Learning - Center For Jewish Education | Shirat Hayam of the North Shore

I am thrilled that we are launching Limud Shabbat: Shabbat morning learning experiences for our Center for Jewish Education. Our formal CJE program is for children between the ages of 4 (by August 1, 2008) and 13 years old.

Grade 7 will meet on Shabbat mornings. *Please note the SPECIAL schedule/description for grade 7 below.

The calendar includes 42 Shabbat class sessions, and 29 weekday (Tuesday/Wednesday Lab) sessions beginning on Saturday, September 13, and ending Saturday June 27th. We will be in session every Shabbat, even during vacation weeks. We know that many families go away these weeks, but if you are here, we hope you will join us.

Every Limud Shabbat day will include a T’fila (worship) experience, Torah, and Hebrew study. Our schedule will begin with a K’hila (community) assembly at 9:00 am in the sanctuary, with Shabbat songs and conversations, followed by our class day schedule.

Our Chalutzim (pioneers) group includes grades PK, K, and 1. They will have all different kinds of learning activities in their classrooms, a special T’filah (prayer) service just for them, plus music and Israeli dancing on alternating weeks. Their curriculum will consist of Torah, Holidays, and Hebrew.

Our Bonim (Builders) group includes grades 2 and 3, and our Chaverim (Friends) group includes grades 4, 5 and 6. Following our 9am K’hila (community) assembly, these students will participate in T’fila (worship) either in the main sanctuary (with our traditional minyan), or on alternating weeks, in a Renewal; yoga, or tai chi (movement-based) minyan. Each group will participate regularly in each of these T’filah experiences. The curriculum for Bonim and Chaverim will focus on Torah and Hebrew.

On Shabbat, Hebrew studies will be presented in an ulpan and discussion format. This means that whenever and wherever possible, an immersion format will be used.

We all return to the Sanctuary together at 11:45 for our Ruach Rally, followed by our congregational Kiddush lunch.

On Tuesdays, grades 2-6 (Bonim [grades 2-3] and Chaverim [grades 4-6]) will meet. They will continue their Hebrew studies, focusing on mastering T’filot (prayers) and continue to study Torah and other Jewish topics by grade (more details to follow). If scheduling permits, we will also have semi-weekly or monthly Israeli arts period on Tuesdays including Jewish cooking, self-defense, and other cultural arts.

Our Hebrew Lab will continue to meet on Wednesdays, to provide more individualized instruction for students. This class can accommodate students with Tuesday scheduling conflicts, students who may have started their Jewish education later on, students who benefit from smaller group learning, and students who need an environment that supports their own individual pace for learning. Our Wednesday lab is flexible. We expect that there are students who attend this class all year, part of the year, and to work on a specific task or goal.

In September, October, April, and May we will consider running a Special Sunday morning program for students who have sports conflicts in those months on Shabbat. This program could include participation in Sunday morning minyan, breakfast, and a Torah discussion. Pre-registration and a minimum number of students would be required for this program to run.

On Shabbat morning, from 9-10am, our 7^th grade will be meeting separately in the building. They will have breakfast, and their curriculum will include: discussions various topics of interest, e.g. current events, Judaism and music, Torah, as well as some hands-on practical advice as they prepare to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They will practice the common T’filot they will need to do (Ashrei, Torah/Haftara Blessings), and work on public speaking exercises to help prepare them to become B’nai Mitzvah.

At 10:00 am, they will go the sanctuary for the service and/or B’nai Mitzvah. B’nai Mitzvah ceremonies begin after 10am. If they are invited to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah here at CSH, they go to the sanctuary. If they are invited to one at another institution, they can carpool there together. If there is no B’nai Mitzvah, it is important that they attend the Torah service and get as much practice as possible.

We want our students to start every Shabbat off right – with a good breakfast, a great discussion, and an opportunity to ENJOY being Jewish.

No, you don’t have to come every Shabbat. Once a month we will continue to have a SMILE Shabbat service for families that we strongly encourage you to attend. Otherwise, we do hope that with all the different opportunities we have here at CSH on Shabbat, you will find one that fits your needs.

PLEASE NOTE: Students MUST be accompanied by a parent during lunch – they cannot be left on their own in the building after the conclusion of the service (see pickup and drop off below).

If they miss class, they will certainly miss instructional time and information. However, we absolutely expect lower attendance during vacation weeks and will work to plan lessons that are not only wonderful additions to the students that are here, but also not detrimental to the educational goals for those students who are away.

We ask that students to be in the sanctuary at 9:00am on Shabbat. Parents should park and walk your children into the building as always for safety reasons. Students may be picked up in the sanctuary following Ruach Rally. Of course, if you are coming to get them, you might as well stay for lunch!

PLEASE NOTE: Teacher supervision of students ends at the close of our service. To best insure everyone’s safety, students must be accompanied by a parent during lunch – they cannot be left on their own in the building after the conclusion of the service.

As noted, we will be running this program every Shabbat. If you have a game at 9, come at 10; a game at 11, come at 9. Need to miss a week? Come the next time.

This is not about the hours we spend in Religious School. It is about what we do during the hours we are together. We spend all our time practicing and never go the game. Practice is important too, but without the game, there is nothing to anticipate!

We believe that after a few years of Limud Shabbat, our children will be completely prepared and at-ease to lead the service when they become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and most important, they will see and experience coming to synagogue in an entirely new and more organic way.

Like anything in life, we get out of it what we put into it. The more you participate with your family, the stronger your, your children’s, and your family’s Jewish identities will grow.

Please contact Jed Filler, CJE Director, with any questions regarding our new Limud Shabbat program HERE or call 781-599-8005 ext. 24.