The Religious School of Tzur Shalom, in participation with the families of Rockdale Temple and Temple Sholom, shall assist students in developing a lifelong relationship with Jewish learning in order to:

• Nurture and enrich their Jewish identity
• Engender feelings of Jewish continuity
• Explore Jewish traditions, texts and history
• Cultivate their personal relationship with God
• Provide opportunities to serve the community through the observance of mitzvot and participation in social action
• Gain knowledge of Hebrew
• Develop skills for participation in Congregational worship while opening avenues for personal prayer
• Foster a love for and participation in synagogue life
• Connect Torah to daily life
• Encourage participation in our Reform Movement’s world wide youth programs

From preschool through grade 8, Tzur Shalom strives to create a spiritual home for students to nurture their relationship with lifelong Jewish learning. Our developmental curriculum encourages participation in both the synagogue community and, when appropriate, in the community at large. Our children build their Jewish knowledge around the core concepts and texts of our faith within a Reform perspective. The themes of tzedakah and mitzvot recur throughout as do discussions of holidays, festivals, and Shabbat with an eye toward creating a new understanding of our sacred times.

Tefillah services are held each Sunday morning at the beginning of the day for grades PreK-6, and at the end of the day for grades 7-8. Our services and programs are designed to provide students with a familiarity in liturgy and prayerbook Hebrew. In addition to classroom experiences and enrichment activities, special Family Education programs are designed to provide opportunities for parents and students to learn together.

Tzur Shalom Sunday School (PreK – 8th Grade)

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Place: Rockdale Temple, 8501 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Calendar

Curriculum

Hebrew School

For information please contact education@rockdaletemple.org

Each year we select a theme, around which we center our curriculum that is instructional and teaches about Judaism through a variety of means. This year’s theme is Tikkun Olam— Repairing the World—will offer many opportunities for us to engage in activities that help restore balance to our lives and the lives of those around us.  The idea of Tikkun Olam surpasses going green, buying local products, and driving hybrid cars—it goes to the very heart of embracing our Jewish values of taking care of the world and all living creatures within.  Taking care of the world includes physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of our lives, and it includes making the world a better place for everyone.

Throughout the year we will experience a variety of means by which we can “repair the world.”  Some of these will be through engaging in a particular project, others will be by learning about the needs within our community, and still others will include opportunities to reflect and act upon our learning.  The experiences and opportunities will encompass all age groups, individuals, families, classes, and youth groups.  This is more than collecting tzedakah on Sunday mornings and Tuesday afternoons.  It involves learning how to make personal choices that move us from passive participants—collecting money and food, to active participants—doing the tasks that repair the world.  I hope you will join us in this journey; it could change your life.