Shoresh
Shoresh (Root)
Grades PK, K & 1
What do we hope our children and their families gain from the Religious School experience? How will it influence our community, both now and in the future? Our Eitz Chaim Sunday Program will offer our Shoresh (root) students in grades Pre-Kindergarten (ages 3 & 4 by 9/1), Kindergarten, and First the information and skills to realize Reform Jewish ideals and values in their daily lives. Our curriculum will enable students to enter the continuing study of Jewish texts, history, holidays, life cycle, culture, and values. Engaging our children and families through virtual, experiential learning is a fundamental tenet of our Eitz Chaim philosophy. Our learners will be involved in a curriculum emphasizing GOD, TORAH, G’MILUT HASADIM, ISRAEL, and HEBREW, allowing them to embrace Judaism lovingly.
The school year will be divided into approximately eight-week trimesters, and a big topic of God & Spirituality, Torah, or Am Yisrael will frame each trimester. Children will be with a team of Jewish Learning Guides (teachers) and Madrichol (teen aides). Students and Parents in pre-kindergarten through first grade will also participate in family education programs, Shabbat Rishon Services, and other special occasions during the year.
We are committed to Jewish learning that is relevant, inspirational, and transformative. Our school aims to provide our students and their families with the tools to meaningfully participate in the Jewish community, with pride in their Jewish heritage, and with the awareness that their actions will shape the future of the Jewish people. Successful Jewish learning environments are built upon a culture of excellence where teachers share their expertise and wisdom and students take responsibility for their learning and success. We expect our staff to provide a sense of caring and concern that enables our students to support one another and challenge themselves to grow as individuals. We model the thoughtfulness and mutual respect we seek to promote in our students.
Shoresh Sunday Class Sessions
Grades PK, K and 1 - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Garinim Sunday Preschool Program!
Our Garinim (Seeds) program meets on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30 AM and is available to members and non-members of Congregation B'nai Shalom. The cost is $400 for the year.
In our preschool classroom, your child’s curiosity and passions will be nurtured with Jewish learning experiences and celebrations, all taking place in synagogue life. We support the “whole child,” including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We offer indoor and outdoor structured and unstructured play, Hebrew language learning, introductory Jewish prayer and holiday observance skills, an early childhood Jewish music specialist, and much more!
If you would like to discuss our program via phone, please contact Rabbi Eiduson at 508-366-7191 Ext. 204. If you are interested in our program, CLICK HERE to fill out the application, and our Executive Director will contact you.
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a particular purpose or service, usually religious. The word consecration means “association with the sacred.” Persons, places, or things can be consecrated. Here at Congregation B’nai Shalom, we see that the education of a Jewish child is a joint venture shared by both family and the Jewish community. Children begin to build their Jewish identity through what they experience at home. Indeed, for the very young, the most influential teacher of the Torah is the parent. One’s fundamental values and attitudes towards life are acquired in the home. In addition, most children receive their formal Jewish education in a synagogue religious school, attending after-school and weekend classes. Children study Hebrew, the Bible, and Jewish history in these classes. They celebrate Jewish holidays and reinforce Jewish values. Students experience Jewish culture via art, music, dance, drama, and literature.
Every religion has ceremonies to mark rites of passage. Ceremonies mark important learning milestones; Consecration marks the beginning of formal Jewish study, bar/bat mitzvah marks the entry into adolescence, and Confirmation marks the approach to adulthood. In most Reform congregations, Consecration occurs at the beginning of religious school, usually kindergarten, or whenever a child begins their Jewish education. The ceremony is sometimes held as part of the Simchat Torah celebration, but we have it as part of our Shabbat Rishon service in November. This allows our kindergarten students to become accustomed to our building, teachers, and rabbis. Consecration in December will be a lovely and meaningful ceremony for children and families.
Hebrew Through Movement!
Shalom and welcome to עִבְרִית בִּתְנוּעָה, or “Hebrew through Movement,” a language acquisition strategy in which students learn Hebrew by hearing and responding to Hebrew commands. Hebrew through Movement is an adaptation of James J. Asher’s Total Physical Response (TPR). Hebrew Through Movement is used in Jewish congregations, day schools, camps, early childhood programs and other settings. HTM does not teach communicative Hebrew, but students can easily move on to other Hebrew forms!
Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew. Supported by the latest brain research on learning, HTM provides an aural foundation for Hebrew that opens the door to more facile Hebrew decoding and reading. We hope you will enjoy this program and be pleased with how happily and productively your children learn.