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Katon ton – Bet
9:15 – 11:30
The Sunday School program for children ages 3-8 begins at 9:15. Students will first meet in
their respective classrooms from then until 11:15. This block of time will be devoted to
classroom activities including the tzedakah component of the curriculum, introduction to
Hebrew, Bible stories, crafts and holiday lessons. The students will celebrate Shabbat in the
classroom with a Shabbat Snack, challah and juice, and learn the Shabbat blessings. At
11:15 students will all meet in the sanctuary with the Rabbi for tefillah (prayer). Parents are
welcome and encouraged to join their children each week for the tefillah part of the day.
Several times during the year, parents will be invited to participate with their children in
workshops exploring holidays, prayer and Jewish values.
KATON TON
The Katon Ton class is a two-year program designed for children of nursery school age. It is
an opportunity for the younger set to learn in a pleasant and informal atmosphere about the
Jewish holidays, Bible heroes and Jewish heritage. Hebrew songs, crafts, games and stories
are part of the daily classroom program. Katon ton students will not use textbooks, but in an
effort to start a Jewish home library, several storybooks will be sent home during the year.
Parents will have the opportunity to participate in classroom activities. A volunteer sign up
sheet will be posted at the entrance to the classroom. Each parent is encouraged to assist in
the classroom. This is a wonderful opportunity to share Jewish learning with your child.
GAN
The Kindergarten class will focus on Jewish holidays and symbols and the alef-bet, the
Hebrew alphabet. A variety of crafts and games will enhance the weekly lessons. Brachot
(blessings) for Shabbat and the holidays will be taught. Bible stories and Midrash will be
used to demonstrate Jewish values as well as introduce the children to major characters in
the Torah.
The Gan curriculum includes a unit devoted to learning about the synagogue. The students
will learn about different ritual objects found in the synagogue. Shlomo the Shabbat bear is a
regular in the Gan classroom and will be visiting a different family each week.
Music and songs will round out the curriculum.
ALEF
The Alef class provides a study of Bible heroes and heroines, celebration of the various Jewish
holiday traditions and an understanding and practicing of mitzvot (commandments) and
tzedakah. The students will continue their study of the letters of the alef-bet, continue to build
their Hebrew vocabulary and to practice the brachot. A variety of modalities will be employed
to achieve these goals.
The children will focus on the Shabbat table service this year. They will make candlesticks, a
Kiddush cup and challah cover and will learn the blessing associated with each. They will
also make a tzedakah box.
BET
The Bet students are now ready to begin Hebrew reading and writing. Hebrew vowels will be
introduced and students will learn the words commonly used in Siddur (prayer book) reading.
The children will expand their understanding of Bible stories by discussing moral issues
related to the story and will broaden their knowledge of the Jewish holiday rituals, brachot and
Shabbat services. Crafts will be made for the holidays and Shabbat.
A brief unit about Jerusalem will be incorporated into the curriculum. The unit will explore
people and places in Jerusalem.
GIMEL
This is the first year the students come twice during the week. This allows for a more detailed
exploration of the concepts taught in Sunday School.
Gimel students will learn the skills needed to read from the Siddur. Children will become
familiar with Shabbat and Yom Tov B’rachot (prayers). Bible will focus on the lessons taught
in the book of Bereshit. The year will end with the Gimel Class Service on June 1st, 2007.
The children will lead the Friday night services and receive the new Shabbat prayer book.
Gimel class dinner will be held prior to services.
DALET HISTORY
Dalet students embark on the first of a three-year journey through Jewish history. The Dalet
students will examine Jewish life from Patriarchal times (1800 B.C.E.) through the destruction
of the second temple (70 C.E.). Students will gain an understanding of Jewish life through the
eyes of the prophets and judges as well as the teachings of the Rabbis who struggled to
preserve Judaism. A special unit of study will be devoted to learning about Israel.
DALET – HEBREW AND TRADITION
The Dalet class will meet twice a week to refine its Hebrew reading skills, further its
understanding of the Jewish calendar and holidays and learn the rituals associated with
them. The class will use both Hebrew textbooks and prayer books. A basic prayer
vocabulary will be studied.
HAY HISTORY
The second year of Jewish history continues as the Hay students examine Jewish history
from the Middle Ages to modern times. The year is divided into three parts. Part one will
focus on the Middle Ages and the Golden Age of Spain; part two explores “Coming to
America” from colonial days to the early 1900’s; and part three examines anti-Semitism and
the Holocaust.
This history program is unique in its approach for it teaches history with little emphasis on
names, dates or facts. It concentrates on what being Jewish means in a non-Jewish world
and how each individual student learns from his past and identifies with the present.
Finally, the students will start to examine their relationship with G-d by using the text
Partners with G-d. The book offers a clear and comfortable way to introduce Jewish concepts
of G-d to children. Children explore ideas of G-d and holiness and discover a Jewish
vocabulary for thinking and talking about G-d.”
HAY CLASS – HEBREW, TORAH AND TRADITION
Students in Mrs. Shapiro’s section of the Hay class will focus on learning to read Hebrew
fluently, becoming acquainted with the weekly Torah portions and exploring further the
holidays and the rituals associated with them. For Hebrew reading, the Saturday morning
siddur will be the primary text; Sedra Scenes will be used to introduce the students to the
weekly Torah portions and for the holidays whatever text or ritual object is appropriate.
Students will be required to write written summaries of each week’s Torah portion
using Sedra Scenes as their guide. No other homework will be assigned.
VAV HISTORY
This year the Vav class will devote their studies to, and explore, three hundred years of
Jewish history in America. The students will examine early Jewish settlement and the role of
Jews during Colonial America. A large portion of the year will be devoted to the Jewish
immigrant experience in conjunction with The Golden Land, the story of Jewish immigration to
America by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. Several “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” books will be
used to supplement the text. The students will consider the role of the American Jew as
he/she contributes to American life, as well as maintaining and developing a Jewish identity.
Students will become familiar with the history of Israel, Israel's great contributions to
technology, and places of interest. Current events will be discussed and Israel's role in the
life of American Jews.
VAV TORAH & TEFILLAH (PRAYER)The Rabbi’s section of the Vav class will focus on
Hebrew reading from the Siddur (prayer book) and Chumash (Pentateuch). Students will learn
the special b’rachot and rituals associated with each of the holidays. They will be required to
know by heart all of the holidays, the Hebrew alphabet and months of the Hebrew calendar.
They will study, discuss the Parshiyot (Torah portions) of the Books of Vayikra (Leviticus),
Bamidbar (Numbers) and possibly Devarim (Deuteronomy), and will be required to complete a
take-home, open book test at the completion of each book. Weekly summaries of the
Parshiyot may be submitted but are not mandatory. Students will be introduced to the
Mishna, the classic rabbinic text, and learn about the other texts upon which our legal system
is based.
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