Judaic & Hebrew Curriculum

Judaic Studies overview

Our Judaic and Hebrew Studies program is geared toward a unique integration of Jewish tradition, General Studies and Arts. Lead by Judaic Studies Director, Sharon Knafo, students learn a variety of skills essential to Judaic development. Our educators are committed to innovation, open to new ideas, and strive to pioneer our approach to Jewish Studies so we can advance toward a structured and interdisciplinary curriculum model.

Below is a diagram of a Judaic Studies curriculum. Our school has made a substantial leap with the reconstruction of the Jewish Studies Curriculum. The core of our program is the academic track of Tal Am immersion Hebrew program, Migdalor Lagan from SHY Publications, MIBERESHEET Weekly portion program and more, enhanced by other Judaic dimensions as outlined below.

Grade level curriculum:

We progressed academically by fully implementing Tal Am Program (Immersion Hebrew and Judaic curriculum) for 1st – 5th Grades.
In Kindergarten, we implement multiple programs that prepare the students in the best way to enter the 1st grade. We started last year with the use of Migdalor Lagan (Lighthouse for Kindergarteners) where the students learn the basics of the Hebrew language and experience the Jewish holidays in an academic manner. We also became one of the pioneer schools who use the program Miberesheet (From the Beginning) which focus on teaching the stories and the values of the weekly Torah portion to the young age through skills based activities and storytelling.

Our grade level programs receive a special attention from the faculty, and through a collaboration of Judaic teachers, art, music and General Studies, we manage to add musical dimension as well as content and meaning through drama to all grade level traditional services. The PTO takes a central role in planning and supporting all the needs of this programs, as well as Congregation Beth Yeshurun. BYDS is fortunate to have the synagogue’s leadership supporting all aspects of Jewish education in the school. Rabbi David Rosen, Hazzan David Propis, Rabbi Brian Strauss, Rabbi Steven Morgen , Rabbi Jack Segal , as well as Synagogue’s lay leadership help lead services, guide with desired tunes and melodies for prayers, conduct school events and help to communicate with other institutions in the city and enhance our Judaic program to be one of the most modern and rigorous programs in the country.

Holidays and services:

From celebrating Sukkot with Kindergarten consecration, through the Siddur celebration in the first grade, Friday night program in the second grade, Rosh Chodesh program in the third grade, Havdallah program in the fourth grade and the much anticipated Fifth grade Shabbaton, we create a meaningful and enjoyable way to experience our tradition.

Friday services are designed to be a combination of Kabbalat Shabbat, where we welcome the Shabbat with Kabbalat Shabbat prayers and tunes, together with a summary and wrap up for the week of school. We reward exceptional behavior and good manners (Mensch of the Week Award), we summarize our weekly Tzedakah project, and we let students lead the Shabbat rituals. Every Friday we have a class presentation where the students present a topic from their Judaic classes or General Studies classes as we alternate between the classes and the grades. We expose our students to high achievers and role models from the Houston community and invite these individuals to be our special guests during these Friday services.

BYDS is fortunate to have such a professional faculty who is dedicated to the highest level of education. Teachers and administrators work diligently on the integration of Jewish and General Studies and the results are visible and extremely positive.
The interdisciplinary approach of our Judaic Studies creates bridges between the Hebrew language and art, science, Jewish tradition, community involvement, Houston culture, geography, sports, health and more. As we expand these methods, we continue to add new and unique elements to our studies.

Kabbalat Shabbat Roles

During our Friday services (regularly on Friday, 1.25-2.00pm), the students will lead the traditional Shabbat rituals of candle lighting, Kiddush, Hamotzie and more. Our goal is to have all our students take an active role in leading these rituals. We will start the year with the higher grades (4th and 5th grades) and as the year progresses we will have all students (including the first graders who will learn to read Hebrew by February,) participating in the service. Attached is the chart of these roles with the students names.

Kabbalat Shabbat Class Presentation

Kabbalat Shabbat Guest Speaker

Class Presentations

We are very excited to have this new venue during our Friday service (1.25-2.00pm). Our students learn and experience variety of subjects in a progressive education environment in and out of the classrooms. Our Friday service is a great place to open a small window to BYDS’ world of knowledge and share ideas and subjects that were studied during the past week.

Each week a different class will present a topic from their curriculum through reading texts, presenting projects, singing, reenacting and more.

We will alternate weekly between General Studies and Judaic Studies and will try to share with you what our wonderful faculty of experienced and creative educators and our skilled students accomplished during the past week. Parents and others are welcome to attend and shep Nachas from our kids.

On the attached schedule you will find the weekly Friday Service time as well as the class that presents that week and the subject this class presents (Judaic Studies or General Studies).

kabbalat shabbat schedule preformance 2011-12

2012 kabbalat_roles_schedule

Mensch of the Week

Mensch is a Yiddish term of high praise. It is used as a portrayal for anyone who measures up to the highest standard for being a quality person. A Mensch is a stand-up person who has a fundamental decency, integrity, doing the right thing when tested, dependability, is ethical and above all, presents an act of kindness that distinguishes him or her from the rest.

At our school we emphasize values and manners in a positive way as we recognize the Menschs of the past week, embracing their acts which make our school a better place, and exposing our students to a constructive adoption of values. We then give a special award to three of those who entered the Mensch box (drawing), and recognize all the others in our weekly newsletter and on our school website. The students and teachers alike look forward to this part of the Friday Service in anticipation of the acts of kindness recognized that week.

Examples of acts of kindness our students presented are: Helping a friend to complete homework, helping a friend with his work when he sprained his wrist, giving up the personal fun money for tzedakah, helping the maintenance staff, helping a student pick up food from the floor without being asked, finding a student’s siddur at the synagogue and returning it to the teacher, moving next to a friend who sat all alone in the lunch room, collecting all sweaters in the yard and giving them to the receptionist, and many more…

1st grader Anna Greenberg holds the Mensch Box

Elementary School Principal, Mrs. Mindy Rosenthal, Awards the students during Friday Service.

Kufsat Shabbat (Shabbat Box)

Dear Families, As part of our commitment to Jewish education, your child will have an opportunity once a year for students grades Kindergarten-3rd, to take home the Kufsat Shabbat (Shabbat box). The Kufsat Shabbat contains everything for Friday night to begin Shabbat and the necessary items to end the Shabbat on Saturday evening.

The Children look forward to taking the Kufsat Shabbat home and enjoying Shabbat with their families. We attach a schedule of dates so you may plan accordingly. If you need to switch a date, please contact your child’s Judaic teacher.

Please return the Kufsat Shabbat to school on Monday. The Mini Challot, 2 white Shabbat candles and the grape juice are for your enjoyment. The Braided candle, spices, Kiddush cup, Challah cover and candlesticks need to be sent back.

Attached is also a summary of journey, where you and your children can write shortly about the Shabbat experience with the Kufsat Shabbat.

Thank you for your help and cooperation with fulfilling the Mitzvah of Shabbat together,

2011-12 Schedule for Service Leaders

2011-12 Shabbat box Schedule K 1 Final

2011-12 Shabbat box Schedule 2 3 Final

Kufsat Shabbat Summary of Journey

If you have any questions, please contact the teachers , Mrs. Rosenthal or Mr. Knafo.

Shabbat Shalom!

Prayers Services

Tefillah is a central component of our curriculum at Beth Yeshurun Day School. Our Beth Yeshurun community embraces the diversity to strengthen our Jewish roots. We start with planting the seeds of fundamental Jewish value in the early stages of our program through our prayer services. Our services are 30 minutes long, three times a week and they include the learning of Mashmaut (meaning of Tfillot) , Tochen (content) and Ruach (tunes and chanting). We practice Shacharit Services, Kabbalat Shabbat Services and Holidays services before each holiday. Our synagogue’s clergy, together with the Judaic Studies Director, the faculty and staff of BYDS help to design the Tfillah curriculum with emphasis on our unique and special tunes inspired by Hazzan David Propis. These services are led by our students, throughout their lives, at different Minyanim at the synagogue, including their Bar/t Mitzvah. A strong and innovative approach is employed to prepare children for synagogue worship services. Our halachic guidelines are inspired by our Beth Yeshurun Senior Rabbi, David Rosen and our Judaic Studies Director, Sharon Knafo and faculty.