Shoresh

Shoresh (Root)

Grades PK, K & 1

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.

Click Here for 2022-2023 School Calendar!

Shoresh Sunday Class Sessions
Grades PK, K and 1 - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
September 18, 2022 - May 17, 2023

Shoresh (Roots) Special Events

Shabbat Rishon Dinner, Service & Consecration
December 2, 2022, at 5:45 PM

Family Education Morning
October 23, 2022, at 8:30 AM

Shabbat Rishon Family Dinner and Service
March 3, 2023, at 5:45 PM

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.