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Shabbat Mornings

Wednesday Afternoons

B’nai Mitzvah & Beyond

(6-8 Grade)

Family/Holiday Programming

Summer Programs

Register

Shabbat Mornings

Wednesday Afternoons

B’nai Mitzvah & Beyond

(6-8 Grade)

Family/Holiday Programming

Summer Programs

Educational Philosophy

Vision Statement and Philosophy

Kesher means “connection,” and our focus on kesher at the JCA encourages us to challenge and support students in ways that nurture and scaffold them toward finding their authentic Jewish selves. At the same time, we balance the needs of individual families and students by honoring our diversity, and creating a safe and welcoming environment in which all students can grow and deepen their own sense of what defines their individual Jewish identities.

Kesher is Committed To

Guiding the development of a Jewish identity by providing authentic, genuinely engaging learning opportunities and activities for children and families — experiences that promote confidence, compassion, and pride in one’s “Jewish” self; Providing a hands-on experience rooted in community and service to others: parents, teachers, students, and the greater community working together in meaningful and memorable ways to create friendships and foster a commitment to service that extend beyond our time together.

Focusing on each child and family, and meeting them where they are at with a program that is, by design, customizable and flexible;
Teaching customs, traditions, Torah, Hebrew, and rituals in engaging, multimodal ways that foster memorable, positive experiences, and support life-long engagement and connection with the Jewish community. We believe that Jewish religious practice can transform: It can change lives, make meaning, and invest people in the world, and for this to happen, we need to actively participate, not just talk about it.

In addition, we value developing a sense of Jewish community together in real time. By actively celebrating Shabbat, festivals, and significant occasions with the entire JCA community, our students learn, practice and do. Through our experiential model, our students:

*Explore the rhythm and flow of the services and the Jewish year
*Experience actively the traditions of Mitzvot and Tzedakah, accessible to all at any age
*Cultivate an understanding and knowledge of Jewish heritage and history in ways that are meaningful to their lives at this moment. We invite kids to think for themselves, to share their new ideas and important opinions safely and in a supportive environment. We foster dialogue together, encourage exploration together, and learn from what worked and what didn’t. We believe this process is useful at any age, stage, or point in our Jewish lives
*Understand that who we are individually is our community’s collective blessing. We invite all kinds of people to our community because this is who we are: all genders, ages, colors, sexual orientations, and backgrounds—connected and stronger when we support and encourage each other

 

How We Accomplish Our Vision

Our students learn in a nurturing, inviting environment. We offer multiple ways to access Judaism — through song, story, movement, hands-on experiences, large and small group classes, family events, community gatherings, and more. We see ourselves as translators. We want to connect Torah, Jewish tradition and history to today. As such, we use every tool we can find: We combine elements of the unexpected, secular, and beautiful in the exploration of Jewish life.

In addition, we value developing a sense of Jewish community together in real time. By actively celebrating Shabbat, festivals, and significant occasions with the entire JCA community, our students learn, practice and do. Through our experiential model, our students:

*Explore the rhythm and flow of the services and the Jewish year;
*Experience actively the traditions of Mitzvot and Tzedakah, accessible to all at any age;
*Cultivate an understanding and knowledge of Jewish heritage and history in ways that are meaningful to their lives at this moment. We invite kids to think for themselves, to share their new ideas and important opinions safely and in a supportive environment. We foster dialogue together, encourage exploration together, and learn from what worked and what didn’t. We believe this process is useful at any age, stage, or point in our Jewish lives.
*Understand that who we are individually is our community’s collective blessing. We invite all kinds of people to our community because this is who we are: all genders, ages, colors, sexual orientations, and backgrounds—connected and stronger when we support and encourage each other.

 

Shabbat Mornings

(for PreK-5th grade) 10am-12:30pm

Overview

On Saturday mornings, students participate in parts of the community Shabbat morning service, meet with their grade-based classroom teacher for instruction on Jewish values, history, holidays, Israel, and more, and meet as a Kesher community to engage in joyful song, and learn Hebrew in fun, active ways. Each multi-grade class has a two or three year curriculum cycle that is designed to introduce students to key Jewish concepts in age appropriate ways.

PreK/Kindergarten

Students ages 3-kindergarten play games, read stories, and engage in hands-on crafts and activities to introduce them to the basics of the Jewish holidays, and help them become comfortable in Jewish spaces. They also focus on social-emotional development within a Jewish values framework.

First & Second Grade

First and second grade students spend one year studying Jewish values, and learning how those values are part of their lives outside the synagogue walls. In the alternate year, students study “our community”, learning about the diversity of both the local and global Jewish communities, meeting and becoming comfortable with the Rabbi and other key JCA staff, and connecting with older generations at the JCA, helping the students feel known and comfortable in their own Jewish community at the JCA.

Third, Fourth, & Fifth Grade

3rd-5th grade students have a three year curriculum rotation. In the first year they study Jewish values that help build resiliency in children, along with studying historical Jewish people who display many of these attributes and how living your life according to Jewish values makes a positive impact on the people and world around you. In the second year, students study Israel in depth, with a focus on the diversity of the people of Israel. Finally, students engage in a curriculum called “Sheep to Tallis”, in which they learn about the steps from raising sheep, to sheering wool, to weaving, and dying, required to make a Tallis. Through this framework, they study related Torah stories, ritual practices, and the similarities and differences between the various Jewish affiliations. In addition, students study ancient Israel, Jewish values associated with how we treat animals, farming, and the treatment of workers. All while learning to integrate this knowledge into their understanding of their place in the world today.

Hebrew Decoding

Hebrew Decoding (Reading) – Our basic Hebrew decoding philosophy remains aligned with the Onward Hebrew approach. You can read more about that HERE. We offer 1-1 Hebrew decoding tutoring beginning in 5th grade.

  • Tutoring is once a week for 20 minutes on zoom, outside of Kesher classroom times.
  • The timing is arranged between the family and the tutor at a mutually convenient time.
  • There will be homework that will consist of practicing skills in-between sessions. This piece is critical for learning a language.
  • 1-1 Hebrew decoding tutoring is designed for students who do not already know how to decode. Those who have attended day school, or learned to decode at home/outside the Kesher program framework should not sign up for 1-1 tutoring.

Wednesday Afternoons

(for 1st-5th grade) 4:30-6pm

On Wednesdays, students in grades 1-5 participate in Kesher clubs. Throughout the year, students rotate through various mixed-age classes that allow them to explore fun and different ways to build Jewish identity and connect with Jewish traditions, holidays, and texts. The goal is to expose students to many different access points, and help them find their own pathway to Jewish engagement that they can return to during high school, college, and throughout their lives. Please note: not all clubs are offered every year, but there are always at least 4 options for students to rotate through.

B’nai Mitzvah and Beyond

Our Kavannah (Intention)

B’nai Mitzvah is an ancient rite of passage. At JCA, we seek to provide a vibrant and multi-dimensional experience for Jewish adolescents that requires them to do more than go through the motions. It requires them to engage with themselves, Torah, community, and the world in a way that transforms them.  We employ diverse program elements such as text study, outdoor education, arts, research, discussion, writing, public speaking, and field trips. Our hope is that this two-year program helps our students to step into their Jewish adulthood with a sense of purpose, agency and joy.

Our Framework

We believe that Judaism provides a path for 

becoming – personal growth and fulfillment as an individual
belonging – in sacred community, starting with one’s family and expanding to other communities, and 
behaving – via sacred routines, as well as hands-on work to repair the world 

Through the celebration of rituals, study of our sacred texts, and connections to the Jewish community, we have the opportunity to discover – individually and in collaboration with others – meaning and purpose

Students are required to have at least 75% attendance at our Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon program.  Throughout the year, students will engage in study of Jewish values and how they relate to the world the students experience around them.  They will participate in a year-long ChangeMakers mitzvah project, and engage with the greater JCA community in new and important ways.

B’tzelem Elohim

We honor differences in learning styles and capabilities by structuring our programs to be conducive to learning differences. We work directly with families and individuals to create learning plans that meet the needs of both the learner and the JCA. Periodic workshops provide resources for raising and educating people of varying abilities and backgrounds.

If you would like to discuss alternative paths towards becoming B’nai Mitzvah, please contact us. We would be more than happy to work with you to make this important experience accessible and joyful for your family.

Saturday and Wednesday Classes

On Wednesdays students work with our adult Tikkun Olam committee to learn about the various ways in which we can work together to help improve the world around us. Students will participate in a variety of Mitzvah Projects throughout the year, and start to think about how they can engage with the JCA community as Jewish adults.

On Saturdays students will attend services with the community to become familiar with the prayers and flow of the service, and students spend time together with their teacher in class exploring the meaning of the prayers and thinking about how to find their own connections to Judaism and prayer. The class will have a series of guest teachers from the community who specialize in teaching art, poetry, prayer leadership, and more.

B'nai Mitzvah Tutoring

Beginning in 5th grade, students will work 1-1 with our Hebrew decoding tutors to learn the letters and vowels, and how to put them together. This tutoring is appropriate for students who have not been attending day school, or otherwise learned to read/decode Hebrew at home. Hebrew tutoring is included in the cost of Kesher tuition.

Beginning one year from the B’nai Mitzvah date, students begin working with their B’nai Mitzvah tutor who will work with the student to learn to chant their Torah portion, lead the Torah service, and will generally guide the student through all they need to know for the day of their B’nai Mitzvah.  B’nai Mitzvah tutoring is an additional charge paid directly to the tutor.  Financial assistance available.

 

7th/8th Grade Leadership Program

This program will consist of opportunities to learn important leadership skills including service leadership, and teaching skills for assisting in the classroom, all with an emphasis and looking at these topics through the lens of Jewish values. We will also offer students the opportunity to become RedCross certified in a variety of areas including CPR, First Aid, and babysitting. This program will meet most, but not all Saturdays, and requires that students commit to one Wednesday a month to participate in our intergenerational Jr. Tikkun Olam Committee program.

Family/Holiday Programming

The family and community are at the core of our Kesher approach to learning and Jewish engagement. Developing a Jewish identity cannot take place exclusively in a classroom setting, it must include experiencing Judaism and Jewish practice in community. Therefore, while there may be no Kesher classroom sessions on or near certain holidays, we consider the community/family holiday programming and celebrations to be part of the learning program. We strongly encourage families to join us in this important form of learning and connecting.