AGADAH:
A
PLACE OF STUDY AND LEARNING
EDUCATION
FOR ADULTS
EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN:
A Hebrew
School for students from age 4 – 16
Family Sunday
Camp
is an adventure in Jewish learning for students ages 4 –
6.
Utilizing a rich mix of music, crafts, and games it introduces students
to the synagogue, the Jewish calendar, prayer, Torah and
Hebrew.
Sunday Camp meets from 2 – 4 one Sunday afternoon per
month.
Alef-Bet and Step Up
introduces 7 – 8 year olds to Hebrew and pre-primer
reading. This program also uses crafts, cooking and
games
to deepen the students understanding of the holidays and
Shabbat.
This class meets on Tuesday evenings form 6 – 7:30 pm.
Tuesday Night Hebrew School
– Classes for our students ages 8 – 11 focus on
Hebrew,
Prayer, Torah, and Community. We use the URJ curriculum for
both
Hebrew and Judaics. The Mitkadem Hebrew program teaches
Hebrew
decoding, vocabulary, basic grammar and the meaning of the
prayers. The Chai Judaica program is utilized as our
“core” program which incorporates themes revolving
around
Torah, Avodah (prayer), and Gimelut Hasadim (Acts of
loving-kindness). Classes include an assembly time.
Occasional Family Education programs offer the entire family a chance
to deepen their understanding and observance of Jewish
ritual.
Tzedakah is collected weekly. Students vote on where to send
their Tzedakah contributions. These classes meet from 6:00
– 8:20 pm.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Classes
prepare our students to lead the Shabbat service and to read their
Torah and Haftarah portions. The students meet from 5:00
–
6:00 pm on Wednesday evening in a class focused on the service and the
prayerbook. They join with older students for dinner from
6:00
– 6:30 followed by the Upper Class program. This
consists
of 2 - 45 minute sessions. One is a mix of mini-courses which
include Israel, Holocaust, and Life Cycle events. The other
is a
year-long course focused on leadership. Class ends at 8:00 pm.
Bar/Bat
Mitzvah students receive individual tutoring with the Rabbi or with a
teacher approved by the Rabbi.
Confirmation Class:
After completing their Bar/Bat Mitzvah studies students are encouraged
to participate in the Confirmation program, a two year program leading
to Confirmation at the end of grade 9. The students meet on
Wednesday night for dinner from 6:00 – 6:30 followed by the
Upper
Class program. This consists of 2 - 45 minute
sessions. One
is focused on a series on mini-courses chosen with the input of the
students. Recent offerings have included Sex in the Text (a
URJ
curriculum), Comparative religion, Israel in the Media and Jewish
cooking. The other session is a year-long course on
ethics.
Class ends at 8:00 pm.
In
the
second year of the Confirmation program students are encouraged to
participate in a 3-day trip to Jewish New York. The trip,
organized in conjunction with other area synagogues, focuses on
understanding the immigrant experience and visits the Rabbinic
seminaries of the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements.
Torah Tots
services are designed especially to give children from 2 – 8
a
special Shabbat experience. The services are scheduled to
coincide with Junior Congregation and Bar/Bat Mitzvah
services.
In this service the children share stories, dance, sing and do prayers
in their own style. They join the main service for the Torah
procession and to lead Adon Olam.
Junior Congregation
services are held from 5-8 times per year. These services are
designed with students in mind. Each class of the Hebrew
School
participates by leading a prayer within the service. The
students
of the host class come forward to the Aliyot tot the Torah.
The
students participate in an interactive Torah discussion.
Teen Tutors
provide support at every level of our educational program.
These
post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah students tutor students in Hebrew in class and
individually. They aid teachers in all of our classes, teach
trope (chanting of Torah or Haftorah) and help prepare students for
Bat/Bar Mitzvah.
Youth Group–
Our teens are affiliated with NFTY. The local
chapter
maintains a full calendar of activities, including camping, Tzedakah,
dances and more. They also participate in a variety of
regional
activities with other NFTY groups form throughout New
England. Any Jewish teen, post Bar/Bat Mitzvah or age 14 to 18 is
invited to join our Youth Group. You do not need to be a member of Etz
Hayim Synagogue to join us. For more information, please contact our
President, Sarah Richards, at jeww.crew@gmail.com
Links
of Interest:
Hebrew
School Handbook
Junior
Congregation Handbook
Bar/Bat
Mitzvah Guide
