2017-2018 Shabbat Chai & Hebrew School Pre-Kindergarten through 7th Inside: Calendars ities n u t r po t Op a e r t Re m u l u rric Cu w e i rv m Ove a r g o r P 2017-18 / 5778 Aron & Sala Samueli Religious School 2A Liberty Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949.362.3999 www.tbesoc.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page(s) 2 What is Shabbat Chai? 3 Shabbat Chai Program Goals 4 Parent Participation 4 Shabbat Chai Parent & Me 5-6 Shabbat Chai Grade Level Curricula 7 Shabbat Chai Program Descriptions 8 Retreat Opportunities 9 Shabbat Chai Friday Schedule 10 Hebrew School 10 Tuesday Hebrew Helper 11 Program Costs 12 Shabbat Chai Calendar 13 Monday Hebrew School Calendar 14 Tuesday Hebrew Helper Calendar
What is Shabbat Chai? Shabbat Chai is our Religious Education Program for grades Pre-K (potty-trained 3 year olds) through 7 th grades. We also have a special space for babies & toddlers on Shabbat Chai Fridays in our Parent & Me group. Shabbat Chai is a Shabbat based Religious School model. We meet on the 1 st and 3 rd Fridays of the month from 4pm to 7pm. This time includes community Shabbat Services from 6pm to 7pm. Shabbat Services are an integral part of the Shabbat Chai Curriculum. In addition to Friday afternoons, the Shabbat Chai calendar includes programming for all of our Jewish holidays and Mitzvah opportunities. Our Shabbat Chai program seeks to transform classroom learning into hands-on, authentic Shabbat experience. In other words, we are working to make Shabbat Chai feel more like Shabbat and less like traditional school. Here are a few initiatives that seek to support this goal. Shabbat Chai means Live Shabbat. Through our Shabbat Chai experience participants will come together as a community to learn Jewish by living Jewish. Our goal is simple: learn through authentic experience. We will come together to learn about Shabbat and holidays by celebrating them together. We will learn about Jewish values by going out in the community and living them. What does living mean: Using our whole bodies. Therefore, the goals for Shabbat Chai work to engage a learner s entire being. 2
Goals for the Shabbat Chai Program: Through the Shabbat Chai Program learners will Belong Feel that they are a member of the Temple Beth El Community and the Jewish People Believe Feel that Torah is their story and that their story is Torah Knowledge/Skill Needed to Support Goal Learners will know the sacred stories and history of the Jewish People and know about opportunities for engagement in our Temple community Knowledge/Skill Needed to Support Goal Learners will know the stories of our Torah and other sacred writings. Feel a sense of connectedness to God Learners will have the skills to engage in prayer both fixed and spontaneous; they will acquire language and prayer skills to help them express and explore their sacred connection with God. **Prayer skills will be supported in our Religious School s Monday Hebrew School program Believe they have an obligation to do Tikkun Olam to fix our Broken World Learners will be able to define Tikkun Olam as Fixing the World and will be able to identity different ways a person can work towards pursuing tzedek justice in our world. Do/Live Live their lives in Jewish time Infuse holiness kedusha into their lives by doing mitzvot Jewish acts (both ethical and ritual) Knowledge/Skill Needed to Support Goal Learners will know the stories and themes of our holidays and have competency in ritual that accompanies them. Learners will have a vocabulary and understanding of mitzvot (commandments), middot (ethical behavior), and b rakhot (blessings). 3
Parent Participation Supporting our efforts to learn Jewish by living Jewish each grade level will have opportunities during the year for parents and children to live and learn Jewish together. In order to make these experiences a success your participation and volunteering as an active member with your child and his/her class is vital. Please mark your calendars for our special grade level programing. A variety of volunteer opportunities will be available for you to contribute your strength to your child(ren) s Jewish learning and your Temple Beth El community. These opportunities will be described at our parent orientation on the first day of Shabbat Chai, Friday, September 15. If you would like to contribute by volunteering before the start of the Shabbat Chai year, please contact our Program Director, Wendy Yesharim: wyesharim@tbesoc.org; 949-362-3999, ext. 214. Grade Program, Date *All programs will take place from 4-7 pm PreK Family Shabbat, October 20 Kindergarten Family Shabbat, October 20 1 st Grade Family Shabbat, November 3 2 nd Grade Family Shabbat, February 2 3 rd Grade Family Shabbat, March 2 Exodus, March 16 4 th Grade Family Shabbat, January 19 Birthday Party for Israel, April 20 5 th Grade Family Shabbat, April 20 Mitzvah Mall, December 1 6 th Grade Family Shabbat and Retreat, November 17 Prophets Gallery, January 19 Shabbat Chai Parent & Me We are excited to offer Parent & Me during Shabbat Chai Fridays for the 2017-18 year. This special space is designed for babies and toddlers together with their parents, grandparents or caregiver. Shabbat Chai Fridays for our Parent & Me group will include Shabbat and holiday celebration, challah, singing, stories, activities, play and community. Our Parent & Me group will join our Here Comes Shabbat service in the Sanctuary from 5:25-5:45pm. 4
Shabbat Chai Grade Level Curricula PreK-2 nd Grades Goals for Younger Grades: Create a sense of Jewish community for kids and their families Impart a positive and joyous experience of Jewish life Get to know the basics of Jewish life and living (symbols & stories) Content Material All of our younger grades will explore: Symbols, rituals, stories and themes of Jewish holidays & Shabbat In addition, individual grades will focus on the following themes: PreK Jewish Life Happens Everywhere: Synagogue, Home, and Israel K Teach Me Torah: Jewish Stories, Jewish Values 1 st Let s Discover God through Tzedakah, Mitzvot and Prayer 2 nd The Torah is My Story: Focus of the Book of Genesis (2 nd graders will also begin to learn the Hebrew alphabet) Our PreK-2 nd Graders will enjoy singing, Israeli dancing, our Children s Library, and arts and crafts. Here Comes Shabbat: A Special Shabbat Experience for PreK-2 nd Graders Our PreK-2 nd grade program will include a special Shabbat ritual every Shabbat Chai Friday from 5:25-5:45 pm (just before our community nosh and Shabbat Service). This special time for our younger grades will include: singing, stories, tzedakah collection, and time to say goodbye to the week that has passed and welcome in Shabbat. Parents are invited to join their children (whenever you can) for Here Comes Shabbat. 5
3 rd -7 th Grades Project Based Learning Shabbat Chai means Live Shabbat. Our goal is simple: learn through authentic experience. Grade level faculty will engage their children in rich experiences comprised of interactive lessons that present the curriculum to their learners through: drama games, text study, and small group discussions. Through Project Based Learning children will have the opportunity to create an authentic learning experience for themselves and others. While the grade level curricula for Shabbat Chai seeks relevancy in our children s lives, Project Based Learning gives kids a tangible way to use the knowledge and skills they are acquiring. Each grade will work together to create a hands-on program for others. 3 rd -7 th Graders will spend time in their grade level groups preparing their project while at the same time engaging in Jewish learning in an informal setting. Content Material Grade Theme Project Content Material Project Date 3 rd The Book of Exodus: Becoming a Jewish People Create an interactive, lifesize, Exodus board game to play with younger grades The Book of Exodus & Middot (Jewish Values) March 16 4 th The Jewish People and Our Jewish Land Create a Birthday Party of Israel for our younger grades Biblical Israel (as described in the Torah) & Modern Israel April 20 5 th It's a Mitzvah: Inviting God into our Everyday Lives Create a Hanukkah Mitzvah Mall for our Temple Community Mitzvot (ethical and ritual) December 1 6 th Prophets: Being Called Upon to Make a Difference Create a modern prophet gallery to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in our Temple community Bible (with a focus on narratives with prophets), Jewish history (Jewish heroes), & Middot (Jewish Values) January 19 7 th Applying Torah to My Everyday Life Who could ask for a better project than becoming a b nei mitzvah! Bible (with a focus on the Book of Genesis) & Middot (Jewish Values) 6
Shabbat Chai Program Descriptions Here Comes Shabbat: A Special Shabbat Experience for PreK-2 nd Graders Our PreK-2 nd grade program will include a special Shabbat ritual every Shabbat Chai Friday from 5:25-5:45 pm (just before our community nosh and Shabbat Service). This special time for our younger grades will include: singing, stories, tzedakah collection, and time to say goodbye to the week that has passed and welcome in Shabbat. Parents are invited to join their children (whenever you can) for Here Comes Shabbat. Working within the Context of Fridays Our 3 rd -5 th grade program will include ways for our kids to decompress after a long week of secular school. Their afternoon will begin with a kinesthetic team building activity led by our faculty followed by an age appropriate camp like ritual to help them transition into the learning component of Shabbat Chai. BEMSY Beth El 6 th & 7 th Grade Youth Group BEMSY is our Youth Group for 6th & 7th graders. The group will meet on Shabbat Chai Fridays from 4:00-4:45 pm in our Youth Lounge. 6th & 7th graders will have an opportunity to schmooze with friends, buy a slice of pizza, play basketball and board games. This time will also include a camp-like Shabbat ritual designed especially for BEMSY. In addition to Shabbat Chai Fridays, BEMSY will meet for fun and festive Shabbat dinners in our Youth Lounge four times during the year. Mitzvah Days Shabbat Chai families will come together during the year to engage in hands-on volunteer projects and learn about Tikkun Olam being partners with God in helping to fix our broken world. Each grade level will come together twice throughout the year for a Mitzvah Day Experience out in our greater Orange County Community and once with our "grand-friends" at Heritage Pointe, our local Jewish senior residential facility. Grade Level Family Shabbat Experiences A parent is a child s best Jewish teacher. Our PreK-5 th Grade communities will each have an opportunity on a Shabbat Chai Friday to enjoy a Family Shabbat Experience. During this special session, parents are invited to join their child for the afternoon of learning with your child. We ll also enjoy services and Shabbat dinner together. This is also an important opportunity to build grade level community. Adult Learning Shabbat Chai is designed to engage the entire family in Jewish living and learning. Our goal is to have parents learning and doing alongside children during: Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Here Comes Shabbat, Grade Level Shabbat Experiences, Mitzvah Days and Holidays. In addition, the clergy will offer special learning sessions for adults throughout the Shabbat Chai year. The learning will be interactive, informative, and transformative. No prior knowledge necessary. 7
Retreat Opportunities B nai Mitzvah Revolution During the summer of 2012, our Temple families started to ask a big question: How can we make becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth El more meaningful? We started to ask this question through an initiative with the Union for Reform Judaism called B nai Mitzvah Revolution (BMR). BMR aims to empower synagogues to return depth and meaning to Jewish learning and reduce the staggering rates of post B nai mitzvah dropout. Our Temple is one of 14 synagogues in the country chosen to participate in the BMR Pilot Cohort. Our Temple B nai Mitzvah Revolution task force is comprised of parents representing the diversity of our community along with members of our professional team. Our task force articulated the following goal when approaching the work of making Bar/Bat Mitzvah more meaningful: Strengthen bonds among students and families and work to create grade level group identity that endures beyond bar/bat mitzvah. Our Task Force developed 5 th Grade and 6 th Grade retreats to help take relationships among our students to the next level. 5 th Grade Mini-Retreat SAVE THE DATE: April 20 & 21, 2018 Who: 5 th graders What: Shabbat is a time for community, celebration, learning, relaxation, connecting to God and connecting to what is most important in our lives. Our 5 th Graders will spend Friday night and Saturday morning together: Getting to know each other on a deeper level Getting to know their rabbis and cantor on a deeper level Celebrating Shabbat together Experiencing prayer in the great outdoors Having fun together Where: Sleepover at the Temple, pick-up at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (Laguna Canyon) 6th Grade Family Retreat: Strengthening our Community & Making Becoming a Bar/Bat Mitzvah More Meaningful SAVE THE DATE: December 15-17, 2017 Who: 6th graders and at least one parent What: Enjoy a wonderful weekend of community, learning, song, and celebration! We will spend several days together getting all of you prepared for the meaningful journey ahead of becoming B'nai Mitzvah. 8
PreK through 2 nd Grades Shabbat Chai FRIDAY SCHEDULE 4:00-4:40 Grade Level Learning 4:40-5:00 Music or Library 5:00-5:20 Grade Level Learning 5:25-5:45 Here Comes Shabbat (Sanctuary) 5:45 Parent Meet-Up (Sanctuary) 5:45-6:00 Community Nosh (Banquet Hall) 6:00-7:00 Community Shabbat Services (Sanctuary) 3 rd through 5 th Grades 4:00-4:15 Kinesthetic/Group Building Activity (Chapel) 4:15-4:30 Shabbat Ritual (Chapel) 4:30-5:45 Grade Level Learning 5:45 Parent Meet-Up (Classrooms) 5:45-6:00 Community Nosh (Banquet Hall) 6:00-7:00 Community Shabbat Services (Sanctuary) 6 th & 7 th Grades 4:00-4:30 BEMSY--Beth El Middle School Youth (Youth Lounge) 4:30-4:45 Shabbat Ritual (Youth Lounge) 4:45-5:45 Grade Level Learning 5:45 Parent Meet-Up (Youth Lounge) 5:45-6:00 Community Nosh (Banquet Hall) 6:00-7:00 Community Shabbat Services (Sanctuary) 9
MONDAY HEBREW SCHOOL PROGRAM (3 rd -7 th Grades) Midweek Monday Hebrew School (4:30-6:30 pm) offers a five-year program for religious school students in grades 3 7. Students are encouraged to begin Hebrew School upon entering the 3 rd grade. Our curriculum is oriented to making every child comfortable in the synagogue. This means acquiring the ability to read Hebrew fluently, to understand many of the key words, and to chant various prayers. Hebrew School for 3 rd 5 th grades will also include a Judaic studies curriculum focused on How and Why we pray as Jews. Our 6 th graders will spend time learning how to chant Torah, and our 7 th graders will spend time during midweek Hebrew with their rabbis engaging in a special curriculum focused on themes related to becoming an adult in our Jewish community. Tefilah (Prayer Service) Midweek Hebrew School will include 30 minutes of Tefilah (prayer) in the Sanctuary. These services will work to reinforce the Hebrew prayers students are learning in class and bring the prayers they are learning to life. 6 th graders will have an opportunity to create and lead services for our younger grades. TUESDAY HEBREW HELPER PROGRAM (3 rd -7 th Grades)* Our Tuesday Hebrew Helper Program (4:30-6pm) is an alternative and additional Hebrew learning option to Monday Hebrew School. This program is for students who cannot make Monday Hebrew School on an ongoing basis or are seeking additional support to Monday Hebrew School. The Hebrew Helper program focuses on Hebrew acquisition and will be a mixed Hebrew level learning group. Learning will be done individually and in small groups guided by an instructor. Please note: Students participating in Monday Hebrew School seeking additional Hebrew support can also participate in the Hebrew Helper program for $25 per session. *Unfortunately, there is no tuition assistance available for this program. We will need to meet minimum enrollment for to run this Tuesday option 10
PROGRAM COSTS Cost through June 30, 2017 Cost after July 1, 2017 Shabbat Chai Parent and Me $185 $185 Shabbat Chai Parent and Me *non-member cost* $371 $371 Shabbat Chai (Grades PreK-2) $675 $706 Shabbat Chai with Monday Hebrew (Grades 3-7) $968 $1015 Shabbat Chai with Tuesday Hebrew Helpers (Grades 3-7) $1298 $1360 Required Fees Fee per Child Materials Fee (Grades PreK-7) $82 Earthquake Kit Fee (For new students only) $21 Earthquake Kit Replenishment Fee (For returning students only) $5 Independent Study Fee (Hebrew Only) $52 Payment Options Pay 50% of tuition at registration time and the remaining 50% by December 2017. Fees are paid 100% at registration. Tuition can be paid as 9 monthly installments on the first day of each month (e.g., July through March.) The monthly installments must be charged to a credit card on file. Fees are paid 100% at registration. Pay 100% of full tuition and fees by July 1, 2017 and receive a 5% discount off of the tuition amount. Pay with cash or check and receive 3% off! Please know that no child will be excluded from Jewish engagement and learning opportunities at Temple Beth El due to financial concern. Please contact our Executive Director, Bonni Pomush, if your family has financial need regarding Religious School tuition or if you would like to help a family in need by making a donation to the Mirsky Scholarship Fund: bpomush@tbesoc.org 949-362-3999, ext. 213
Shabbat Chai 5778 2017-18 Calendar Program Date Day of the Timing Grade Level Programming Week Shabbat September 15 Friday 4-7 p.m. Rosh Hashanah September 21 Thursday 10-1 p.m. Yom Kippur September 30 Saturday 10-1 p.m. Shabbat Sukkot October 6 Friday 4-7 p.m. Simchat Torah October 12 Thursday 6:30-8:15 Shabbat October 20 Friday 4-7 p.m. PreK & Kindergarten Family Shabbat Shabbat November 3 Friday 4-7 p.m. 1 st Grade Family Shabbat Shabbat November 17 Friday 4-7 p.m. 6 th Grade Family Shabbat and Retreat Shabbat December 1 Friday 4-7 p.m. 5 th grade Mitzvah Mall Shabbat Hanukkah December 15 Friday 4-7 p.m. Winter Break January 5 Friday 4-7 p.m. No Shabbat Chai Shabbat January 19 Friday 4-7 p.m. 4 th Grade Family Shabbat & 6 th Grade Prophets Gallery Shabbat February 2 Friday 4-7 p.m. 2 nd Grade Family Shabbat President s Day February 16 Friday 4-7 p.m. No Shabbat Chai Shabbat March 2 Friday 4-7 p.m. 3 rd Grade Family Shabbat Purim Carnival March 4 Sunday 2-5 p.m. Shabbat March 16 Friday 4-7 p.m. 3 rd Grade Exodus Spring Break April 6 Friday 4-7 p.m. No Shabbat Chai Shabbat April 20 Friday 4-7 p.m. 4 th Grade Birthday Party for Israel 5 th Grade Shabbat & Overnight Shabbat May 4 Friday 4-7 p.m. Shabbat May 18 Friday 4-7 p.m. 12
5778 2017-18 Calendar Mondays, 4:30 6:30 pm 1 Oct. 9 2 Oct. 16 3 Oct. 23 4 Oct. 30 5 Nov. 6 6 Nov. 13 No Hebrew School Nov. 20 7 Nov. 27 8 Dec. 4 9 Dec. 11 10 Dec. 18 No Hebrew School Dec. 25 No Hebrew School Jan. 1 11 Jan. 8 No Hebrew School Jan. 15 13 Jan. 22 No Hebrew School Jan. 29 14 Feb. 5 15 Feb. 12 No Hebrew School Feb. 19 16 Feb. 26 No Hebrew School March 5 17 March 12 18 March 19 19 March 26 No Hebrew School April 2 20 April 9 21 April 16 22 April 23 23 April 30 24 May 7 25 May 14
Hebrew Helpers 5778 2017-18 Calendar Tuesdays, 4:30 6:00 pm 1 Oct. 10 2 Oct. 17 3 Oct. 24 No Hebrew Oct. 31 School 4 Nov. 7 5 Nov. 14 No Hebrew School Nov. 20 6 Nov. 28 7 Dec. 5 8 Dec. 12 9 Dec. 19 No Hebrew School Dec. 26 No Hebrew School Jan. 2 10 Jan. 9 11 Jan. 16 12 Jan. 23 No Hebrew School Jan. 30 13 Feb. 6 14 Feb. 13 No Hebrew School Feb. 20 15 Feb. 27 No Hebrew School March 6 16 March 13 17 March 20 18 March 27 No Hebrew School April 3 19 April 10 20 April 17 21 April 24 22 May 1 23 May 8 24 May 15 14