ancient and Modern Israel through archeology. Special learning experiences include our very own Kol Ami archeological dig, a trip to The Jewish Museum, and the design and presentation of their own museum on archeology and ancient Israel. As we build and strengthen community, our Third Graders sleep-over at Kol Ami on a Friday night in the winter. Third graders begin our formal Hebrew learning and continue to build their Hebrew vocabulary while also learning the Alef Bet and beginning to read!  3^rd Graders continue to participate in Hebrew learning through movement with Israeli Dance taught by Shmulik Gov Ari, our amazing Israeli dance instructor.

Fourth Graders study Jews around the world. The year is filled with the history, traditions, music, rhythms, religious customs and dance of different Jewish communities around the world, such as the Sephardim of Spain and the Ashkenazim/ Hassidim of Eastern Europe.  Fourth Graders celebrate with a very special Havdallah Hispanica and a mock Hassidic Wedding! Fourth Graders also participate in a community-building weekend retreat. Beginning in Fourth grade, our students are placed in leveled groups for Hebrew learning each week.  Their Hebrew learning focuses on continued learning of the letters and vowels, learning our prayers, and practice with increasing fluency in Hebrew de-coding and reading.

Fifth Graders explore the cycle of Jewish Celebrations. Why do we have all these celebrations, how have they evolved and what do they mean to me? The Jewish year includes the commemoration of the Holocaust, and our fifth graders will begin an age-appropriate study of this tragic time in our history and the renewal of our people in the land of Israel. Students and parents visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a place to honor those who died by celebrating life. Their Holocaust unit continues into learning about the foundation of the State of Israel and the modern accomplishments and challenges of our Jewish homeland. They will consider questions of courage and controversy and encounter stories of survival and hope. Fifth Graders also participate in a community-building weekend retreat. Fifth graders Hebrew learning continues to work on improving reading fluency and learning prayers and their meanings.

Sixth Graders spend the year learning about American Jewish History: Immigration to America, Jewish Genealogy and Personal Jewish History. This pre-B’nai Mitzvah year gives our students the opportunity to place themselves within their own family’s stories as they prepare to take their place in the unfolding narrative of the Jewish people. Sixth Grade families participate in creating a phenomenal and personal Sixth Grade Family History Museum.  Our Sixth graders also participate in the retreat weekend.  In Hebrew, our Sixth graders continue to practice what they’ve been learning and begin to learn parts of the Torah service they will lead when they become Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Kol Ami.

Learn more about the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Process

Our 7th graders participate in our special program model – Mesorah-Choosing Your Commitment: Embracing and Reinterpreting a Living Tradition.  In Pirkei Avot 1:2 we find inspiration to reframe and focus our learning. “…Upon three things the world stands: on Torah, on Avodah (prayer) and on Gemilut Chasadim (kindness to others).”  Using the lens of these three entryways, students will be offered a broad range of experiences to better prepare for both B’nai Mitzvah and for living a Jewish life.  Over the course of the year, each student selects courses from the overarching themes.  Courses are designed to be engaging, to be interesting and to encourage exploration of Jewish values in new and creative ways. In addition to elective and workshop choices (these options meet on both Wednesday evenings and an additional day our students choose.

Additionally, our 7^th graders spend Wednesday evenings together learning about the Jewish lifecycle from birth to death. Hebrew learning takes place every Wednesday evening through Tefila and practice preparing for Bar/Bat Mitzvah with Cantor David.

Building off the “Facing History and Ourselves” curriculum, we unpack difficult questions surrounding conformity and obedience, dogma, knowing versus doing, and the study of the Holocaust. Exploring issues of racism, hate and anti Semitism leads to the challenging discussion of the “upstander and bystander:” What does that mean for our children in their daily lives and how they define their Jewish identity? Students will work together to uncover reactions and feelings about the Holocaust as they design, prepare and lead the community service for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). The eighth grade class takes a special trip together in the spring. (“I became close friends with kids who don’t go to my school—these are my Kol Ami friends who I get to see each week in Religious School.”)

Rabbi Shira Milgrom teaches our 9th graders. The 9th grade curriculum focuses on the Jewish responsibility to global justice while exploring our individual and collective identities as Jewish people. What are our obligations to make society more equitable and just? Does the meaning of tzedakah change when we cross international boundaries? Through text study, debate and dialogue, music, art, and drama we will address issues of justice, responsibility, and social action. We will challenge ourselves with a new set of questions each week in hopes of discovering answers that are authentic and meaningful. We look forward to seeing how each student’s unique life experiences shape his/her approach to understanding the world in which we live. As members of our High School community, our 9^th graders participate with the larger High School community in our weekly Kehila (community) meeting each Wednesday. We encourage our High School students to also participate in our Sr. Youth Group and in amazing travel, service and learning opportunities we offer. (“Talking with Rabbi Shira every week about poverty and how Judaism views our personal obligation was really interesting. It made me realize even as a teenager, I can work to make the world a better place”)