CURRICULUM

The Religious School curriculum focuses on Hebrew, Torah, Tefillah (prayer) and Judaica (Jewish life). A scope and sequence has been planned for each grade in each of these subjects. However, these plans serve only as guidelines: each class and teacher will move through the curriculum at an appropriate pace, and variation may occur.

Hebrew

Our Hebrew program emphasizes reading and understanding written Hebrew. We hope to give our students the skills to understand the vocabulary of the Torah and prayer. Spoken Hebrew is not emphasized, although it is incorporated into some units of study. Our primary goal for Hebrew study is for students to feel comfortable in the synagogue service and to be able to participate actively as adults.

We begin teaching Hebrew in Gan (kindergarten) with letter recognition. In Kitah Alef (1st grade) students learn the sounds of the letters, the vowels and block print. By the end of the Alef year most students are able to decode one-syllable words. Kitah Bet (2nd grade) students continue to build on the skills of the Alef year with reading and writings skills. Kitah Gimel (3rd grade) students start to build vocabulary; learn basic grammar such as masculine and feminine, plural and singular; and investigate the shoresh (root) of common words. Students also begin to learn script handwriting.

In Kitah Dalet (4th grade) we begin to see a broader range of skill levels, and as such the ability of the class dictates what is accomplished in the scope and sequence. Kitah Dalet students continue with reading fluency, script writing, grammar and vocabulary. The main text used is the book of Genesis in Hebrew. Kitah Hay (5th grade) students continue reading the Torah in Hebrew, and are introduced to more modern Hebrew with the study of Israel. In Kitah Vav and Kitah Zayeen (6th and 7th grades) we continue to base the level of instruction on the skill and pace of each of the three class sections in each grade level. Textbooks used are Chumash (Torah) and the Prophets, as well as Hebrew magazines and contemporary material.

Torah

At the end of a student's Jewish education at Ohev Shalom, students should be familiar with the Five Books of the Torah and the Prophets. The younger grades focus on the well-known stories and characters. In the older grades the study of Torah is an integral part of both the Hebrew and Judaica curricula, and students begin to take a more critical look at Torah. Grades Vav and Zayeen study the parsha (Torah portion) of the week as well as the Prophets as they relate to bar/bat mitzvah.

Tefillah/Prayer

The goal of our Tefilla program is to help students understand the importance and purposes of prayer. As students learn to chant the many beautiful prayers in our liturgy, they also learn their meanings and choreography as well as learn tolead prayers. The long-term goal is to create Jewish adults who are comfortable with services and can be active participants. Gan (kindergarten) studies the brachot (blessings) of Shabbat and Chanukah, the Four Questions of the Passover Seder, and the brachot before eating. Kitah Alef (1st) continues to build and expand knowledge of brachot. In Kitah Bet (2nd) the vocabulary of the Siddur is introduced, and the focus is on the "songs" of the Friday night service. In Kitah Gimel (3rd), students learn the Torah service and Havdallah (Saturday night service marking the end of Shabbat). Kitah Dalet (4th)through Kitah Zayeen (7th) learn the Shabbat morning and evening services. In addition to classroom instruction, Dalet and Hay students join in a "miniminyan" on Sunday mornings, which is a service using the Shabbat melodies. Kitah Vav and Kitah Zayeen attend a Tefillah service on Wednesdays and participate in the synagogue minyan (service) on Sunday mornings. All student services encourage active student participation.

Judaica

The goals of our Judaica program are to teach different aspects of contemporary Jewish life and to make Judaism pertinent to our students' lives. For definition purposes, "Judaica" refers to subjects that are not Hebrew. There are several components: Mitzvot (acts of kindness), Torah and Holidays.

Each grade in Gan through Hay (K-5th)is assigned a different mitzvah that the students study and work on during the school year. The tzedakah (charitable contributions) that they collect is designated for organizations that fulfill their mitzvah. In the primary grades, Gan through Bet,the focus is on helping others, whether by sending cards to congregants on the mishaberach list (list of those for whom we pray for healing) or by collecting food for the homeless and local food pantries. Kitah Gimel focuses on the mitzvah of Ba'al Tashchit,caring for the environment, Kitah Dalet focuses on kashrut (laws of keeping kosher) and kindness to animals, and Kitah Hay focuses on Ahavat Yisrael, love of Israel.

Our students also participate in school-wide or multi-grade mitzvah projects, such as delivering mishloach manot (goodie baskets) to seniors on Purim or holding Passover Model Seders at area nursing homes and senior living facilities.

The Vav and Zayeen classes have three Judaica rotations during the year, each taught by a different teacher. Subjects for the 2002-2003 school year are History of the Middle East Conflict, Overview of Prophets, and Important Moments in Jewish History for Vav (6th grade) and Comparative Religion, Jewish Philosophy, and How to Live a Jewish Life for Zayeen(7th grade).

The Holiday curriculum builds from one grade to the next. Each grade focuses on a particular aspect of the Jewish holidays. For example, in conjunction with Kitah Hay's study of Israel, the students study how the holidays are celebrated in Israel. Kitah Zayeen studies the holidays from their sources in the Torah.

Special School Programs

Jewish education can take place in many ways; classroom learning is only one way. Throughout the year, each grade has special programs and activities to enhance education as well as include parents.

Gan/K has a "Family Pajama Havdallah" where families learn about Havdallah and each family makes a "Shema Pillow." Kitah Alef/1st celebrates Consecration. On this occasion the students are formally welcomed to their Jewish education and receive miniature Torahs. In preparation for the ceremony, which takes place on a Sunday morning, families come together for a morning of learning the Sunday before. They study Jewish values through interactive activities and end the morning by making a wimple (head covering) for each student that is used for the ceremony the following week. Kitah Bet/2nd has an annual Siyum (celebration) that features "The Luach with Ruach," a program in which second grade families come together for a morning of interactive learning about the Jewish calendar. Families help to create the "Luach with Ruach Board Game" and the "Luach with Ruach Musical." Kitah Gimel/3rd has a Siddur Dedication ceremony during which each child receives a Siddur (prayer book). In addition, a family park or beach cleanup is planned to enhance study of the environment.

The Dalet/4th and Hay/5th classes have a day-long Shabbaton where they spend Shabbat at the synagogue from morning through Havdallah. They pray together and then spend the afternoon participating in informal learning around a chosen theme. There is also time for socializing and sports. Families are invited back for dinner and avdallah. In conjunction with Kitah Dalet's study of kashrut, a visit to the local kosher butcher is planned. Kitah Hay hosts an "Israeli Café" for parents for which students create the menu in Hebrew and serve the meal. The theme of the 4th and 5th grade Shabbaton rotates each year between Jewish Life cycle and Kashrut. Following the unit on Kashrut both grades will participate in a follow up activity either at the local grocery store or kosher market.

Kitah Vav/6th and Kitah Zayeen/7th each have a two-night Shabbaton over a Friday and Saturday night at a camp. For these events, students celebrate Shabbat as if they were at a Jewish overnight camp. Participants lead services, help to set up and clean up from meals, learn together, and participate in recreational activities.

In addition to the yearly programs that are planned for each grade, special learning opportunities present themselves each year that enhance the curriculum and excite the children's zest for learning.

Ohev Shalom has a large number of children who attend the Hebrew Day School of Central Florida. These students are not required to attend the Religious School in grades K-5 but are expected to attend on Sundays in grades 6 and 7. Hebrew Day School students and their families are encouraged to participate in all of the special programs that are offered.