Shoresh
Shoresh
Shoresh (Root)
Grades PK, K & 1![](https://images.shulcloud.com/1510/459256_orig.jpg)
What do we hope our children and their families will 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 our students’ entrée into 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 trimesters of approximately eight weeks, and each trimester will be framed by a big topic of God & Spirituality, Torah, or Am Yisrael. Children will be with a team of Jewish Learning Guides (teachers) and Madrichim (teen aides). Students and Parents in grades Pre Kindergarten through First 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 the 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
October 1, 2023 - May 5, 2024
Shoresh (Roots) Special Events
Shabbat Rishon Dinner, Service & Consecration
Friday, December 1, 2023 - 5:45
Family Education Morning
Sunday, October 29, 2023
8:30 - 11:30
Garinim Sunday Preschool Program!
Our Garinim (Seeds) program meets on Sunday mornings from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and is available to members and non-members of Congregation Bnai Shalom. The cost for the program is $400 for the year. Children will be with our expert, long-time preschool teacher Nancy Rotatori and one or two experienced teen assistants.
In our preschool classroom, your child’s curiosity and passions will be nurtured with Jewish learning experiences and Jewish celebrations, all taking place in the context of 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, basic Jewish skills in prayer and holiday observance, a specialist in early childhood Jewish music, and so 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, go to https://www.cbnaishalom.org/form/garinim-application.html, fill out the application, and our Executive Director, Stephen Winer will be in touch.
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 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 by 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. In these classes, children study Hebrew, Bible, and Jewish history. 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 the entry into adolescence, and Confirmation of the approach to adulthood. In most Reform congregations, Consecration takes place 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 December. 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 being 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 (as early childhood and day school colleagues will attest). And camps just have a lot of fun!
Hebrew Through Movement introduces Hebrew in a playful and meaningful way, creating a positive first link between children and Hebrew. Hebrew Through Movement (HTM) is supported by the latest brain research on learning, providing an aural foundation for Hebrew that opens the door to more facile Hebrew decoding and reading.
We hope you will enjoy using this program and will be pleased with how happily and productively your children learn.
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
Upcoming Events
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Friday ,
AugAugust 2 , 2024
Friday, Aug 2nd 5:30p to 6:45p
All our welcome. BYO picnic and blankets or chairs. We'll have games for the kids at our annual Shabbat in the Park, followed by an abbreviated family-friendly service from 6.45-7.30pm. Location will be shared with members via email. Also available from the office on request. -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 3 , 2024B'nai Mitzvah Service
Shabbat, Aug 3rd 10:15a to 12:15p
We celebrate the coming of age of a young person on or after their thirteenth birthday. A minimum of four years of Jewish education is required, although we work individually with children with special needs to ensure that all children can celebrate this important life cycle moment. The ceremony marks the arrival at the ‘age of mitzvot’ – the age at which an individual in the Jewish community has learned how to live according to Jewish ethics and principles and is given greater responsibility for continuing their learning and practice. Join us on the Temple Livestream https://www.cbnaishalom.org/livestream.html -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 10 , 2024B'nai Mitzvah Service
Shabbat, Aug 10th 10:15a to 12:15p
We celebrate the coming of age of a young person on or after their thirteenth birthday. A minimum of four years of Jewish education is required, although we work individually with children with special needs to ensure that all children can celebrate this important life cycle moment. The ceremony marks the arrival at the ‘age of mitzvot’ – the age at which an individual in the Jewish community has learned how to live according to Jewish ethics and principles and is given greater responsibility for continuing their learning and practice. Join us on the Temple Livestream https://www.cbnaishalom.org/livestream.html -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 24 , 2024B'nai Mitzvah Service
Shabbat, Aug 24th 10:15a to 12:15p
We celebrate the coming of age of a young person on or after their thirteenth birthday. A minimum of four years of Jewish education is required, although we work individually with children with special needs to ensure that all children can celebrate this important life cycle moment. The ceremony marks the arrival at the ‘age of mitzvot’ – the age at which an individual in the Jewish community has learned how to live according to Jewish ethics and principles and is given greater responsibility for continuing their learning and practice. Join us on the Temple Livestream https://www.cbnaishalom.org/livestream.html -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 31 , 2024B'nai Mitzvah Service
Shabbat, Aug 31st 10:15a to 12:15p
We celebrate the coming of age of a young person on or after their thirteenth birthday. A minimum of four years of Jewish education is required, although we work individually with children with special needs to ensure that all children can celebrate this important life cycle moment. The ceremony marks the arrival at the ‘age of mitzvot’ – the age at which an individual in the Jewish community has learned how to live according to Jewish ethics and principles and is given greater responsibility for continuing their learning and practice. Join us on the Temple Livestream https://www.cbnaishalom.org/livestream.html -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2024Faculty Orientation
Thursday, Sep 5th 6:00p to 9:00p
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2024
Thursday, Sep 5th 7:30p to 9:00p
All are invited to join Rabbi Gurevitz for a 4 part study and discussion of Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's book 'Repentance and Repair.' Please order a copy of the book to begin to read in advance of the course start date. This book takes the core Jewish concepts of what true repentance looks like and applies it to contemporary contexts in wider society where repair for past harms would benefit both individuals and society. We'll be reviewing approximately 2 chapters in discussion each session. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 6 , 2024Teeny Tiny Tot Shabbat!
Friday, Sep 6th 5:30p to 6:00p
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Friday ,
SepSeptember 6 , 2024Family Pizza and Pasta Dinner
Friday, Sep 6th 6:00p to 6:40p
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Friday ,
SepSeptember 6 , 2024Camp Shabbat
Friday, Sep 6th 6:45p to 8:00p
Participants from Summer Camp join clergy to lead the service!