T’filah Credits – As part of the Basis curriculum, All Basis students (Grades 3 - 4) must attend 6 worship services per year, not including Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. FOUR of these T’filot have to be either at Temple Emanu El or as part of a Temple Emanu El sponsored event.
Grade Three - CHAI Curriculum: We will be using the CHAI curriculum, developed by the URJ (Union For Reform Judaism) and designed to provide students with a foundation for a lifetime of Jewish learning and living. The curriculum is based on “Torah, Avodah, and G'milut Chasadim; study, worship and deeds of loving-kindness. This year students will improve their own understanding and definition of k’dushah and apply that understanding to how ritual objects, symbols, prayer and our behaviors can make moments and places special, holy and closer to God. Torah Narratives: The book of Va’yikra/Leviticus will be the focus this year with the lessons introducing the children to the notion of living a life filled with k’dushah (holiness). Themes including ways we experience God and taking responsibility for G'milut Chasadim (planning and doing Acts of Loving Kindness) will also be introduced.
Hebrew: Students will study the Avodah (worship) strand during Hebrew, which focuses on the ways we experience God. Students will also concentrate on their decoding skills using the book Ot La'Baot, emphasizing decoding skills from key cultural words and concepts. Key Brachot (Blessings) for all holidays are studied as well as focus on the Shema.
Grade Four - CHAI Curriculum: We will be using the CHAI curriculum, developed by the Union For Reform Judaism and designed to provide students with a foundation for a lifetime of Jewish learning and living. The curriculum is based on “Torah, Avodah, and G'milut Chasadim;" study, worship and deeds of loving-kindness. This year students will focus on how to apply the teaching, "It is not upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it."
(Pirkei Avot 2:21) to their lives. Students will see a direct relationship between being a member of a community and our behaviors, through study of the relationship between Am Yisrael (Jewish people), the Land in the Torah, and acts of G'milut Chasadim affecting relationships.
Hebrew : Students will study the Avodah (worship) strand during Hebrew, which focuses on the significance and structure of communal prayer, known in Hebrew as Keva and Kavanah. The students continue the decoding process with the study of the opening prayers of the Shabbat morning service such as Yotzer Or, V'ahavta and Kiddush. Each of these prayers will be taught for both decoding fluency and understanding.
