Adventure judaism app form 2014

CONTACT US!

Ask about our

Kindergarten Program

Director of Child & Youth Education

Alley Dezenhouse Kelner 416.782.4495 x25 hebrewschool@bethtorah.ca

Rabbi Yossi Sapirman 416.782.4495 x26 rabbiyossi@bethtorah.ca

ADVE N JUDA TURE ISM Hebrews' Cool THE VALUES OF LIVING JEWISHLY

A YEAR F LIVING JEWISHLY

BAR/BAT MITZVAH PROGRAM

APPLICATION INFORMATION

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Hebrews' Cool THE VALUES OF LIVING JEWISHLY

Philosophy & Goals ........................... 2 Program Outline ............................... 3 Special Programs ............................... 4 Days & Times ...................................... 5

Beth Torah Congregation has a full calendar of

A YEAR F LIVING JEWISHLY

programs for children and families. Whether you’re looking for a Holy Day celebration or a family-friendly service, or if you’re interested in volunteering, Beth Torah is the place to be! For details, check out our website or our latest program calendar, or contact the

BAR/BAT MITZVAH PROGRAM

office at 416-782-4495.

Mission Statement .................... 6 Why Another B’nai Mitzvah Program? ........... 6

Sept-Oct

Frequently Asked Questions ....................... 7-8

Pizza in the Hut Sukkah Decorating Party

Important Note ......................... 9

Youth & Family Programming ............................ 10

Director of Education

CONTACT US!

Amy Goldsweig 416.782.4495 x25 hebrewschool@bethtorah.ca

High Holy Day Youth Programming

Simchat Torah Party

Nov-Dec

Chanukah Bash

Jan-Feb Kabbalat Shabbat Family Dinner Mar-Apr Purim Carnival

Pre-Passover Shabbat Dinner Monthly Family Programs

Shabbat Family Services

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Due to the unique nature of some events, flexibility is occasionally required and it may be necessary to contact participants to clarify details of the event. If parents will be away or children will be staying with friends, please take the time to ensure that we have a phone number where they can be reached in case the program has to be rescheduled or relocated.

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Ab i ap g pro ath ble y chi m f ldr tow ard acing en un com de J Jew ud rs do n’t tand plain aism. ish y o wh car Ho ha tha d e w m uth t y t thi such abou they shul an oday n t i h t yo is be k suc houg bein ave s bor en ing f us h a sen to ht g h t Jew lea so hin tau , se a kn th ve ur rn of o g g is he He at th wh w ho ht th s bec selve h? H a r b e d o a w y s r a e ?N us w m ew t ou do to the n chi r pre way b e Jud ow an , or t n’t ldr ir t a y s a h y s en en pro im o i a k s a fu tt m yo tJ e g a g tro ram – ext re fac udai enera truly urse s hav hey l s, a s ra ub e f i i t m s :d ion bo tut ng a le e nd to tim rin o w of n or a th x e ma , how press e lik ing, incre mod edu g, or e cat asi ext ern ing e– n ha m n o r s son y of the any o enth it’s qu acurr g nu audi rs wh it ju s? e m s usi i fo o Ho m i n c b ula c do t asm te u ur w m wil r sp er of e? A n’t n c l d h Ho f s t an pre at y o till at ildre or He ersta orts im ssu nw nd an Be w m f th ten bre e r d e a th i s a d b e w l m l m l o n mu et stil cha Tora sch usi n y w h l s c i o o a l i h b ll s cur lenge ’s He f th till c reci e pla ol. In t the tal ricu y bre be s. O e yin t w m s Jew act ,o en have ws gs lum ur w r t ’ p i y C d ng tak ort il o yna ye cho ish ed to g in m ol w l st iv sch e dan s? Ho ars’ u r yea e, bu catio e yo ic sta as es ill b oo w u t l p ce les e t f r n. lay Yo r chil f wo ablish Jew wa s. Th as a s u rk ey dre lin s ce ? wit ed to ish k t r chi w oa ldr n an ha ? da nturi ill u r e e nd ted spo n e c n w exci nd tin in-h to s ago ersta ultur ill l pa ou e g refl .O to ren n e , t a d s c h e u the h r e a t t nt ,p alle se the s. We ct th r pro hat J t has r o o n s g e g g e u ir c r t hil also e chan ram i daism hrive e He ing a essiv b dre e s g n df n’s ncou ing n fluid is as or rew n d fun rag t . ed r e o h e I ed ti t ou le uca e san as a tio fam s of o s con vant d ilie s n. t s u t of s to r stu antl oday yb de as pa e n i rtic i t ipa ts an ng up dt te h in eir

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THE VALUES OF LIVING JEWISHLY

CONTACT US! 9

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Hebrew and T’fillah

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Our goal is to give our students the knowledge they need to participate in prayer services. In the early years, they will earn the basics of reading and writing, and they will be able to read and sing common prayers like the Shema. As they progress, our students will be able to read and understand the most important prayers and prayer concepts. In their final years, they will learn about specific elements of our liturgy such as the Torah service and the Amidah. Our students will achieve a level of reading fluency that will carry them not only to their B’nai Mitzvot, but to their studies beyond.

Torah Studies and Jewish Values Our goal here is two-fold: to teach about the origin of our people, and to extract lessons from the Bible about ethics and morality that we can apply to our lives today. In the early years, we will focus on the stories of our ancestors, and what those stories teach us about how to live our lives. As our students progress, they will study the mitzvot and the writings of the prophets.

History and Culture

Our goal is to present the development of Jewish thought since the Bible was written. In the early years, our students will learn about our folklore – from ancient tales of morality to the humour of Chelm, and stories that are still being written today. Our older studentswill learn about modern Jewish values that come from the writings Social Action of our sages.

The units covered here will tie into the values-based curriculum mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, and they will also prepare students for the Year of Living Jewishly that they take during their Bar/Bat Mitzvah year. Our students will learn how the Jewish community functions, and how we contribute to the greater Canadian community.

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What If Already Have A Tutor For My Child?

Time Commitment And Other Details

The tutor you have chosen must be approved by the Rabbi and Cantor.

The YLJ program is designed to follow the school and Hebrew calendar and not interfere with Civil or Jewish holidays and seasonal breaks. It is advisableto ensure that your child can commit to attend every event throughout the program. Please contact the Director of Education immediately if there is any concern about attendance.

Synagogue Attendance Parents should commit to attending a synagogue at least once a month during the year of B’nai Mitzvah. It is preferred that they attend the synagogue that will be hosting their B’nai Mitzvah event..

What If My Child Doesn’t Read Hebrew?

A private tutor will be arranged to teach your child Hebrew. It is suggested that your child begin lessons as soon as you register in this program in order to give you the maximum amount of time to upgrade your child’s skills. While your child will not need to sight-read Hebrew expertly, a basic proficiency will be necessary for your child’s success. Please note that the program fee does not cover the cost of Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring.

Parental Involvement Over the course of the year we will invite parents to a few parent/ student events. The purpose of these programs will be to educate parents together with their children about the intricacies of planning, organizing, and maintaining the significance of a B’nai Mitzvah celebration. These dates will appear on your calendar and it is strongly recommended that you attend – it will enhance the experience further by making it a family affair.

Certificates And Recognition At the end of the year, our students will be given a certificate upon completion of the course, and they will participate in a special graudation at Beth Torah for their outstanding accomplishments.

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Israel What If My Child’s Bar Or Bat Mitzvah Is In The Middle Of The Year?

By enrolling your child in this program, you offer them more than just knowledge; you’re giving them the opportunity to make lifelong friends who will share the year of Mitzvah with them.

The educational and experiential components of the program work well for all ages, and your child celebrating a Bar or Bat Mitzvah during the year will offer his or her classmates the opportunity to experience their education in action. If your child’s Bar or Bat mitzvah is celebrated during the Year of Living Jewishly, your child willcontinue with the program as before.

What Will Be The Length Of The Program?

The Bnai Mitzvah program will run approximately every other Sunday from September until the end of May.

FAQ’s Who Qualifies For This Program?

This program will be of great value to any Jewish child regardless of religious affiliation or denomination, whether or not they belong to a synagogue.

What Are The Unique Features Of This Program?

Your child will have the benefit of a personal relationship with a dynamic and teen-aware Rabbi, a custom designed program prepared by Beth Torah’s Director of Education and a Jewish experience of a lifetime.

As our national homeland and the center of our culture, a study of Israel will be incorporated into just about everything the students do. In addition, they will learn about the modern state, and we will foster a strong connection between our students and Israel by using internet and e-mail.

Beth Torah’s Hebrews’Cool offers an innovative curriculum and a relaxed atmosphere in which to learn it. Our teachers have the flexibility to scale the program to the needs of their students, and our small class sizes promote a sense of closeness and enable our staff to give the students considerable one-on-one attention. Our goals are ambitious, but our children deserve nothing less.

Holy Days and Festivals Each year, our students will learn different aspects of the Holy Days that coincide with their studies in the other areas mentioned above. As the students progress, they will also learn about Jewish lifecycle events. It isn’t enough to know what we do; they also need to know why we’re still doing it, and what the Holy Day celebrations teach us about our responsibility to ourselves and to each other.

What Age Groups Can Join This Program?

For Hebrews’Cool students, YLJ is the Grade Seven year of their school program. For non-Hebrews’Cool students, YLJ is a B’nai Mitzvah program that should fall within the year of their event. Please contact our Director of Education for specific details about your child.

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How Will My Child Be Taught His/Her Own Torah Portion?

Our Director of Education will assign every student a private tutor who, subject to their availability and by arrangement with the parents, will determine location, time, and frequency of lessons.

The program provides for approximately 23 half hour lessons, including a one hour rehearsal at the synagogue. Should more be necessary it would be by special arrangement with the Director of Education.

Music

School Kiddush & Hebrew Word of the Day Each week, we run a brief school-wide kiddush food break. We provide a nut-free and yummy snack so that the students can begin a life-long association of Judaism , eating and schmoozing.

A staple of our school kiddush is the Hebrew Word of the Day and Parsha Riddles. Each week, a new Hebrew word is introduced, and there is trivia related to the week’s Torah portion and upcoming holidays.

Every week, our music teacher engages the students with traditional, modern and fun tunes for our liturgy, Israel and the Holy Days. We also run a monthly school-wide prayer service which is led by our Director of Education. Not only does this give the students an opportunity to practice what they know, but they will hear a story that relates to the themes they learn about in class, and they will get the chance to experience a real Torah firsthand.

In addition to the weekly music class, Hebrews’Cool has its own magnificent children’s choir, which performs at synagogue and community events.

They even get to sing on the Bimah during the High Holidays (the bubbies can’t stop kvelling)!

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A YEAR F LIVING JEWISHLY

DATE & TIMES We recognize that our students have many priorities, and that Hebrews’Cool will be added to a list of extracurricular that includes sports, music lessons, and other activities. Therefore, in an effort to avoid scheduling conflicts and thus give our students the maximum benefit of our program, we offer flexible times for our classes.

Students attend Hebrews’Cool once each week, but the families can choose between two days. On Sunday, class for Grades One and Two runs from 9:00am to 11:00am, and classes for Grades Three through Six run from 9:00 to 12:00. On Tuesday, class for Grades One and Two runs from 4:15pm to 6:00, and classes for Grades Three through Six run from 4:15 to 6:45. Classes for Grades Three through Six on both days are broken up by a school-wide Kiddush, which includes a snack, Hebrew Word of the Day, and a chance to show off their impressive knowledge during Trivia.

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