WASHINGTON HEBREW CONGREGATION
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
2009-2010 / 5770
In the post-modern world, the synagogue has become the central facility in which Jewish education and identity are taught. Ideally, the family should be at the crux of the educational model, however that is not the case with our families today. This makes our efforts to educate our congregants a priority. WHC commits itself to lifelong learning in which Jews, both young and old, may engage in Talmud Torah, in the Study of Torah. This Talmud Torah is not only contained within classroom walls, but integrates a wholesome and confluent program that incorporates both formal and informal Jewish education. WHC takes its philosophy of Jewish Education from Martin Buber, as WHC desires its students to take in from their world and have a dialogical relationship with the world and people, as well as from Abraham Joshua Heschel, as WHC enables its students with education to participate and share in spiritual experiences of Jewish living. Moreover, WHC’s Educational Program encourages its students to participate in Jewish Life, Hebrew learning, and embrace Jewish values and to live ethically.
In our Religious School, Talmud Torah is approached through a spiral curriculum that begins in the kindergarten and extends through Confirmation. Each of these classes contains a curriculum that allows for the student to learn core concepts and values in order to develop a Jewish Identity that will serve as the foundation for future learning. Adults continue their commitment to Jewish Education by participating in Adult Educational experiences offered at WHC. Each program sets up a “web curriculum” in which various entry points to Jewish Education are built so that adults can choose the entryway that most appeals to them.
The overall goal of religious education at WHC is to deepen Jewish experience and knowledge so as to strengthen our children’s understanding of God, their identification with the Jewish people, their involvement in the Temple, their participation in Jewish life, and their determination to live as Jews.
Religious School Senior Education Team Staff:
Acting Religious School Director Rabbi Joui Hessel
Assistant Principal, Julia Bindeman Suburban Center Suzanne Davidson
Assistant Principal, Temple Stephanie Tankel
Upper School (Chavaya) Coordinator (8th-9th grades) Ira Miller
7th Grade Coordinator* Dan Caplan
*part-time position
Religious School Office:
Phone-301-354-3223, Fax-301-354-3200
Religious School Administrative Coordinator Rachel Benperlas
Primary
Department: Grades K-2
Julia Bindeman Suburban Center on Saturdays, 9:30am-12:00noon
Temple on Sundays, 9:30am-12:00noon
A spiral curriculum that extends through each of these grades.
Kindergarten
Our Jewish World: The Joy of Being Jewish. Experiencing the Jewish holidays and Shabbat through stories, art projects, games, plays and songs.
1st Grade
Our Jewish World: What It Means to be a Jew. In addition to Jewish holidays and Shabbat, students are introduces to the meaning of prayer, tzedakah and mitzvoth. The curriculum combines art, music, dance, songs and stories from the Bible, Midrash and Talmud.
2nd Grade
A Look at the First Book of the Torah: Ideas and Heroes. Acquainting students with the Book of Genesis through discussions, drama, art, film, puppets and games. God and Our Universe offers students an opportunity to explore and develop a sense of wonder about God and the Universe. Jewish Life and Holidays continues our educational experience that includes the concepts of mitzvoth and tzedakah.
Middle School: Grades 3-7
Hebrew curriculum
Macomb Street (Temple): Sundays 9:30am-12:00noon and Wednesdays 4:30pm-6:00pm
Julia Bindeman Suburban Center: Sundays 9:30am-12:00noon and Tuesdays 4:30pm-6:00pm
Beginning in 3rd grade next year, students will begin to study Hebrew as part of their religious school program on Sundays for an hour and 15 minutes each week. Since this will be the first year that 3rd graders will learn Hebrew using a primer book, our 4th graders will also begin studying Hebrew as part of their Religious school program. 4th-6th graders participate in Hebrew classes twice a week: an hour and a half of Hebrew instructions midweek, and one period (an hour and 15 min) on Sundays. During the first year of their Hebrew study, students of 4th grade acquire the ability to read Hebrew print, to write and read Hebrew script, to comprehend selected vocabulary and understand the meaning of the following prayers and blessings: Shabbat candles, Hamotzi, Kiddush, blessing over fruit, vegetables, Shehecheyanu, Barechu, Shemah, Mi kamochah, Hanukkah candles blessing, selection of passages from the Passover Haggadah. Text book in 4th grade: Shalom U’Vracha book and CD.
In 5th grade, students work on improving their fluency in reading Hebrew texts and cursive writing ability, learn simple Hebrew grammar patterns, are introduced to the concept of Hebrew roots, learn selected vocabulary, based on their texts, expand their Jewish holidays vocabulary, acquire the ability to read fluently and chant the following prayers and blessings as well as comprehend their meaning: V’ahavtah (1st paragraph), Avot V’Imahot, Shalom Aleichem, Sim Shalom, Ein Keloheinu, Baruch Sheamar, brachot for foods, Birkot HaTorah, Mode Ani, Modim Anahnu, Birkat Hamazon (1st paragraph), selected passages from the Passover Haggadah. 5th graders use Hebrew and heritage, Vol. 1 (New Siddur program) as their main text book.
The 6th grade Hebrew program offers our students the opportunity to acquire reading comprehension, as well as to learn more Hebrew grammar patterns, work on the concept of Hebrew roots as means to identify unknown words, acquire the ability to read fluently, chant and comprehend selected vocabulary from the following prayers: V’ahavtah, Birkat Geulah, Birkot HaTorah, Birkat Hamazon (2nd paragraph), Ahavah Rabah, kedushah, Aleinu, Birkot Hahaftarah, Hatikvah, Adon Olam, Seder Hotza’at HaTorah, Seder Hachnasat HaTorah, kdushat Hayom, Avot V’Imahot (review). Hebrew and heritage, Vol. 2 (New Siddur program) is 6th grade text book.
In 7th grade, Hebrew instruction takes place once a week on the midweek days (Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons). In addition to Hebrew classes, most of our seventh graders start their lessons with their Bnai Mitzvah tutor during this year. In the 2008/09 academic year, seventh graders participated in an innovative experimental program. It is build around the main prayers, V’Ahavtah, Avot V’Imahot, Kiddush, Kaddish, Birkot HaTorah and Birkot Hahaftarah, with an addition of the prayer-related Enrichment units including such topics as “Structure of the service,” “Torah – the book and the Scroll,” “Creative writing – getting ready to write Dvar Torah” and “The weekly Torah portion.” This new seventh grade Hebrew program had a strong social element and offered students an opportunity to work in small groups.
Judaic Studies Curriculum
Both buildings on Sundays from 9:30am-12:00noon
3rd Grade
Appreciating the Jewish Tradition and Heritage which instills in students a sense of pride of being a part of Am Yisrael, the People of Israel, and makes them aware that their Jewish heritage is a present part of their lives. The Ten Commandments deals with the ethical concepts embodied in the Ten Commandments. Each commandment is presented in a story format, accompanied by hands-on activities, games and dramatizations. Caring: The Meaning of Tzedakah explores the meaning of Maimonides’ “Tzedakah Ladder” and its different degrees of giving. Jewish Life and Holidays once again explores the Jewish Holidays on a new developmental level. Prayer allows students to grapple with questions such as “why, when and how do we pray?” etc. Students are encouraged to write their own prayers.
4th Grade: A Look at the Judges and Early Prophets examines the Biblical period of Judges and early prophets: Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Saul and David. God and Us examines concepts relating to God. Jewish Values explores tzedakah, as it is treated in our Biblical and post-Biblical sources.
5th Grade: From Birth to Death: Customs, Ceremonies and The Reason Behind Them looks at how and why Jews observe the significant events in our lives. A mohel comes to class, a mock wedding takes place, and the Jewish view of death is explored with our rabbis. Israel: The Modern Reality examines the Jewish State as it is, and as it came to be.
6th Grade: The American Jewish Community explores the organized Jewish Community and its history. The story of Jewish immigration to America from 1654 to the present day is studied through text and personal family histories. This year’s curriculum also includes an extensive component on Israel, the history and the people.
7th Grade: Seventh grade is a critical year in a child’s Jewish development, due to Bar/Bat Mitzvah occurring during it or shortly thereafter. We also recognize that the seventh grader is an individual who is much more socially attuned than he/she was in the previous years. Therefore, our curriculum reflects this reality. Hebrew classes are offered once a week. Judaica Classes are offered on Sundays, beginning with a bagel breakfast and service. Ten times during the year, unique experiential opportunities take place. When these programs are not held, classes center around two units of study: one on post-Biblical Jewish History (Great Moments in Jewish History and Millennium Windows) and the other around a thematic approach to the Bible are held. Two overnight sleepovers take place which incorporate both Judaic programming and social activities. Additionally, these programs help to prepare our students for our retreat program in the eighth and ninth grades.
The post-Biblical Jewish History unit includes but is not limited to: The 9th of Av-The Destruction of The Temple, the Middle Ages and the Spanish Inquisition, the concept of Assimilation, the Ghetto/Shtetl experience, the Haskalah/Enlightment Period, The Shoah and Modern Israel/Zionism.
The Windows unit includes an Introduction to Tanakh, courses surrounding the debates of “Science verses Tanakh,” Sibling Rivalry through the Tanakh, Challenging Authority and Role Models in the Tanakh.
The experiential programs include: two sleepovers, a trip to the Ratner Bible Museum with parents, a Simchat Torah program, a Spanish Inquisition Quest, Chanukah Centers, a Tu Bishvat Seder, a Purim celebratory event, a Passover Decathlon, Shavuot Centers, a “To Tell the Truth” game show, a Wax Museum and a High Holy Day Learning Day program.
Chavaya / Upper School: Grades 8 and 9
Both buildings on Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00pm
Washington Hebrew Congregation’s Upper School program for 8th and 9th graders is designed to blend the best in traditional and informal educational models to create a comprehensive experience for our students during the most pivotal time of Jewish connection in their life. The Upper School program is separated into two semesters of classes and two semesters of retreats. Our classes are held at both of our facilities for the convenience of our students and parents. Retreats are held with all of our students together.
Below is a general outline of the program in the order a student would experience it.
8th Grade Classes – Fall Semester (September-January)
Our 8th graders leave behind Sunday mornings and transition to our program on Tuesday nights from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The semester is broken down into various units which in the past have included:
Y Holocaust through modern eyes
Y Teen choices (adolescent decision making)
Y Tuesday night at the movies (using film/television to reinforce Jewish values)
A short break is given during the evening to meet out students social needs. In addition, a special dessert break is held 3 times during the semester. Special programs during this semester include a trip to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and special speakers including Holocaust survivors.
8th Grade Retreats – Spring Semester (February-April)
Our retreat program is one of the most powerful experiences for students at Washington Hebrew Congregation. The retreat program is where life long friends are made and incredibly strong connections to their classmates and to the congregation are realized. Students participate in three retreats during 8th grade and they are:
Y Identity
Y Jewish Ethics
Y Leadership
During the semester of retreats students do not attend regular classes.
9th Grade Retreats – Fall Semester (October-December)
Our students, now having entered high school, return for a second semester of retreats. Originally designed in part to give our students more time during the week for the increased homework load of high school, these retreats are now a life changing experience for many and participation in our Sexuality Retreat has become a rite of passage for our teens. The 9th grade retreat topics are:
Y Anti-Semitism and Prejudice
Y Self-Esteem
Y A Jewish View of Love, Sex and Marriage
This last retreat, which has been run at Washington Hebrew for over 20 years, is perhaps the most important program we run for young people and is one of our proudest accomplishments. This comprehensive weekend gives students the information they truly need (and want) about relationships and sexuality. It is a no holds barred look at the least discussed, and most important, issues facing young people today. We run this high level program with outstanding Sex Educators and Therapists, our clergy and an outstanding staff.
9th Grade Classes – Spring Semester (February-May)
Before entering their Confirmation year, 9th graders return for a final semester of classes. Having spent a year together on retreats the students are more comfortable with each other, are eager for a higher level of learning and want to deal with more issues that are personally relevant to their lives. The topics covered in this semester have included:
Y Comparative Religion
Y Modern Israel
Y Current events and modern issues
Our Upper School program is designed to be dynamic and respond to the needs of each particular class and group of students. We have the flexibility to address our student’s questions and important issues in the world or in their world. As in the 8th grade year, class sessions include social breaks (including special dessert nights), guest speakers and special programs.
The Upper School at Washington Hebrew Congregation continues to develop and evolve as we respond to the needs of our students and parents. Our goals are to create a positive learning environment that our students find worthwhile educationally and socially enjoyable. We must stay relevant and current and constantly find new and creative ways to get our students to think, be challenged and to find new ways to connect to their heritage. Keeping 8th and 9th graders interested and engaged is one of the greatest challenges for congregations in the 21st century and one we take great pride in meeting.
Confirmation
Tuesdays from 7:00pm-9:00pm
First Semester at the Julia Bindeman Suburban Center and Second Semester at Temple
Confirmation (10th Grade): The Confirmation Program offers a broad and intensive Jewish experience. A Confirmand of WHC will identify with the Jewish people, understand a wide range of Jewish values, appreciate the diversity of the Jewish belief and practices, experience Jewish life in action and make informed Jewish choices. Our Confirmation program has three basic components: 1) A cognitive component offers an intellectual understanding of Jewish concepts. Students deal with Jewish philosophy and theology, Jewish text and liturgy, and Jewish understanding of social justice issues. Through programs, field trips, discussions and other class activities, Confirmands learn more about the ways Jewish beliefs can influence our daily lives. 2) Guest speakers and discussion panelists, as well as the Confirmation Staff, serve as role models for our Confirmands. Our students come into contact with other Jews, living as Jews. Members of our Confirmation Class see, first hand, how Jews face challenges of Jewish life today. 3) The service project and Mitzvah nights let students have the opportunity to "live Jewishly" for themselves as they face the challenges that Jews today -- the Confirmation Staff, guest speakers, all of us -- must confront. The program is taught by all of our rabbis and our Assistant Cantor and receives further enhancement from parallel programs with parents, joint classes with parents and Confirmands, mitzvah days, a weekend retreat, the New York Trip, Shabbat worship, special Shabbat dinners, speakers and the actual Confirmation service.
Post-Confirmation
Second Semester Wednesdays from 6:30pm-9:00pm
L’Daat (11th and 12th grades): L’Daat is an educational and social opportunity for 11th and 12th graders at the synagogue. One semester (in the Spring) students have the opportunity to learn from their rabbis and receive college credit for the course. The goal is to keep Jewish teenagers engaged after Confirmation, to enable them to maintain friendships within the Washington Hebrew Congregation community, and to help prepare them for life as Jewish adults, specifically during college.
Through a variety of classes and programs, WHC provides a plethora of Adult Education opportunities. In addition to classes on a variety of topics, a Hebrew Marathon Day, an upcoming Yiddush Marathon Day, Adult Bnai Mitzvah, Bereavement Groups, there are also two renowned program series. The Edlavitch-Tyser Family Relations Forum provides lectures and programs centered around the family; including but not limited to issues on parenting, Introduction to Judaism, Scholars who speak on Jewish texts relating to the family, musical performances and experts on topics that affect Jews living in modernity. The Amram Scholar Series provides our congregation and community lectures by prominent scholars and national leaders, acclaimed writers and stimulating speakers. Speakers have included author Anita Diamant, Shoah Survivor Leo Bretholz, Senator Joseph Lieberman and Pulitzer Prize winner Roger Wilkins.
Youth Department
Under the leadership of a full time Director of Informal Education and a full time Assistant Director of Youth Programs, our youth have a variety of opportunities to live their Judaism. Acknowledging that our youth are the future of Judaism, WHC prioritizes its Youth Program. Each age group is offered a variety of programming, all based on their developmental level. Each group has a clergy liaison to help strengthen the connections between our students and their rabbis and cantors.
ETY: Our Temple Youth Group (TYG) for 3rd-4th Graders. ETY is run by our Assistant Director of Youth Programs, and meets approximately once a month for social events that relate to Judaism. Events are generally held in one of our facilities and have included “ETY’s Extreme Israel Adventure,” painting Seder plates to be used at Pesach, improvisational theatre programs, and more.
Club 56: Washington Hebrew Congregation’s 5th and 6th grade youth group gives our students the opportunity to take field trips and experience their Judaism both in and outside the walls of the congregation. Club 56 is run by the Assistant Director of Youth Programs and includes a Sukkot trip to a Corn Maze, Ice Skating, a mid-Winter Pool Party (indoors!) and more fun trips and adventures.
Hatikvah: Having acknowledged the busy Jewish lives many of our 7th and 8th graders lead – going to Hebrew School, Sunday School, training for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and attending those of their friends – we provide access to a variety of specialty programs for these students. A community wide Chanukah event, a regional Junior Youth Kallah and other special programs are some of the highlights for this age group.
WHECTY: Our TYG for 9th-12th Graders is run by our Director of Informal Education. This TYG provides a mixture of fun and creative programs enabling our teenagers to socialize and learn together in a fun Jewish environment. These programs include social events, experiential programs focusing on Jewish values and identity, community service projects and various educational and worship experiences. WHECTY is one of the most active and dynamic youth groups in the region and is a model for other TYGs. Our students create a strong sense of community and family whether at a “Night Out” at a local restaurant, sleeping over in the building while setting up for Purim or on a Photo Scavenger Hunt on the National Mall.
Teen Leadership: In order to train the next generation of Jewish youth leaders, this program for 8th and 9th graders gives our teens an introduction to leadership and the skills they will need in the future. The year starts with an experiential team building day and continues with programs on membership recruitment and retention, programming basics as well as communication and goal setting.