Youth Education

BUILDING A KEHILLAH KEDOSHAH, a holy community, is a key component of the Temple Habonim Religious School system. The Religious School is dedicated to providing its students with a comprehensive Jewish education from kindergarten through grade 10, instilling an appreciation for, and celebration of, Jewish identity, and inspiring a commitment to ongoing Jewish living and learning.

We aim to give our young people the tools necessary to become active, comfortable members of the worldwide Jewish community. Our early curriculum emphasizes Jewish history, Jewish literature, holidays and the rituals of life cycle events. Above all, we hope for our students to live their Judaism in their everyday lives.

Guiding principles

OUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY offers our students and their families an enriching learning environment where they can participate in a living Jewish tradition. The curriculum stresses the understanding and celebration of Judaism as an evolving religion and culture. Our program seeks to foster moral and ethical judgment, pride in Judaism, competency in Jewish practice and basic Hebrew literacy.

WE ARE GUIDED BY A CORE SET OF JEWISH VALUES:

  • Tzedakah — Justice and righteousness exemplified by giving of oneself

  • Derech Eretz — Courtesy and kindness to our fellow human beings

  • Mitzvot — Obligations we bear towards God, the Jewish people and our fellow human beings

  • Talmud Torah — Devotion to the life-long pursuit of learning

  • Ahavat Am Yisrael — Love of the Jewish community worldwide

VISION

OUR DEDICATED STAFF OF EDUCATORS is committed to:

  • Teaching Reform Judaism, its ideals and practices under the guidance set down by the Union for Reform Judaism.

  • Creating a secure, safe place where students discover and develop a personal relationship with God and Torah.

  • Providing a learning atmosphere that fosters pride in being Jewish.

  • Giving each student the ethical tools and knowledge that will help them live their lives Jewishly.

  • Preparing students for participation in Jewish holidays, customs, rituals and ceremonies.

  • Teaching tefilot (prayers) and B’rachot (blessings) that enable students to be active participants in worship services thus allowing them to understand that this is something that connects Jews all over the world.

  • Involving the entire family in the learning process so that Jewish education becomes a family priority.

  • Teaching students of their obligation to participate in the community through mitzvot such as tzedakah, tikkun olam and gemilut chasadim.

  • Fostering a deep concern and affection for the state of Israel and her people.

  • Encouraging all students to continue their Jewish education through confirmation and post-confirmation.