The goal of the Temple Emanuel Religious School(TERS) is to help children increase their knowledge about their identification with Reform Judaism. We want them to feel good about being Jewish. To accomplish this, we help the students to become knowledgeable about Judaism – about Jewish history, customs, rituals, community, and values – within a caring, safe, active, and fun learning environment. Preschoolers (four-year-olds) through eighth-graders attend classes.

Tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders are assistants in the school, particularly in the classroom, and ninth graders volunteer in the classrooms and the office. We have special classes that are arranged for Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidates. Children and their parents are welcome to visit the school before enrolling.

TE Religious School Curriculum

9-12TH GRADES

Madrichim, High School workshops, Youth Group involvement Significant Jewish experiences: L’Taken, New Orleans, March of the Living (11th or 12th Grade), encouragement to attend Israel programs including the Alexander Muss High School in Israel12th Grade Confirmation

7TH & 8TH GRADES

Alternating years:
1) Deepening our ties to Israel; The Jewish Tradition of Social Justice– Shabbaton2) Shoah; Relations between Jews and neighboring religious communities – trip to DC Each year: Mitzvah work in the community, Rosh Hodesh & Boys ProgramBar/Bat Mitzvah

6TH GRADE

Teshuvah, Tefillah, Tzedakah: Personal Refinement, Prayer, and Doing Good In The World –Bar/Bat Mitzvah Seminars beginHebrew prayers and blessingsRosh Hodesh & Boys Program begin18 Shabbat services in year before Bar/Bat Mitzvah

5TH GRADE

Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh LaZeh (Jews Anywhere Are Responsible for Jews Everywhere): Ethics, Comparative Judaism, and IsraelHineini, Levels 2 & 310 Shabbat services