At Beth Chaim

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Beth Chaim Religious School

This week in Religious School...

   
Morah Bevi's 3rd grade students practice their Hebrew   Morah Stephanie's 4th grade students engaged in a Judaic discussion.   Fifth grade students learning together.

Religious School Registration for 2008-2009 school year is NOW!  Please return your yellow registration forms to the Religious School office.

Sunday, May 4th is Yom HaAtzmaut at Religious School - wear blue and white to celebrate Israel's 60th birthday.  We will be having a special concert for all Religious School students.

Confirmation will take place during Erev Shavuot Services on Sunday, June 8th at 7 pm.  Please join us as our 10th grade students lead the service and reaffirm their commitment to leading Jewish lives.

DURING PICK-UP AND DROP OFF, THERE IS NO PASSING IN THE CARPOOL LANE.  PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY IN A SINGLE FILE LINE.

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When I look back, the synagogue is one part of my life that has been a constant from my birth until now. Sports, music lessons, and friends at times have changed, but Beth Chaim has remained in my life. At just three months, Rabbi Wisnia officiated at my baby naming. I attended the Beth Chaim pre-school, the day camp in the summer, and the enrichment program in kindergarten. In first grade, I began going to Hebrew School. I remember going home and quietly telling my parents, “I don’t really mind going to Hebrew school.” When I prepared to become a Bat Mitzvah, I readily took on the challenge of having no partner at my service, and chose to read all the prayers myself. I have continued to go to religious school by choice. I know this is one of the rare places in my community where I can be surrounded by other Jews and have that sense of a Jewish community. Each week, the topic discussed at Hebrew school provokes me to think about my stance on that issue, and how it will affect me in the future. My family may not be as observant as some others, but our heritage as Jews has always been important. Beth Chaim has been a place where I can explore that connection.

– Brittany Mathes
Confirmation Class of '07

Congregation Beth Chaim's Religious School provides Jewish education to over 600 youngsters. Our programs include a bi-monthly class for 3 and 4 year old children and parents as well as weekly classes beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through Confirmation (at the end of 10th grade). Anne Berman-Waldorf is our Director of Lifelong Education. Laura Schwartz is the Vice President for Education & Youth. Robin Valentine is the Chairperson of the Lifelong Education Committee.

Students in the Beth Chaim Religious School learn about a variety of Jewish subjects including Reform Jewish practice, Jewish history, holidays and festivals, Hebrew, Shabbat, Israel, life cycle events, prayers, Bible, Torah, Holocaust and other timely issues in modern Jewish life.

8th and 9th Grade students participate in a discussion oriented class facilitated by Cantor Stuart Binder, Edye Fineman and Anne Berman-Waldorf. The program includes guest speakers and each class begins with dinner. The Confirmation class is taught by Rabbi Eric Wisnia

The Religious School is proud to offer an award-winning special education program. This ungraded class is designed to offer a quality Jewish education to all students, regardless of learning style.

Religious School classes are held on Sunday mornings (Pre-K through 6th grade students); Monday nights (7th - 10th grades) and Wednesday afternoons (4th - 6th grade students).