Chai School

Chai School meets the challenge of providing a meaningful Jewish education for adolescent-age students (Grades 7 – 12) by allowing them to design their program of study! Chai School meets on Tuesday nights from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM during the school year.

Click Here to Download JEC Forms

GESHER - 6th Grade

The word Gesher means “bridge,” and our sixth graders will begin taking steps to cross the bridge from childhood to Jewish adulthood. We believe the family bond helps ease the transition from childhood to adulthood and builds bridges that will lead children to Bet Mitzvah, Confirmation, Graduation, and beyond. We want our 6th Graders and their families to have engaging, relevant, and memorable learning experiences.  Gesher is our way to help pave the path and set families on a learning journey together.  Gesher students will attend on Tuesdays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM for Jewish Studies and Hebrew Studies.  Gesher 6th Graders AND their parents will meet monthly with our Rabbis and Educators (Schedule Below!). 6th Graders and their parents will complete a unique project that will be displayed after the year. In addition, special activities for our 6th-grade students will only occur throughout the year!

Gesher (Bridge)
Parent-Student Programs & Student Programs

Gesher Shabbat Rishon Dinner and Service
Friday, April 4, 2025, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Gesher Parent & Student Bet Mitzvah Experience
Sunday, April 6, 2025, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Gesher Family Project Showcase
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 4:30 PM

7th & 8th Grade

Grade 7: Hineini—Here I Am as an Emerging Jewish Adult—7th-grade students experience four curricular areas: antisemitism, the Prophets, Jewish symbols, and leadership. These lessons are relevant, fun, and thought-provoking. We hope to inspire our 7^th graders to continue learning and growing with us Jewishly beyond their Bet Mitzvah.

Grade 8:  Israel – It is Complicated! – Our students begin the year learning about the Jewish History of Boston and travel together to explore our people's roots in this city. In Addition, the 8th graders study the land and people of Israel using a curriculum developed by our faculty and our Young Israeli Emissary.  Students’ discussion and learning about the land and people of Israel is an integral part of our program. Students will be able to gain knowledge and understanding of our Jewish homeland to talk about the issues and prepare for an eventual visit during High School or College.

9th Grade

Grade 9: Coming to America - Our ninth graders explore the political, social, economic, and religious history of the American Jewish community during the Eastern European migration to America. Students travel to New York City as a group and experience their curriculum "firsthand" during our Jewish New York Tour. 9^th graders also explore antisemitism and learn to apply Jewish principles and concepts to their everyday lives.  Text study, group debate, and discussion comprise our ninth-grade program's core. 

Confirmation

Grade 10: Confirmation – God, Torah and the People Israel - What is God? Is there more than one way to perceive of God? How can we know God? What does God want from us? How does God fit into my life? If there is a God, why do bad things happen in the world? This is a course about God. More specifically, it is a course about ways in which Jews have spoken about and to God through four thousand years of Jewish history. Students will also participate in intergenerational programming with residents from The Willows and with special guest speakers on the topic of aging. 

Our 10th graders also participate in a social action program presented by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. They join students from all over the country to experience social justice through Jewish lenses. The tenth-grade year culminates in a Confirmation ceremony on Erev Shavuot. Under the guidance of the Rabbis, the tenth-grade students create and lead the service, offering their own insights and teachings to the congregation.

These teens are transformed into role models, and young students look up to them. Confidence, pride and a renewed passion for learning – that’s what this program creates for our teens. Madrichim prepare lessons, lead small group discussions and tutor children in Hebrew, introduce exciting games to review classroom material, provide a safe and loving environment for every student, make it “cool” to be Jewish, and bring a sense of ruach (spirit) to the classroom and youth events.