Hebrew School - Kehal Kodesh Bene Israel Rockdale Temple

The 2022-23 Hebrew School Program

As in past years, our 3^rd-5^th graders will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one Hebrew instruction, primarily online. These sessions will meet Tuesdays from 4-6:30PM for 30 minutes. Individual attention with a teacher will help your child progress at their own pace. Scheduling for one-on-one Hebrew instruction will begin in August.

Our 6th graders will start the year with one-on-one Hebrew instruction and in the Spring, will join together for cohort learning. They will spend the Fall focusing on strengthening their prayer knowledge and reading skills and then shift to learning trope, chanting for Torah and Haftarah texts.

Rak Ivrit: 7^th graders will meet for an 45-minutes each week, online as a class. They will engage in review of prayers and trope skills, as well as modern Hebrew instruction.

We teach Hebrew in fun and meaningful way to students in grades 3-7 on Tuesday afternoons. The goals of our Hebrew program are for our students to: become knowledgeable in the structure and meaning of the Shabbat and holiday liturgy; decode, read, and write Hebrew consonants and vowels; familiarize themselves with Hebrew and Jewish life vocabulary; and experiment with Modern Hebrew. We are educating our children for life-long learning and participation in congregational life, not for one specific lifecycle event.

Our Hebrew school educators are rabbis, rabbinical students from Hebrew Union College, and Jewish professionals with advanced Hebrew degrees who bring their unique skills and talents to engage our students in the study of Hebrew.

NEW: YOM IVRIT

For all 3^rd-7^th graders: We are introducing a new program – Yom Ivrit. Several times throughout the year, we will gather all our Hebrew learners at Rockdale Temple for a special Hebrew enrichment program that will include small group learning, t’filah, Hebrew games, Israeli cultural experiences, and dinner.

Dates: October 11, November 15, February 21, March 21, May 2 (Closing Day of Hebrew)
Schedule:
5:00-6:20pm Interactive Hebrew Learning and T'filah
6:20-6:45pm Community Time and Dinner

Hebrew Curricula

The following is a general breakdown of Hebrew learning by grade. As we develop and tailor the learning for each individual learner, the pacing and content might shift. Our goal is to give our learners a strong foundation of Hebrew language learning and building their familiarity and confidence with prayer.

3^rd Grade/New Hebrew learners: Letter recognition, vowels, decoding, basic reading

4^th Grade: Decoding, intermediate reading, roots, vocabulary, starting to focus on prayers

5^th Grade: Advanced reading, roots, vocabulary, more exploration of prayer

6^th Grade: Strengthening reading skills and prayer knowledge; trope (Torah cantillation)

Rak Ivrit (7^th Grade): “Just Hebrew” for 7^th has two primary foci – Modern Hebrew and B’nai Mitzvah review and preparation. This class adapts to the needs of current students.

For more information, please contact Rabbi Erin Binder, Assistant Rabbi & Educator.