Hebrew School
A Description of a ‘Typical’ Hebrew School Path
Getting Ready to Learn Hebrew
In Second Grade, our students learn about the Hebrew letters. Second Graders do not attend separate Hebrew School classes. Their Hebrew learning occurs during their Sunday School Jewish Studies classes and during Tefillah – prayer services.
Alef
In Third Grade, our students attend Sunday School Jewish Studies classes as well as Hebrew School classes on Sundays and Wednesdays. Sunday School Jewish Studies classes are 120 minutes. Third Graders study the Biblical Prophets. Additionally, third graders attend Hebrew School classes on Sundays for 120 minutes and Wednesdays for 90 minutes. First semester is focused mainly on decoding letters and vowels. During second semester, many third graders can read words to simple prayers in our siddur – prayerbook – such as: Oseh Shalom, Barechu, and Shma. The first year of Hebrew School is called Alef after the first letter of the Hebrew alef-bet (alphabet).
In order to integrate their Jewish learning experiences, our third graders study Hebrew letters that make up the names of our Biblical Prophets.
In Alef classes, we use Shalom U’Vrachah: The New Hebrew Primer, published by Behrman House as well as the Shabbat prayerbook published by the Reform Movement.
Bet
In Fourth Grade, our students attend the same number, style, and structure of classes as third graders. Fourth Graders study the Jewish Life Cycle during their Jewish Studies classes on Sundays.
In Bet classes, we focus on brachot – blessings. We study traditional blessings for Shabbat and various Jewish holy days as well as the concept of blessing. We also focus on the opening prayers of Shabbat services, such as: Ma’ariv Aravim, Yotzer Ohr, Mi Camocha, and more. Our students will also study basic themes of the Jewish prayer service, such as: gratitude, God as Creator, and the pursuit of peace.
In order to integrate their Jewish learning experiences, our fourth graders study the blessings that make up many Jewish life cycle events, for example: the blessings for drinking wine, for eating challah, and for beginning something new.
Bet students use the Hineni Prayer Booklets for each prayer we study and Hineni ‘Review Sheets’ published by Behrman House as well as the Shabbat prayerbook published by the Reform Movement.
Gimmel
In Jewish studies, Fifth Graders participate in a new class called “Mitzvah Heroes.” They study Jewish values as well as the many Jewish heroes of the past and present.
In Gimmel classes, Hebrew students mainly focus on the 7 Shabbat blessings of the Amidah – Avot/Emahot, Gevurot, Kedushah and Kedushat HaYom, Avodah, Hoda’ah, Birkat Shalom.
Each of the blessings in the Amidah – the central prayer of the Jewish prayerbook. Therefore, in order to integrate their Jewish learning experiences, our fifth graders will study the Hebrew terms for the values they learn in their Jewish studies classes.
Gimmel students use the Hineni Prayer Booklets for each prayer we study and Hineni ‘Review Sheets’ published by Behrman House as well as the Shabbat prayerbook published by the Reform Movement.
Dalet
In Jewish studies, our sixth graders study Israel. Therefore, in order to integrate their Jewish learning experiences, our sixth graders learn about Israel from their Hebrew teachers as well as their Jewish studies teachers. As a team, we aim to infuse their Jewish vocabulary with useful Hebrew words for common interactions, such as: please, thank you, your welcome, excuse me, etc.
In Dalet classes, Hebrew students mainly focus on the Shabbat Torah Service. Our students study and practice many prayers and blessings, such as: Ein Kamocha, Av HaRachameem, Ki Mitzyon, Birkot HaTorah, Birkat HaHaftarah, V’Zot HaTorah.
Additionally, as a reward for their hard work in Hebrew study, our students begin to learn special songs and prayers attached to various holy and celebratory parts of the Jewish calendar – including HaTikvah – Israel’s hopeful National Anthem.
Dalet students use the Hineni Prayer Booklets for each prayer we study and Hineni ‘Review Sheets’ published by Behrman House as well as the Shabbat prayerbook published by the Reform Movement.
Regarding Special Needs – We aim to provide bnei mitzvah preparation for all of our students who are interested. If a particular special need presents an obstacle, we would like to work with families to create alternatives so all kinds of students can feel comfortable learning Hebrew in preparation for becoming bnei mitzvah.
FAQS about Hebrew School