Torah School
Temple’s Torah School: A Dynamic, Inclusive and Welcoming Learning Environment
Torah School of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom is a supplementary school that provides a comprehensive Jewish education for children in kindergarten through high school. Like our Temple, our Torah School offers a dynamic, inclusive and welcoming environment and is open to all families who wish to provide their children with a Reform Jewish education.
The goal of our school is to teach children how to read and pray in Hebrew, understand our Bible stories, celebrate the Jewish holidays and grow into committed and thoughtful Jewish adults. We use a cutting-edge and dynamic Hebrew and Jewish Studies curriculum. This new and exciting five-year educational program was created especially for Reform congregational schools and is based on the most important concepts and values of Jewish life, Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim -Torah, Prayer and Acts of Kindness.
This new curriculum represents an innovative and highly effective approach to learning Hebrew and prayer because it is self-paced and child-centered, allowing each student to progress at his/her own pace and according to his/her ability. This means that learning challenged students can receive the extra support they need and more advanced students can progress more quickly and independently.
New curriculum: CHAI/Mitkadem
The CHAI program offers a versatile, adaptable Jewish studies curriculum that is designed to nurture an enduring understanding of values that have lifetime meaning for all Jews. Mitkadem, CHAI’s Hebrew language learning counterpart, offers a new and innovative approach to teaching and learning Hebrew and prayer. Both programs are generating enthusiasm and excitement from teachers, students and parents across North America.
CHAI’s Curriculum Core: Torah, Prayer and Acts of Kindness
The CHAI curriculum is based on the fundamental lessons of Torah, avodah (prayer) and g’milut chasadim (acts of kindness). The program ensures that learning goes beyond classroom activities and provides students with a deeper and enduring understanding of Judaism, thus establishing the basis for future Jewish learning and living. Each level of the curriculum core consists of 27 one-hour lessons, adapted to fit the schedules of our students and their families.
Mitkadem: Hebrew for Youth
The Mitkadem curriculum is a five-year program beginning with Hebrew letter recognition and decoding skills and progressing through the study of a series of blessings, prayers and ritual observances. Mitkadem's self-paced and child-centered approach allows each student to achieve according to his/her own ability. The program’s approach allows students to make choices within their Hebrew studies, thus increasing their motivation and accelerating the learning process. More advanced students move quickly through their Hebrew studies, while students who need extra attention are identified early on and receive the assistance they need.
Not the “afternoon school” you remember!
Clearly, Temple’s fun, relaxed and experiential Torah School is not the same “afternoon school” many of us attended as children. Our program makes Jewish learning fun, meaningful and stress free. Our students look forward to our weekly classes and our graduates leave our school as knowledgeable, responsible and committed Reform Jews.
Why choose Torah School for your child?
We want our children to grow up feeling at home in the world at large, as well as in their own Jewish community. Ultimately, they will choose to accept or reject their Jewish heritage as adults, but whatever path they choose, the only way to feel confident that they comprehend the significance of their decision is to give them the gift of growing up with a true understanding of their identity.
We hope that you will take a moment to think about how your child(ren) could benefit from learning to read and pray in Hebrew, understand our Bible stories, celebrate the Jewish holidays and participate fully both in worship and in ongoing dialogues relevant to the past, present and future of liberal Jewish life.
Junior Torah School (4-5 years old)
Junior Torah School offers a fun-filled introduction to Jewish learning and Temple life through Hebrew language, songs, arts and crafts, and stories.
Torah School (6-15 year olds)
The Torah School offers a cutting-edge Jewish studies and Hebrew curriculum specifically developed for Reform congregational schools and based on the key concepts and values of Jewish life. Our innovative Hebrew program is child-centered, allowing each child to progress at his/her own pace.
Two-Year Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program
(Grades 6 and 7)
Grade 6:
Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at Temple, or
West Island: Monday afternoons from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Grade 6 students attend Saturday morning classes in Judaic studies and enjoy art and music activities, as well as holiday programming and weekly 11:30 AM services (Westmount only). The program’s goal is to develop a sense of Jewish life, synagogue life, and mitzvah in our students.
Temple also provides 9 half-hour one-on-one sessions for Bar and Bat-Mitzvah preparation.
Grade 7:
Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at Temple, OR
West Island: Mondays from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
The grade 7 program consists of Judaic studies in English, including mitzvah and core Jewish knowledge, as well as occasional special services. Six Family Education Saturdays acquaint parents and children with the meaning of bar/bat mitzvah from a spiritual, musical and artistic perspective.
Temple also provides 18 half-hour one-on-one sessions for Bar and Bat-Mitzvah preparation.
Kabbalat Torah Confirmation Program
(Grades 8 and 9)
Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at Temple
Kabbalat Torah is a Confirmation program for students in grades 8 and 9. Confirmands meet with their teacher and Rabbi each Saturday to glean insights into Jewish living from the weekly Torah portion, as well as to study Jewish law and discuss contemporary issues.
For more information about any of our Torah School programs, please contact our Director of Education, Melanie Alter, at 514.937.3575, ext. 210 or melanie@templemontreal.ca
You may view the related documents below.
