Providing the highest quality Jewish education
is amongst Temple Beth Torah's highest priorities.
Temple Beth Torah’s educational goals are to:
Foster an understanding of our heritage and values
Achieve Jewish literacy including the ability to read Hebrew
Create a familiarity with the Jewish calendar and holidays
Make our students comfortable at synagogue services.
We strive to achieve these goals through our dynamic Religious School and
through a warm, welcoming, weekly Shabbat Junior Congregation Service. All of our
Religious School classes are small and offer personal attention from a nurturing staff.
The school staff includes specialists in Hebrew music, Judaic programming and media arts.
Teachers utilize our state-of-the art computer media center for enhancing
the learning experience.
Our Kindergarten, Alef, and Bet Classes meet on Wednesday afternoons at 4:00.
They are specifically designed to introduce our younger children to the joys of being
Jewish. We are proud that many students at TBT begin their Jewish Education at Temple
Beth Torah's Pre-Religious School and continue through high school.
This year you are invited to enroll your children in our K, Alef, or Bet class
(K, 1st and 2nd grade in Public School respectively) free of charge to Temple Beth Torah members.
Formal Religious
School training begins with the Gimel class for third graders, which meets two times each week.
It is here that children begin to read Hebrew. Games and informal activities are incorporated to
make Jewish learning fun and exciting. Tzdakkah and Gimilut Chesed (acts of loving-kindness) are
expressed by all grades through school projects that include visits to nursing homes and food
collection for the needy. In addition, special programs are held during the year. They include
guest speakers on the Holocaust, dance programs, artist visits, GADNA exercise program and
Israel activities on a blow up floor mat.
After completing the Daled Hay, and Vav
Classes, seventh graders move to our Zayin
Class, with its own unique program under
Rabbi Katz's direction, and individualized
Bar or Bat Mitzvah
preparation. The fact that our B'nai
and B'not Mitzvah excel on the Bimah by ably
and confidently chanting the Haftarah, reading
from the Torah, and leading parts of the
service, is a tribute to our Cantor's and our staff's talent and
dedication.
Tutoring is also available
to every student free of charge. Our individual
tutoring sessions are designed to help
students build and enhance basic skills and
have a positive impact on attitudes around the
educational experience.
We have instituted a new program called "Madrich" or guide in English.
Our teens volunteer to become peer mentors and work one-on-one with
our Vav students. They help the students practice and perfect their
Hebrew reading and performance skills.
After Bar or Bat Mitzvah, our children are
encouraged to continue their Jewish education
in Rabbi Katz's Post-Bar Mitzvah classes, and
in our Adult Education courses. Each Shavuot,
we honor our teenagers who have
demonstrated that their Bar and Bat Mitzvah
experience is not an end, but rather the
beginning of their lifelong participation in the
adult Jewish community.
We are pleased to announce the establishment of our completely interactive classroom.
It is a first in the region, or perhaps in the country, for a Religious School.
It features a SMART Board (by way of a grant from Legacy Heritage Fund) twelve new high-powered computers,
and custom furniture. We are so appreciative to the Einbinder Family who
made this dream come true.
We continue to improve and enhance our
curriculum and educational offerings to ensure we
meet or exceed our educational goals.
Some indications of our success are:
Students participation in Family Services and Jr. Choir
Students participate and lead Holiday services
80% of our students continue their education after Bar or Bat Mitzvah
If you have any questions or would like to know more about our
education programs, please feel free to contact us.
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