Congregation Betenu Religious School

CURRICULUM GUIDE
Congregation Betenu Hebrew School
Revised September 2000

Congregation Betenu Religious School is for children of Betenu members
from Kindergarten through post Bar/Bat Mitzvah class.  Students from
Kindergarten through third grade are placed according to their secular
school grade and/or age rather than by their Hebrew/Judaic skills.
From the fourth grade through Bar/Bar Mitzvah candidates, the students
are placed by their secular school grade and/or age for Judaic studies
and by their ability level for Hebrew.

Hebrew and Jewish Studies classes are held on Sunday mornings from
9:30 AM until 12:30 PM.  There is a half-hour music class with the
students learning the Shabbat liturgy as well as traditional Israeli
folk songs.

JEWISH STUDIES CURRICULUM

KITAH ALEF

Students in Kindergarten, readiness, and first grade are taught the
bible stories from Creation, Adam & Eve, Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel,
Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob & Esau, Joseph & his brothers,
Moses, Samson, Ruth & Naomi, David & Goliath, Solomon, the wise king,
and Jonah & the great fish.  In Hebrew, the emphasis is on learning
the letters of the alef-bet.  During snack time, they practice the
simple blessings of the Motzi and Kiddush.  Classes are taught through
crafts and games, making the students introduction to Religious School
pleasurable and fun.

KITAH BET

Students in the second grade are taught about Judaism through the
holidays and ritual objects.  From Rosh HaShana , Yom Kippur, Sukkot,
Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, the
students learn about the symbols, foods, and history of the holidays.
They also learn about the synagogue, the Rabbi, the Cantor, the Aron
Kodesh, The Ner Tamid, the Sofer, and Shabbat and Havdallah.  In
Hebrew, the emphasis is on phonetic reading.  As the students learn
more of the letters and vowels, they are able to read real words and
then prayers.  By the end of the year, the students can read the
Barchu and Shema, plus other prayers.

KITAH GIMEL

Students in the third grade study the Torah, from the story of
Creation to the death of Moses (approximately 1300 B.C.E.). Toward the
end of the year, we begin our study of Prophets with the book of
Joshua (approximately 1250 B.C.E) and the book of Judges
(approximately 1100 B.C.E). They continue to enhance their knowledge
of Shabbat and the holidays.  In Hebrew, the students continue to
improve their reading skills, by concentrating on the prayers.  They
begin to learn script, by practicing their writing in their machberit.

KITAH DALET

Students in the fourth grade continue their study of Prophets with the
Prophet Samuel and Kings Saul, David and Solomon (approximately
1020 - 922 B.C.E). We then investigate the reasons why the
Jewish people split into the two separate kingdoms of Israel
and Judah, and study the fall of Israel (722 B.C.E), the
fall of Judah (586 B.C.E.) and the Babylonian Exile and Return.
(This corresponds to the books of Samuel I & II, Kings I & II,
and the later Prophets). If time permits in the school year, we 
look at some of the books in Writings, and continue our study of 
Jewish History (Maccabees, revolt against Rome in 66-74 C.E.).

[Note that for the 2001-2002 school year only, Grade 4 will
be following the Grade 3 curriculum.]

KITAH HAY and VAV

Grades 5 and 6 - The curriculum for these two years concentrates
on the exploration of Jewish concepts (For example, Tikkun, Kavanah,
Shema). The textbook for this curriculum is the 3-book series by Naomi
Pasachoff, "Basic Judaism for Young People".

KITAH ZAYIN

Grade 7 - Students resume their study of Jewish History, from
the revolt against Rome to the present day. We cover the development
of the Talmud, the history of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewry in Europe,
the three waves of Jewish immigration to the United States, the
Holocaust, the creation of the State of Israel, and present-day
issues.

HEBREW STUDIES CURRICULUM

From the fourth grade through Bar/Bar Mitzvah candidates, their
ability level places the students for Hebrew.

IN LEVEL ONE:
1.  Students will learn the letters of the alef-bet.
2.  Students will learn the vowels.
3.  Students will learn to phonetically read short prayers and blessings.
4.  Students will learn to sing simple Shabbat songs.

TO PASS LEVEL ONE:
1.  Students must pass a written test on their letters and vowels by 80%.
2.  Students must pass a phonetic reading test including: 
  a.  Shema
  b.  Barchu
  c.  Shabbat blessings (candles, wine, bread)
3.  Students must be able to sing:
  a.  Hinei-ma-tov
  b.  Shalom Chaverim
  c.  Ein Ke-lo-haynu
  d.  Dovid Melech

IN LEVEL TWO:
1.  Students will improve on fluency in reading above prayers and blessings.
2.  Students will learn to phonetically read harder prayers and blessings.
3.  Students will learn harder Shabbat songs.
4.  Students will begin to learn script.

TO PASS LEVEL TWO:
1.  Students must pass a reading test including:
  a.  Ma Nishtana (4 Questions)
  b.  Ve-a-hav-tah
  c.  Avot
  d.  Torah blessings
2.  Students must be able to sing:
  a.  Shalom Alechem
  b.  Aleynu
  c.  Adon Olam
  d.  Mi Chamocha
  e.  Oseh Shalom

IN LEVEL THREE:
1.  Students will improve on fluency in reading above prayers and blessings.
2.  Students will learn to phonetically read harder and more complex
  prayers and blessings.
3.  Students will learn to sing complex Shabbat songs.
4.  Students will continue to learn script.
5.  Students will begin to learn Siddur vocabulary.

TO PASS LEVEL THREE:
1.  Students must pass a reading test including:
  a.  Haftorah blessings
  b.  Gevurot
  c.  Hash-kee-vaynu
2.  Students must be able to sing:
  a.  Lecha Dodi
  b.  V'shamru
  c.  Shalom Rav
  d.  Yis-me-chu
  e.  Kabbalat Shabbat Kiddush

IN LEVEL FOUR:
1.  Students will improve on fluency in reading above prayers and blessings.
2.  Students will learn to phonetically read harder and more complex
  prayers and blessings.
3.  Students will learn to sing harder and more complex Shabbat songs.
4.  Students will continue to learn script.
5.  Students will continue to learn Siddur vocabulary.
6.  Students will begin to learn trope.

TO PASS LEVEL FOUR:
1.  Students must pass a reading test including:
  a.  Torah service hebrew
  b.  Kedusha
  c.  Ma-a-riv Aravim (Yotzair)
  d.  Kaddish
2.  Students must be able to sing:
  a.  Hatzi Kaddish
  b.  Yigdal
  c.  Birkat HaMazon
  d.  Sh'hunoteh Shamayim
  e.  Mizmor Shir

Each class is responsible for leading a Friday night service during
the school year.  The younger classes use the Children's Siddur, while
the older classes use the regular Kabbalat Shabbat Siddur, albeit one
without transliteration!  

During the year leading up to Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the Rabbi takes the
candidates through the various Saturday morning services in the
Siddur, working through the different themes in each service.  He also
covers other aspects of the meaning of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah and
what it means to be Jewish.  This class is taken in addition to either
Kitah Zayin or post Bar/Bat Mitzvah class.

The post Bar/Bat Mitzvah class is a two-year class taught by the
Rabbi.  It culminates in Confirmation.  One year the class covers
comparative Judaism, while the other covers anti-Semitism.  The
students in this class have either been Bar/Bat Mitzvahs or will
become Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in the beginning of the school year.  This
class conducts the Shavuot service, which includes Confirmation.

All work and no play make very grumpy students, so the Religious
School has a number of special events.  The year begins with
Children's services on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur.  It continues with
a Sukkah building party.  The Rabbi gears the Sukkot and Simchat Torah
services especially toward the children, with the new Kindergarten
students receiving their consecration certificates at Simchat Torah.
A Chanukah party ends the secular year.  Tu B'Shevat is a big event at
Betenu, with a Tu B'Shevat Seder held annually.  Purim brings a Purim
carnival organized and run by our own youth group Souhegan Area
Federation of Temple Youth (SAFeTY).  Passover is celebrated with a
Congregational Seder on the second night.  And Shavuot, as mentioned
above, includes Confirmation.  The end of the school year is marked by
a special "last day" event.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Blotcky via e-mail at:
principal@betenu.org