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