Teacher:
Morah Sally Hendelman

Curriculum 

Torah: Parashah Hashavua/Weekly Torah Portion
Through the study of the weekly Torah portion, students will explore Jewish traditions, concepts, and values. Students will make personal connections to the Torah and be empowered to make personal decisions guided by Jewish values. For each Torah portion students will practice reading and discuss ~5 pasookim (verses) of Torah both in class and at home, as well as learn new Hebrew vocabulary with each Torah portion. Through this Hebrew reading practice, students will be prepared to read Torah in Junior Congregation whichever week they choose. In addition they will be assigned Torah readings to read in Junior Congregation on 10/27/12 and 2/2/13.

Chagim/Holidays and Shabbat:
Through engaging, experiential, and age-appropriate activities, students will explore the meaning of the Jewish holidays, including their rituals, mitzvot and the way they are celebrated in Israel.  Students will share how their families celebrate Jewish holidays to enrich the classroom learning.

Spirituality and Tefillah/Prayer:
Sarah and David Saturday Morning Prayer Book, students’ Siddurim
Students will meet weekly with Rabbi Fredda Cohen to study and practice the Shabbat morning service.  

Click here to listen to Shabbat and holiday prayers and songs.

Ivrit/Hebrew:
Students will strengthen their Hebrew skills through all aspects of the curriculum, when practicing tefillot on Sundays and Wednesdays, during music class, and through the use of modern Hebrew phrases in class. 

Synagogue Architecture:
Students will explore synagogue architecture and investigate how each synagogue they study reflects:

o   Where we lived in the world

o   How we interacted with God

o   How we interacted with the community—hidden synagogue because of anti-Semitism or large synagogue when we were accepted and thriving

o   Assimilation—did the architecture reflect the architecture in the community?

o   The role of the synagogue—place for sacrifices, place to pray, helping others, including others, building community, observing mitzvot, celebrating chagim and life cycle, learning, playing, eating…

This unit will include a study of the architecture and kehillah (community) of Bet Am Shalom.  Students will conclude this unit by designing their own synagogues.

 
Israel:
Israel is integrated throughout the curriculum in their Torah study, synagogue architecture unit, tefillah, and study of the holidays.  Morah Sally shares her own experiences in Israel with her class. 

Gemilut Chasadim/Acts of Loving Kindness:
Kitah Hay will explore the Jewish value of Maot Hitim, providing Passover food for those who need it, as well as issues of hunger in our community. Kitah Hay will deliver Passover packages to elderly people in the Bronx who are homebound.

Building community:
Our Chaverim (buddies) program gives Kitah Hay the opportunities to get to know Kitah Bet students, to strengthen our community across age groups. The fall parent visit will include time for the parents of the Chaverim in grades 2 & 5 to meet. We gather together for whole-school holiday celebrations, as well as for grade level family programs on Shabbat and Sundays during school.

Camp JRF Retreat:
5th and 6th graders have an incredible opportunity to participate in a Shabbat weekend at Camp JRF with 5th and 6th graders from several Reconstructionist congregations on the east coast April 26-28, 2013.