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

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.

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 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.

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 (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.