What Makes Our Hebrew School Different?

Our curriculum, leaders and teachers create an atmosphere of fun and engagement while also providing substantive learning in which children are challenged and feel respected. We build a space that feels safe for all kinds of learners, personalities and family backrounds, and we encourage open expression so every child knows that s/he matters and belongs.

Children learn Hebrew as a living language. We emphasize conversational Hebrew in our weekday program. Students learn to speak, read, write and understand modern Hebrew. They learn vocabulary and the basics of Hebrew grammar so that by the time they complete 6th grade, they can translate short stories and speak in full sentences. While they may not be fluent by attending our school two afternoons a week, they certainly have the building blocks to become fluent; they will have the skills they need to speak and understand while visiting Israel.

In addition, during music class in K-2 and in Tefillah session led weekly for Grades 3-6 by Cantor Sarah Myerson, children learn prayer language, melodies, concepts and choreography. These are reinforced at our weekly youth Shabbat services to help students experience prayer coming alive.

Family Programs

Family education programs are an important part of our Hebrew School curriculum. These optional programs offer families the opportunity to engage in Jewish learning and celebration with the greater Kane Street Synagogue community. All family education programming is open to both our Hebrew School and Jewish Day School families. Most programs take place on Shabbat or Jewish holidays.

Teachers

Our teachers are recruited for their passion about Jewish living, rapport with children and creativity. Teachers at Kane Street love teaching here, like the students and the students like them.

Some of our teachers have many years of teaching experience while some are newer to teaching, but each has enthusiastically embraced this calling. Every teacher is actively working to make the learning experience of the children of Kane Street Synagogue Hebrew School rewarding, fun and meaningful.

Our teachers come from a variety of backgrounds: some are Israeli born, some American or Canadian born, some are Ashkenazic while others are Sephardic or Mizrachi (from Middle Eastern countries). Our teachers represent a spectrum of religious belief and practice: many are life-long Conservative Jews, others are Reform Jews and still others are Modern Orthodox. Some resist obvious categorization. It is with deliberate intention that a diverse group of teachers is chosen. As a faculty team they represent a variety of paths to living a good Jewish life. They stand as role models for the children, and with each new teacher, children get to see a different model of authentic Jewish practice and belief.

In addition we have 18 tweens and teens assisting in the classrooms. These are teens who grew up attending Hebrew School and aim to help younger children experience the joy of learning they did. These middle and high schoolers are fantastic role models for the children who look up to them.

Curriculum By Grade Level

Roshanim (Pre-K)

Gan (K)

Kindergartners learn stories from the Bible and the Jewish values that are at their heart - like hospitality, kindness, courage and determination. They learn the Alef Bet, do hands-on activities to engage with each letter; and they practice drawing and pronouncing the letters. Kindergarteners learn holiday stories and customs. Children sing and dance, play games and make art. Gan is a chance to create and deepen friendships and a love of Judaism.

Alef (Grade 1)

First graders are hungry to learn, and we feed them lots of information and skills. Students strengthen their Hebrew letter and vowel recognition, learn a 25-word Hebrew vocabulary, and begin to write in Hebrew (script). By the fifth week kids can read Hebrew words. By the middle of the year they love to read 3 and 4 syllable words. Students explore the calendar of holidays, associating each holiday with its major symbols and stories. Students learn core Jewish values like tzedaka, bikkur holim (visiting the sick), hesed (kindness), limud (learning) and apply them to their own lives and traditional Jewish stories. Children consider what and who God might be. They create art and play games. Students learn Shabbat and holiday music.

Bet (Grade 2)

Second graders are growing more independent and independent minded. They love expressing their opinions, and we give them ample opportunity to share opinions and learn from others in addition to the teacher. Students master Hebrew letters and vowels, and become more fluent readers and practice writing in script. They recognize more Hebrew words. They explore Israeli people, places and culture, and they continue to build their understanding and application of Jewish ethics. Students learn Shabbat and holiday music.

Gimmel (Grade 3) and Dalet (Grade 4)

Third and Fourth graders are growing more social and enjoy collaborating on longer term projects. We encourage them to dramatize what they are learning and create long-term art projects.  Students master Hebrew script writing and expand their Hebrew vocabulary. They learn basic Hebrew grammatical rules, distinguishing singular and plural, masculine and feminine and becoming more confident in speaking Hebrew. Students learn about each of the stories from the book of Genesis and Exodus in third grade and continue learning about the Judges and Prophets from Tanakh in 4th grade. They delve into these stories from many perspectives through discussion, debate, artwork and drama. They learn about the rites and rituals of a Jewish life cycle, how to bring holiness into their everyday life and build a vocabulary to talk about G-d. They learn the prayers of the shaharit morning service and amidah adding to their previous mastery of the Musaf service (last year).  Students learn Shabbat and holiday music.

Hey (Grade 5)

Fifth graders love a challenge. We try to challenge them to connect with the long history of our people and learn brand new facts and grapple with complex ideas. Students continue to build their Hebrew speaking, reading and comprehension skills using more sophisticated stories. They improve their grammar and build their vocabulary of Hebrew words. Fifth graders learn the prayers of the shaharit morning service and amidah adding to their previous mastery of the Musaf service (last year) and the Torah service (learned in 3rd grade)  Students actively participate in Shabbat prayer and begin to take leadership roles. Students learn about first 3 millennia of Jewish life and history noting the greatest contributions and heroes as well as the challenges and conflicts. They create artwork and sing songs based on the teachings of the most respected sages, and learn about the relationship between Torah, Midrash, Talmud and other formative Jewish literature.

Vav (Grade 6) 

Sixth graders are actively grappling with selfhood and identity. We help them see themselves in the arc of modern Jewish history and connect to important ideas and movements.  Students polish their Hebrew speaking, reading and comprehension. They learn how to chant the Torah trope as they move closer to leading their B'nei Mitzvah. Students learn about Jewish identity in the 20th and 21st century. They consider why Jews at the end of the 19th century needed a homeland, study the early years of Jewish nation-building in Palestine and the creation of the Israeli state. They learn about the massive immigration to the United States from Eastern Europe and the incredible contributions Jews made to American society. Students discuss the difficulties and conflicts of modern Israel as well as its extraordinary achievements. Students also learn about the roadblocks American Jews have overcome, the successes and failures of Jews in America since World War II and how Jewish life came to be what it is today.

Miftan (Grade 7)

Seventh graders love to be contrary and ask very difficult questions. We give them ample opportunity to challenge conventional thinking, wrestle with Torah and consider what they would do in ethical conundra. Students polish their Hebrew speaking and comprehension. They learn useful vocabulary they will need when they visit Israel. As they begin seeing their b'nei mitzvah as more and more real, we guide them in learning how to study Torah critically. They encounter commentaries by a range of sages and scholars. They consider the most interesting passages of the parshiyot (portions) assigned to them for b'nei mitzvah.

Students will learn about the Holocaust. They grasp the power of propaganda and dehumanization techniques, learn to identify these, and compare the Nazis approaches to those used today. Students will learn about Final Solution and its engines, about Righteous Gentiles and the many forms of resistance waged against the Nazis. They will explore post-holocaust mourning and memorialization and how to use our knowledge to protect ourselves and other vulnerable minorities.

Students will also explore contemporary ethical conundrums, learn to express their points of view more articulately, listen to and respect other perspectives, and hone their debate skills.