Hebrew School

Mission 

Congregation Ahavas Achim’s Hebrew School strives to establish a deep and abiding love of Jewish life and learning.  Our approach is broadly interdisciplinary and we make use of both traditional and experiential modes of learning.  

Towards this end we commit to providing:

§  Weekly classes that provide opportunities for students to learn about Jewish texts, traditions, historical figures, prayers, customs, and more.

§  Opportunities for students and families to experience in Shabbat prayer together.

§  Ample space for the school and the larger community to come together in celebration of holidays and life-cycle events.

§  Instruction in Hebrew that goes beyond phonetic instruction, reinforcing basic Jewish concepts.

§  Teen programming that is engaging and honors the special role teens play in our community as young leaders.

Program Overview

Shabbat Morning Experience

We gather on 20 Shabbat mornings throughout the year to learn and pray as an entire community.  The fun begins at 9 a.m.! 

For our youngsters in pre-K, we offer a musical Tot Shabbat once a month. Parents and guardians stay so that they can sing, dance, and keep an eye on their little ones!  

Our Shorashim group (grades K-2), focuses on the Parashah (the weekly Torah portion), the Jewish holidays, and Jewish values.  Finally, for our Anafim group (grades 3-7), we offer a lively Junior congregation, combining Tefilah (prayer), Torah study, and helping our students find the resonance of the Torah portion in their everyday lives.  

Shabbat morning sessions last until 11, with a "kiddush snack" of challah juice served to the students around 10:30.  

While the children are learning downstairs, parents are invited and encouraged to join us for services upstairs in the main sanctuary.  Everyone is invited to stay for kiddush, food and schmoozing in the social hall at the conclusion of services.

Havdalah--Concluding Shabbat Together

Family havdalah services are held most Saturday evenings over Zoom.  This short (~15-20 minute) service offers families a chance to close out Shabbat by reflecting on the sweet (wine/grape juice), sassy (fragrant spices) and bright (flame of the candle) things in their lives as they prepare for the week ahead.  Havdalah sets are available for anyone who needs one.  Contact Noa for the Zoom link.

Tuesday Learning for Grades 3-7 (4-6 p.m.)

Our Tuesday curriculum is comprised of seven main content areas: 1) Holidays; 2) Prayer and Liturgy; 3) Tanakh (Bible) and Jewish Text; 4) Theology and Religious Experience; 5) Gemilut Hasadim (Jewish Ethics) and Mitzvot; 6) Jewish History, Israel and Identity; and 7) Hebrew. 

Our Hebrew school community will continue to explore Jewish prayer,  making ample space for song, dance, and reflection, while also increasing students’ familiarity with traditional Jewish liturgy and strengthening their “synagogue skills.”

In addition to these core content areas, our learning will always remain intimately connected to the Jewish calendar, to Jewish history, and to the events happening all around us. We will study and experience each holiday in its season and we will discuss contemporary issues and events as they arise.  While the curriculum will provide us with a foundation, our teachers are committed to personalizing their instruction in order to best serve every student, and with an eye toward highlighting what makes our community unique and special.    

Full outlines of our curriculum are available upon request.