What does the Religious Program mean to our learners? The Religious School program makes Judaism accessible, meaningful, and relevant to our learners. The program is inspired by the powerful learning and identity formation that takes places at camp and youth group experiences.
What age does the program begin and on what day(s) do students attend? The Religious School program begins in Kindergarten and we welcome children at any age.
Tuesdays from 4-6pm: Kindergarten-7th grade
Thursdays from 4-6pm: 3rd-6th grade
Thursdays from 6:15-8pm: 8th-12th grade
What is the learning environment like? Our learning environment is one of mutual honor and respect. Dedicated, creative and enthusiastic educators and teens guide the learning using different learning modalities while meeting the needs of each child. Religious School participants feel safe and free to express themselves.
What does the B’nei Mitzvah process and timeline look like? B’nei Mitzvah occurs when a child is 13 years old. Families receive their child’s assigned date in 5th Beginning in 6th grade, children begin preparing to learn Trope (Torah cantillation) with our Cantor. Children begin meeting with the clergy and Director of Education approximately six months prior to their B’nei Mitzvah. These sessions include the child learning to chant prayers and Torah, writing their D’var Torah (speech about their Torah portion), and Mitzvah project. Click here for access to B’nei Mitzvah preparation files.
Is transportation provided to the temple on Tuesdays and Thursdays? For children who attend school in New Rochelle, afterschool busing is provided by the District’s Transportation Office. If your child attends school in another city, parents or caregivers are responsible for transporting their child/ren.
How are parents engaged in Religious School and the wider Temple Israel community? Our families are part of a diverse, engaged and motivated community. By offering meaningful experiences, such as Family Shabbat or Community Shabbat on Friday evenings, participants and their extended families have opportunities for ongoing spiritual growth and connection. We also have a parent committee group that works with our Director of Education. Committee meetings occur four times during the programming year. For more information about our Religious School committee, click here.
Does my family need to be a member of Temple Israel in order for my child to participate in Religious School? Yes, children attending the Religious School program are required to be members of Temple Israel. The temple offers a supportive membership structure. To learn more about membership support, click here.
I’d like to get a better sense of the curriculum. Where can I find this information? To learn more about our curriculum, see below.
