CJL Class Overview

KITAH GAN (Kindergarten)

Monthly Sundays, 9:00 - 11:30 AM

Our CJL Gan/Kindergarten meets monthly. Our morning begins with a short, musical service with a teaching moment, led by our Clergy. Our students learn about Jewish holidays through music, crafts, and stories. Our Madrichim (Teen Aides) help facilitate this class with a CJL Instructor as part of their teacher and leadership training. 
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Kitah ALEPH (1st Grade)

Sundays 9:00 - 11:30 AM

Our morning begins with a short, musical service with a teaching moment, led by our Clergy. Kitah Aleph students learn the foundational Jewish prayer, Sh’ma and the brachot (blessings) associated with Shabbat, learn the yearly cycle of Jewish holidays, learn about the special places in the synagogue, and are introduced to the Hebrew alphabet and explore the Hebrew language using Hebrew Through Movement, an interactive program in which students are exposed to modern Hebrew through active listening and movement. Students gain an understanding of Jewish values, including Hakarat ha tov (Recognizing the Good), Ometz Lev (Strength of Heart, Courage), Ma’achil R’eivm (Feeding the Hungry), and Kavod (Respect). A core part of the curriculum is the Jewish value of tzedakah (righteousness), and the class often holds a food drive and visits the Croton Food Pantry to learn how to help those who are in need. 
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Kitah Bet (2nd grade)

Sundays 9:00 - 11:30 AM 

Our morning begins with a short, musical service with a teaching moment, led by our Clergy. This year, Kitah Bet takes a deeper dive in the yearly cycle of the Jewish holidays. For example, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur give us time to reflect on our past behaviors, and Purim reminds us to be proud of our Jewish identity. Our students learn how tikkun olam (improving the world) are a part of each holiday. Each Sunday, we practice our Shabbat blessings during which children prepare to eat by setting the table, reciting the prayers and passing out challah and juice. Our year is complemented with fun experiential activities such as making haroset for Passover and learning Israeli dance for Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Kitah Bet participates in a food drive for the Croton Food pantry, and we look forward to visiting the Croton Food pantry to help stock shelves with our various food donations. Each Sunday, Hebrew through Movement (HTM) is a highlight during which students enjoy interactive games and learning modern Hebrew with Morah Ariela, our Hebrew Through Movement specialist. 
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KITAH GIMMEL (3^RD GRADE)

Sundays 9:00 - 11:30 AM 

Our morning begins with a short, musical service with a teaching moment, led by our Clergy. 

In addition to celebrating and learning the history of our holidays, Kitah Gimmel participates in Torah study, learning the stories from the Book of Genesis. In learning their stories, we learn the Jewish values of taking responsibility for our own actions, taking responsibility for the well-being of others (achreiyut), and of welcoming guests (Hachnasat Orchim). Kitah Gimmel also has a core unit about the 10 Commandments in the Book of Exodus. As part of our Jewish values curriculum, we plan for Kitah Gimmel and Dalet students to visit the elderly at a local nursing home. In doing this, the students participate in the Jewish value of kibud zekeinim, honoring the elderly. In Hebrew, our students build their Hebrew skills through a rotation of Hebrew game stations such as Hebrew twister and Hebrew football/basketball, depending on the season. By the end of the year, our Kitah Gimmel students have been introduced to all the Hebrew letters and vowels and the process of Hebrew decoding. 
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KITAH DALET (4th GRADE) 

Sundays 9:00 - 11:30 AM 

Kitah Dalet students explore the Bible as Jews have done for centuries- by pondering, personalizing, and wrestling with the text. Building on the foundation of Torah study in Kitah Gimmel, Kitah Dalet students focus on the prophets, kings, and judges that came after Moses’ death and the beginning of the Israelites’ journey into Canaan. We learn about the biblical figures Joshua, Deborah, Ruth, the prophet Samuel, and Kings Saul, David, and Solomon. Through exploring these Biblical figures, we share the histories and traditions of our families. As part of our exploration into our Jewish values curriculum, we plan for Kitah Gimmel and Dalet students to visit the elderly at a local nursing home. In doing this, the students participate in the Jewish value of kibud zekaynim, honoring the elderly. After reviewing Hebrew letters and vowels, Kitah Dalet students now progress toward learning Hebrew blessings and prayers, including Hanukkah blessings and the Four Questions of Pesach (Passover). In the spring, students participate in the Golden Alef program, a program which motivates students to work on a set of prayers or texts to earn achievement dog tags, similar to the learning of belts in karate classes.      

KITAH HAY (5^TH GRADE)

In Judaic studies, our fifth graders learn about Jewish life-cycle events which include active participation in ceremonies such as a mock baby-naming, a “mock-mitzvah,” and a mock wedding. Watching our students come to CJL on a Sunday morning dressed up and excited for the mock wedding is truly memorable. Our fifth-grade students also are paired with an Israeli class and hold live video conferences with Israeli students of similar ages. Through regular correspondence with this school and students throughout the year, our students learn about Israel from their peers and how our Israeli brothers and sisters practice Judaism and celebrate holidays. They also learn how similar they are to one another as they embrace the same trends, video games, and apps!  Each year, we plan a special field trip for Kitah Hey such as visiting the Eldridge Street Synagogue in NYC to learn about the Jewish history of the Lower East Side. This trip would not be complete without also a trip to a famous bagel/bialy and/or candy shop! As a student once commented during the trip, “This is my best day ever!” Kitah Hey students practice Hebrew and prayers in class and also individually through the digital platform, ShalomLearning. In the spring, students participate in the Golden Alef program, a program which motivates students to work on a set of prayers or texts to earn achievement dog tags, similar to the learning of belts in karate classes.  
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KITAH VAV (6^TH GRADE)

Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:30 PM 

Our Wednesday CJL classes begin with a moment of community connection (games like Gaga or icebreakers) and then a brief worship service led by our Clergy. Our Kitah Vav class is focused on b’nai mitzvah preparation. During the first semester, students study the V'ahavta (And You Shall Love), Friday night Kiddush (Sanctification of Wine), and Amidah (Standing/Core Section of Worship Service) Prayers through reading and discussions. We also review Hanukkah blessings and review Hebrew letters/vowels as needed. As part of our Jewish values curriculum, students delve into the Jewish values of Chesed (Kindness), B’tzelem Elohim (Acting in God's image), Gevurah (Strength), Tzedakah (righteous giving), and together we discuss how we can emulate these values in our everyday lives. During the second semester, students are introduced to Trope (symbols for chanting Torah) from our Cantor, learn Torah and Haftarah Blessings, learn the Havdalah Blessings, review the Ma Nishtana (4 Questions of Passover), and learn the Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem. Kitah Vav also has a historical Jewish figure unit during which students research Jewish role models, past and present. They also participate in a Torah art project around the theme of the parshah (Torah portion) for their b’nai mitzvah. Both Kitah Vav and Kitah Zayin learn about Israel from our Shinshin, our young adult Israeli emissary. No Wednesday CJL session would be complete without evening “nosh” or snack during which students eat, socialize, and conclude with singing Birkat HaMazon, the blessing after meals. 
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KITAH ZAYIN (7^TH GRADE)

Wednesdays, 4:30 – 6:30 PM 

With b'nei mitzvah ceremonies and celebrations at the forefront of their minds, our students begin their year with practicing prayers for their upcoming b’nei mitzvah service. This is followed by an examination of the Holocaust and World War II and learning about the State of Israel, its diverse immigrant groups, their effect on modern Israeli culture and language, and how our Jewish identity relates to a Jewish state and its citizens. A core component of the seventh grade Judaica curriculum is the Mitzvah service project, a process in which students plan and complete their 18-hour community service hours as part of their b’nei mitzvah journey. Many students complete their mitzvah hours through Temple Israel programs such as the Midnight Run. Kitah Zayin students present their idea for a Mitzvah project in the fall and then celebrate their mitzvah projects and connection to Jewish values during a Kitah Zayin Shabbat dinner or dessert reception at the end of the year. No Wednesday CJL session would be complete without evening “nosh” or snack during which students eat, socialize, and conclude with singing Birkat HaMazon, the blessing after meals. 
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PATHWAY TO CONFIRMATION – (8^TH/ 9^TH GRADE)

Bi-monthly Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Sunday Madrichim Program 9:00 - 11:30 AM
 

The 8^th/9^th grade program is a blend of social, communal, and learning activities on a bimonthly basis. Our teens will discuss current events through a Jewish lens. 8th/9th graders also have the opportunity to participate in our Sunday morning Madrichim (Teen Aide) Program which includes leadership training and discussions on topical issues. Our goal is to cap the year with a class planned trip to NYC. 

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CJL High school (10TH - 12TH GRADEs)
 

Bi-monthly Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 PM
Sunday Madrichim Program: 9:00 - 11:30 AM

During the CJL High School years, students explore and deepen their identity as young Jewish adults and students learn to engage with Jewish texts and traditions on an adult level. In a student-driven curricula, students learn how to apply Jewish values to their daily lives, and to their role as citizens of our greater community and our nation. This year, Rabbi Jaech will teach 10^th – 12^th grades and lead interested teens on a four-day trip to Washington DC to participate in the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism's L'Taken Social Justice Seminar for teens. This trip culminates in a visit to Capitol Hill where the students make presentations to congressional staff. At the end of the senior year in high school, students lead a worship service in celebration of their confirmation. During the service, students speak about what they value about being a young Jewish adult. Temple Israel honors those who have been confirmed here by permanently displaying their class photographs in our downstairs hallway. 10th - 12th grade teens may participate in our Madrichim Program on Sunday mornings with the culmination of a synagogue internship during their junior and/or senior year. 
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