Religious School
The primary mission of our religious school is to instill a love of Judaism in our children, develop a strong base for lifelong Jewish practice, and impart deep connections to the Jewish people in a warm, caring environment staffed by knowledgeable and dedicated educators. Through innovative programming, community service opportunities and active participation in worship, our students are not only prepared for B’nai Mitzvah but also to begin their Jewish journey to adulthood.
Our school consists of a unified curriculum beginning at the pre-school level and continues through grade 7. We utilize the Chai Curriculum for Judaic Studies, an exceptional series developed by the Union for Reform Judaism. For more information on the Chai Curriculum click here.
Our Hebrew program begins with our youngest students learning letter and vowel recognition and culminates with each student feeling accomplished as he or she leads our congregation in worship at his or her Bar/Bat Mitzvah. We are cognizant of the many learning styles and challenges students have and respect and work with each one. We are especially proud of the comfort our students feel when they are in our sanctuary and the familiarity they gain over time with our liturgy and traditions.
Many of our post B’nai Mitzvah students continue on as madrichim (student “guides”) in our school and are invaluable help to our teachers. Additionally, we have a fledgling youth group for our post B’nai Mitzvah students, providing our younger teens with an opportunity for community service, learning and socializing. They may also stay engaged in the larger Jewish community through our joint teen program with two other area Reform congregations. Beginning this year, there will also be opportunities to join a new program, Jewish Teen Education, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and driven by the teens themselves. Learn more here.
At Temple Beth David, we believe that parents exert the largest influence over their children’s enthusiasm and participation in our Temple community. We encourage parents to help out at events at the school, chaperone “off-site” events, substitute teach in the school and serve on our Education Committee.
Our Education Coordinator
Emily Kurz has been a proud member of Temple Beth David all her life. She received a BS in Elementary Special Education and a BA in Sociology. She further continued her education at Boston College, where she earned a Master's Degree in Social Work degree. Learn more about Emily here.
If you have questions please contact Emily at education@tbdcheshire.org.
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