West End Synagogue: Hebrew School

Hebrew School

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The West End Synagogue Hebrew School is an afternoon school for students in grades pre-kindergarten through 7. We have a hands-on program where children absorb the Reconstructionist Jewish experience not just by learning, but by doing.

To help make Jewish learning a part of students' lives, we operate special programs for families to learn and celebrate together. These include Shabbat dinners, a Tu B'Shevat seder and an intergenerational retreat.

Our Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah students and families join our innovative B'nai Mitzvah Institute. Students study with our rabbi, our cantor and other Institute families, exploring issues and texts related to this crucial rite of passage. We help our families see the Bar Mitzvah in the context of a full and ongoing commitment to Jewish life.

Graduating students are encouraged to join our "Nivonim" Hebrew High School, which we run with the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. Our Nivonimers (the "wise ones") meet weekly to continue their education, participate in a leadership training program, and help out in our school.

The Hebrew school curriculum includes:

- Hebrew language - Younger children create their own Hebrew alphabet books; older students learn through conversation, prayer analysis, games and song.

- Jewish skills and prayer - As children progress in the school, they work with the Cantor and Rabbi to lead prayer in regular congregational services and family programs.

- Shabbat and holy day celebration - Students explore the history of the Jewish calendar and learn the centrality of Shabbat and holy days through an examination of Jewish texts, historical accounts and philosophy. Creative expression through art, music and drama is key.

- Jewish text study - By using the best in age-appropriate educational curriculum, even our youngest students can study issues of human relationships, ethics and the drama found in our ancient texts.

- Jewish history and culture - Creating a map of Israel, hearing a Holocaust survivor, and tasting Passover charoset recipes from around the world have been a few of the ways we make our Jewish past and present come alive.

- Values and ethics - Students study Jewish approaches to ethical problems appropriate to their ages and developmental stages. Issues might include honesty, obligations to friends and family, and personal integrity.

For more information about the Jewish educational experience at West End Synagogue, call 212-579-0777, extension 3, or email us at school@westendsynagogue.org.