"The goal of Jewish education within the Reform Movement
is the deepening of Jewish experience and knowledge for all liberal
Jews, in order to straighten faith in God, love of Torah, identification
with the Jewish people through involvement in the synagogue and
participation in Jewish life."
From the National Curriculum Project - UAHC and CCAR
There are two components to our religious school program: Sunday
morning Judaica and Wednesday evening Hebrew. The two programs
function independently of one another. On Sunday mornings, students
are taught Judaica topics (see description below). No Hebrew language
instruction occurs on Sunday morning, although students are exposed
to some Hebrew in the context of learning about Jewish holidays
and ritual. Formal Hebrew language study occurs on Wednesday evenings.
Sunday Morning Judaica
Students can begin attending Sunday school at the pre-school level
(ages three and four). Classes range from pre-school through seventh
grade. Older students (grades eight and above) who are enrolled
in our Confirmation class serve as teacher's aides, administrative
aides, art teachers, and Israeli folk dance instructors.
Judaica Curriculum Topics
The core topics of the Judaica curriculum are ethics, prayer,
bible, classical texts, Jewish literature, Jewish identity, comparative
religion, life cycle, history, Jewish heroes, Jewish culture,
anit-Semitism, the Holocaust, Israel and Jewish holidays. The
age readiness of the child determines the scope and sequence of
this instruction. The goal of the Judaica program is a steady
building of the child's understanding of and identification with
his or her rich Jewish heritage.
Tefillah
All children enrolled in the religious school (except those in
our pre-school program) attend a weekly tefillah (prayer) period
in the Sanctuary This period is led by one of the Rabbis and qualified
post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. The purpose of this period is to
familiarize all the students with Jewish liturgy and liturgical
music, to provide the older students who attend Wednesday Hebrew
classes with an opportunity to develop their Hebrew skills by
leading prayers, and to strengthen among our students a sense
of community.
Music, Dance, Art and Torah Study
Every Sunday the students in Aleph, Bet, and Gimmel Judaica classes
will attend either a music or dance class. The dance program exposes
the students to the variety of Israeli folk dances (some of which
are performed by the students at our school holiday programs).
They are taught by our high school students who have attended
a special Israeli Dance Leadership Training Program.
The music program introduces the students to Jewish and Hebrew
folk songs, contemporary songs and holiday melodies. We have a
music specialist working with our children. New this year, students
in our pre-school and Gimmel Judaica classes will also have an
art class and students in our Dalet Judaica classes will have
a period of Torah study each week.
Art
Arts and crafts projects will be incorporated into the Judaica
curriculum. Many members of our community have volunteered to
help and support arts and crafts projects in our classrooms.
Wednesday Hebrew Program
Hebrew Curriculum
The Wednesday Hebrew program is a four year program. Students should start studying Hebrew in the fourth grade and continue in the Hebrew program through 7th grade. Most families schedule Bar/Bat Mitzvahs for the spring of 7th grade of the fall of 8th grade. Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are involved in the program as teacher's aides.
Hebrew students are currently using Mitkadam, a Hebrew curriculum recently developed by URJ. This program is self-paced, allowing students to grasp material and attain mastery at their own rate. A detailed overview, with samples of the material is available at www.urj.org.
Satisfactory completion of each year of Hebrew study is dependent upon regular attendance. Since Hebrew classes meet only one and a half hours per week, and students work at their own pace, regular attendance is very important.
Periodically throughout the year, each student's progress will be assessed and parents will receive mid-year and year-end progress reports. If there is concern about a student's progress, parents will be notified so that arrangements may be made to provide assistance to the student.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation
It is possible (though not recommended) to enroll one's child
in Sunday Judaica without enrolling in Wednesday Hebrew (or vice
versa). However, satisfactory completion of at least three years
in both Wednesday Hebrew and Sunday Judaica is required prior
to having a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Temple Sinai.
There is an additional Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparatory program involving
both students and parents, which is required during the year prior
to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. A description of the Bar/Bat
Mitzvah preparatory program is included in the school's Parents'
Handbook. For additional information, please contact the Rabbis.
Confirmation Class
The Confirmation Class for post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students (in grades
8 through 10) is offered on Sunday morning. The students explore
issues of Jewish identity from a variety of viewpoints. The class
includes a liturgy or text component, a service project or social
action component and exploration of Jewish teaching related to
contemporary issues and current events. Participation in the Confirmation
program is a requirement for being a Religious School Teacher's
Aide or Administrative Aide.
Youth Groups
Temple Sinai offers three youth groups. The Sinai Superstars for
children in grades 3, 4, and 5 meets about once a month and offers
social activities. The Junior Youth Group for children in grades
6, 7, and 8 meets about once a month and offers a mix of social
and Judaica activities. SCiTSY (Saratoga County Temple Sinai Youth)
meets about once a month, is affiliated with NFTY (North American
Federation of Temple Youth - the Reform Movements youth organization)
and provides Judaica and social activities for our youth. Members
of SCiTSY frequently travel through the region to join with other
NFTY affiliates for weekend events. For more information about
the youth groups, please contact the Educational Administrator.
Adult Education
Temple Sinai's adult education offerings range from Hebrew language
instruction to challah baking lessons to Jewish viewpoints on
contemporary issues to classes on Torah and Talmud study.
For more information about our educational offerings or to request
a copy of Temple Sinai's Religious School Curriculum Handbook,
please contact the Educational Administrator Rhoda Pickus at Temple
Sinai 584-8730 or by e-mail at templesinai@nycap.rr.com
