4th, 5th, & 6th Grade Hebrew School As students begin 4th grade, we teach Hebrew through prayer. We focus on strengthening their decoding skills (mainly in 4th grade), Hebrew vocabulary within the prayers, and the themes, concepts, and meaning of different prayers during Tefillah on Sundays and Wednesdays. Our goal is to help develop our students’ capability to participate in Jewish prayer services. In 5th and 6th grade, students begin mastering the Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) and Shabbat morning prayers that they will chant for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah services.

How do we manage times of hardship and fully embrace moments of joy—not alone, but in community? What does Jewish wisdom offer in terms of how we can truly show up for each other? Rabbi Sharon Brous grapples with these questions and more in her book The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World. This monthly alternative service is called Kehillah, or community, and will include stories and practices based on this book, along with songs and silent reflections. Reading the book is not required, and you're welcome to come to one or all nine sessions throughout the course of the year. Of course, reading the book will add richness to your experience, if you feel so moved. A copy of the book is available for browsing in the Reading Room at Beth-El. Sharron Mendel Swain was raised in an interfaith family long before that was the norm, and has been a mindfulness practitioner her entire adult life. A few FAQs: Q: What is the relationship of The Amen Effect, by Rabbi Sharon Brous, to these sessions? A: It is the inspiration for this 10-session series of alternative services focused on cultivating a deeper sense of […]