Vaykira* (6th-7th Grades)
*Torah is fundamental to Jewish life and learning, so our school is built around Torah! Our five Communities of Torah align with the five books of the Torah are B’reishit (Genesis), Sh’mot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), and D’varim (Deuteronomy). Students within a Community of Torah share t’filah experiences (prayer/worship) and other aspects of life at Berkman Mercaz Limud’ and enjoy youth group events together. Their teachers collaborate on shared goals appropriate to the developmental stages of the children in their community.
All students in Vayikra (6th and 7th Grades) enjoy these experiences on Sunday mornings:
- T’filah with Rabbi Maderer – A prayer service that guides students in exploring their personal connections to the words, music, and meaning of the prayers, and lets students practice leading prayers during a worship service.
- Panim el Panim (Face to Face) with classroom teachers – A chance for students to develop friendship, ease into the school day, and learn about the weekly Torah portion.
Plus…
- Holiday celebrations for Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha’atzmaut, and Lag B’Omer.
- Monthly Family Shabbat dinners.
- Vayikra youth group events for 6th and 7th graders with Youth Engagement Coordinator, Jem Oshins.
6th Grade
Curriculum:
Examine how four waves of immigration from the 1600s to today have created and shaped the American Jewish Community.
Learning diverse Jewish ways of thinking about God and on the symbolism and significance of the Torah service.
Jewish musical notations for chanting Torah.
7th Grade
Curriculum:
Looking beyond the events of the Holocaust to its root causes, resistance and carrying the lessons into our world today.
Trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.
Artist-in-Residence and Art show.
Contact:
Jennifer D. James (she/her)
Director of Youth Learning and Engagement
jjames@rodephshalom.org
Yolanda Jordan (she/her)
Education Administrative Assistant
yjordan@rodephshalom.org
267-930-7284
Jem Oshins (they/them)
Youth Engagement Coordinator
joshins@rodephshalom.org
267-930-7294
