Temple Sholom
An Alternative Approach to Jewish Learning
Some families…
had scheduling concerns and find it difficult to bring their kids every Sunday
were looking for more interactive, experiential Jewish learning
were looking for a family option so they could learn along with their children
were looking to build a community involved in Shabbat and holiday celebrations.
enjoy the Sunday morning program and don’t want any changes
Introducing The Congregation-
Wide Trimester Model,
New Religious School Curriculum
and Family Track Option
The New Congregation-Wide Trimester Model
The whole congregation will now explore the
same topic at the same time. We are breaking the
year in to three trimesters with each trimester
having a different topic.
2010-11 Trimester 1 September - November
Genesis
The Book of Genesis takes us from the creation ofthe world through the birth of the Jewish faith.
The people who move our story forward teach uswhat it means to be human and to live in
relationship with the Divine. Together we willexplore their stories, read the commentaries
created by the rabbis of old, and add our voice to this
sacred text.
The Biblical World
The first 2,000 years of Jewish history holds thestories of our Patriarchs, Prophets and Kings. Together we will explore how a religion thatstarted in the deserts and mountains halfwayacross the world, became a basis for Western
Civilization.
2010-11 Trimester 2 December-February
Holiness and Views of God
Holiness is the idea that we have a specialrelationship with God. We see God in manyways and how we acknowledge the Divine
tellsus how to treat other people and act in theworld. During this trimester we will exploreJewish concepts of God and how they impact
our beliefs and our actions.
2010-11 Trimester 3 March-May
The Four Year CurriculumTrimester 1
TorahOur Sacred Text
Trimester 2Israel
The history of the Jewish people
Trimester 3God
Bringing holiness in to our lives
Year 1
Genesis Biblical HistoryThe Book of Prophets
Holiness and Jewish Ideas of God
Year 2
Exodus The Rabbinic PeriodPirke Avot and The Talmud
Holiness marking timeLifecycle, daily cycles
Year 3
Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
Medieval HistoryAshkenazi and Sephardic traditions
Holiness in our Actions Tikkun Olam and Jewish Ethics
Year 4
The Book of Writings Modern JudaismThe State of Israel and Reform Judaism
Holiness in timethe Jewish calendar
Tuesday Hebrew School will stay the same in the
new model
New Sunday Morning
Religious School Curriculum
Sunday Morning Sunday Morning ProgramProgram
Sunday Morning Sunday Morning ProgramProgram
In general structure, our In general structure, our Sunday morning program Sunday morning program
will not change at all. will not change at all.
Classes for grades K-7 will continue to meet on Sunday mornings,
following the SP/F School schedule.
Students will continue to enjoy art, music and
dance
Special events, such as• Holiday celebrations• Parshat HaShavua (weekly Torah portions)
Parties• Congregational Education Day• Family Trip Day• Family Mitzvah Day
will continue to be part of the Sunday Morning experience.
The changes in the Sunday program will be
curriculum based
The Sunday Morning Religious School program will follow the
same trimester schedule as the rest of the congregation.
During the eight Sunday morning sessions
and one Congregational Education Day each trimester,
students will explore the Congregation-Wide trimester theme
in age appropriate programming.
The Biblical WorldThe first 2,000 years of Jewish history holds the
stories of our Patriarchs, Prophets and Kings. Together we will explore how a religion that
started in the deserts and mountains halfwayacross the world, became a basis for Western
Civilization.
2010-11 Trimester 2 December-February
Your choice for how your family learns
Each trimester of the school year, families with K-7th grade students now can choose to have their children
attend the standard aged based Sunday morning program for the entire year
-or -Take a one trimester break
from traditional classroom learning on Sunday mornings and participate as a family in the family track
Both programs, regardless of grade,
cover the Congregational-Wide trimester topic
The Family Track Program
The Family Track During each trimester a “family track” program will be
offered.
Families can choose, instead of having their children participate in the Sunday Morning Religious School Program to take a trimester and participate as a family in the Family Track.
Children taking part in the Family Track will NOT attend the Sunday morning program for that trimester.
The Family Based Option will cover the same trimester topic as the Sunday morning option – just in a different way.
Families can participate in the family track ONCE during the 10-11 School Year.
Families taking part in the family track trimester will:
Attend ONE congregational education Day
Attend THREE Saturday afternoon Shabbat Havdalah programs
Attend THREE Worship Experiences Complete THREE HOURS of Self-
Led Family Experiences
Sample Family Track Trimester
2010-111st Trimester (Sept-Nov)
Genesis
Attend ONE Congregational Education Day
Attend THREE Family Track
Shabbat Learning Experiences
Includes learning time, potluck dinner and Havdalah
Saturday afternoons 4-7pm
Choose THREE Worship Experiences
Choose three Shabbat or Holiday celebrations
Choose THREE HOURS of
Self-Led Family Experiences
Temple Sholom… giving you choices on how your family
learns