Shalom Academy

Back to Congregation Brith Sholom

Classes
Wednesday: 4:15 pm - 6:15 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am through luncheon

Shalom Academy, the religious school of Congregation Brith Sholom, was created to be an innovative place for our children to feel comfortable learning their Conservative Jewish values and traditions. The curriculum was developed using the USCJ's statement on the aims of the Conservative Synagogue School, and expanded to allow creative expression in a number of areas. This unique program encourages our children to experience the many facets of Judaism that exist every day, not just on Shabbat and holidays.

We feel very strongly that our children must learn the language of the Torah in order to understand their heritage. Hebrew is a major focus, therefore, not just for the preparation of B'nei Mitzvah, but for delving into the inner meanings of Torah passages. Knowing the Bible and learning our history is integral to understanding who we are today, and how to make informed decisions in a modern world.

Using a block schedule, students learn Hebrew, Bible, holiday traditions and rituals, values and ethics, history and current events. Our staff of teachers are extremely committed to fostering an atmosphere of learning and caring, and offer their talents in numerous capacities beyond the traditional classroom: music, art projects, dancing, cooking, art appreciation. Those students who are pre-B'nei Mitzvah lead our Shabbat services in preparation for their big day!

Our teens have 6 - 8 week classes that encompass numerous topics ranging from comparative Judaism, ancient religious rebellions, Holocaust, righteous gentiles and the commandment to do mitzvot. All our students are involved in community-wide tzedakah projects and learn that doing mitzvot is the Jewish way, every day.

One of the best parts of our school is the Shabbat component. The students attend classes on Saturday mornings, but join the congregation during the Torah service and at the end. Everyone is then invited to a delicious Kiddush luncheon where our Rabbi facilitates a discussion about the Torah portion of the week, or other interesting topics. The children understand that this is part of their education and enter into the discussion, often with wonderful insight - especially if they were attentive in their morning bible class!